Review: KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink

Lately, I’ve been kind of obsessed with probiotics. I don’t do dairy well, so yogurt isn’t the best option, but I love me some kombucha, raw sauerkraut and even probiotics in supplement form. Probiotics are said to do everything from help with digestion to improve immunity and even boost weight-loss. And I do have to admit that my tummy seems to be happier and less bloated when I’m regularly getting them. So, to make this overly detailed and long story short (too late!), new dairy-free probiotic products perk my little Fit Bottomed ears up. And thus, when a case of KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink — with flavors like Coconut, Mango Coconut, Pomegranate, Strawberry Coconut, Lemon Cayenne and Mojito — ended up on my doorstep, my ears were way up.
Certified organic, non-dairy, non-GMO, gluten free and vegan, these sparkling drinks feature four complementary strains of probiotics: Bacillus coagulans, L.paracasei, L.plantarum and L.rhamnosus, plus KeVita’s signature proprietary probiotic culture. They go for about the price of a ‘bucha — around $3 — and can be found at Whole Foods.
With five to 45 calories per serving, the ingredient lists on them are super clean, and they all have less than 10 grams of sugar per serving (two servings per bottle). And the flavors really are fun — very tropical and healthy sounding with coconut, tropical fruits, mint and ginger. A little fuzzy, these are sweetened with stevia and have a bit of a sharp acidic quality to them due to the apple cider vinegar that’s in them. And, be warned: these are not sweet drinks. In fact, they’re more sour than sweet. I wouldn’t call them exactly crave-worthy; they definitely taste good for you, if you know what I mean. (I’m okay with things tasting of health, but I’m a health foodie junkie, so … )
Some flavors were more enjoyable than others. While not unpleasant, all of the coconut ones left me wanting more of a fruity flavor, and I thought the Mojito had a bit of a strong stevia aftertaste. Surprisingly, the Daily Cleanse Lemon Cayenne was my favorite flavor. Seeing that it’s like the Master Cleanse drink, I rolled my eyes when I first saw it, but I really liked the taste of it — a little spicy yet refreshing. (Just goes to show me yet again that I shouldn’t judge a health-food product by its cover … )



So would I drink KeVita again? Sure. Would I buy them on the regular over kombucha? Probably not. But they’re definitely worth giving a sip if you’re wanting more dairy-free probiotics in your life and are game for a fun health-food adventure!
Do you try to get probiotics in your diet? What’s your favorite source? —Jenn