Ike’s in Nevada City now offers kombucha tea drink: popular organic elixir

A drink called kombucha is gaining popularity among people who favor organic beverages — at cool restaurants in the Bay Area, the Pacific Northwest and towns such as Boulder, Colorado.

Now it’s being offered at Ike’s Quarter Cafe in Nevada City, one of our favorite restaurants for fresh, organic food and drink. “We are excited to announce that we are the first Nevada County restaurant to have kombucha on tap,” said Ike’s. “We are serving the non-alcohlic kind so everyone can enjoy.”

Kombucha’s roots trace back to the Qin Chinese Dynasty of 221 B.C., where it was known as the “tea of immortality.” Basically, kombucha is a tea drink “with a little more flair,” explains Whole Foods, which sells the drink in bottles. Tea, sugar and a colony of yeast and bacteria are mixed together and fermented until it becomes a carbonated elixir.

Many kombucha companies contend that their product is an elixir for well-being. Some of them promote cleansing and general detoxifying with kombucha.

Kombucha is becoming a hot commodity, with total sales projected to reach $500 million by 2015, according to Beverage Spectrum magazine.

Kombucha on tap is becoming more popular. “By putting the tea on tap, it’s accessible at a lower price point and eliminates the need for bottles and labels, offering an eco-friendly, affordable option,” according to NeighborhoodNotes.com in Portland.

Here’s how to pronounce kombucha: