你可以找到kombuchaat just about any grocery store you go to, but it can be tough getting past its funky flavor just to make your gut happy. So what if we told you there was a bubbly alternative that’s just as rich in naturalprobiotics(sorry, functional soda)anda million times tastier? Introducing tepache, an ancientMexicanbeverage that’s been remixed, canned and brought stateside byDe La Calle. Read on for details about your new favorite fizzy drink, plus our honest take on each of the brand’s core flavors.
De La Calle’s Canned Tepache Is the Probiotic Drink You Didn’t Know You Needed
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- Value:18/20
- Functionality:20/20
- Quality:19/20
- Aesthetics:20/20
- Taste*:18/20
TOTAL:95/100
What Is Tepache?
Tepache is a tangy, sweet-tart drink made frompineapples. It’s traditionally made by fermenting the fruit (the flesh and rinds) with water, unrefined brown sugar (akapiloncillo) and a variety of spices and other fruits for afew days. As a result, the drink is packed with naturalprebioticsand probiotics and effervescent. The popular Mexican street beverage has countless variations, as it’s existed for hundreds of years. It’s a healthier alternative to carbonated beverages that are loaded with sugar, like soda. Some people compare tepache to kombucha since they’re both fermented and beneficial to the digestive system, but tepache contains less sugar and is naturally flavored. (It’s also less funky than kombucha, since it contains lessacetic acidand more lactic acid.)
While pineapples have been cultivated in Mexico since 700 B.C., tepache was originally made with corn. That version, now called tejuino, still exists, but theAztecslikely started using pineapples to make it in the pre-1400s. Tepache is often enjoyed ice cold in a plastic baggy and purchased from street stalls or tepacherías in Mexico, like agua fresca. It’s also delicious mixed withtequilaor mezcal.
De La Calle是传统的线、功能性tepaches和it’s the first of its kind to hit the U.S. market. The organic drinks are tasty and authentic since their recipes come straight from co-founder and Mexican native Rafael Martin Del Campo’sabuela. The canned bevs star fermented, organic pineapples, as well as wholesome mix-ins likemangopurée, orange juice, apple extract and fresh tamarind.
Not only are the drinks packed with gut-boosting probiotics and prebiotics, but each can also contains just 40 calories and 7 to 8 grams of sugar to boot, thanks to the addition of erythritol. (They’re also rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and D.) In our book, it’s not too far off from seltzer in the calorie department, but it’s a million times more flavorful and full-bodied, plus offers digestive perks other zero-calorie drinks don’t. (And it pairs beautifully withcn.manbetx .)
Four exciting new flavors just joined the ranks today: Watermelon Jalapeño, Chamoy, Cactus Prickly Pear and Grapefruit Lime. It’ll cost you $47 for a 12-pack of tepache, or about $4 a can (though you can save 10 percent on every order by subscribing). It’s a bit pricey, but it’s really the only product of its kind on the market right now. You can also see if De La Calle is available at a store near you using theironline locator.
If you’d like to start with the core flavors, read on for our reviews before filling up your cart.
1. Tradicional Pineapple Spice
Thisis De La Calle’s take on the O.G. street tepache. Think fresh, zingy pineapples mixed with turbinado sugar, agave and just a touch of cinnamon. On the nose, it’s tart, tropical and a little astringent, like apineapple cocktail. The cinnamon shines through beautifully at first sip, making the flavor reminiscent of a pineapple dessert tart or curd. In short, it’s pleasantly tart and refreshing, and we’re dying to sip it poolside.
Taste:19/20
2. Original Ginger Manzana
3. Picante Mango Chili
One whiff and you’ll be won over by the jammy, inviting aroma of mango sorbet. As sweet as it smells, its flavor is tart and refreshing, not cloying. Chili andcinnamonextracts offer some mild heat, but we were hoping for a spicier profile, given the name. Nevertheless, we’ll be spiking it with jalapeñotequila和柠檬汁。
Taste:17/20
4. Moderno Orange Turmeric
When it comes to healthy drinks,this flavorcombo never gets old. Crushedorangesmeet peppery turmeric for a juicy bev that would work great as amimosatopper. The turmeric is pleasantly forward, offering slightly bitter, nuanced flavor, while the orange tastes legitimately fresh-squeezed and light.
Taste:18/20
5. Regional Tamarind Citrus
Haven’t had the pleasure of tastingtamarindbefore? It’s a fruit that’s beloved across Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and beyond for its sweet-and-sour flavor. Here, its tartness comes front and center with the help of pineapple and orange, while a distinct earthiness will have you going back for a second and third investigative sip right away.
Taste:19/20