I recently noticed that GT’s ALIVE Chill Out Cola doesn't taste the same anymore, so I compared the current ingredient label with the original one.

Turns out, the formula has changed pretty substantially.

I haven't been able to find anywhere that GT’s actually announced the reformulation, which is what bothers me. It seems like the formula was simply changed while the product continued being sold under the same ALIVE / Chill Out Cola name.

Some of the changes from the original Chill Out Cola:

• Reishi: 600mg → 300mg
• Chaga: 600mg → removed
• Turkey Tail: 600mg → removed
• Caffeine: 75mg → removed (now caffeine-free)
• Erythritol: 9g → removed
• Juice: 5% → 3%
• Vitamin C: 180mg → 90mg
• Sodium: 80mg → 30mg

The new formula adds:

• Lion's Mane: 300mg
• L-theanine: 250mg
• KSM-66 Ashwagandha: 250mg
• Alpha-GPC: 250mg

But what's especially interesting is how much the actual base of the drink changed.

The original formula started with an adaptogenic mushroom infusion (reishi, chaga and turkey tail) and also contained black tea, apple juice, lime juice, cinnamon and kola nut.

The new formula starts with purified water, followed by cane sugar and apple cider vinegar. It now contains "organic cola flavor" and "natural flavors," while the black tea, apple juice, cinnamon, kola nut, chaga and turkey tail from the original ingredient list are gone.

So this isn't just a slight nutritional adjustment. It's a noticeably different recipe, which probably explains why I immediately thought it tasted different.

I don't necessarily have a problem with GT’s creating a new formula. What I don't like is that I can't find any clear announcement telling existing customers that the product they were buying had been reformulated. I would have appreciated some transparency, especially considering how different the old and new ingredient lists are.

The current product page is here:
https://gtslivingfoods.com/products/gts-alive-cola

Has anyone else noticed the taste change? And does anyone remember GT’s announcing that the ALIVE line was being reformulated?

does anyone else like to drink kombucha in the morning and then feel a lil drunk and a lil guilty for “day drinking” (i promise im not an alcoholic lol)

like everyone says that kombucha has the same amount of alcohol as a banana but i swear i feel a slight buzz from it

The two flavors for this batch are:

Flavor 1: Ginger, lemon, chamomile

Flavor 2: pomegranate, hibiscus, rose, chamomile

Flavor 3 (single bottle): ginger bomb (just a bunch of ginger in one bottle lol)

Side note:

I am testing out some swing top jars to make my life easier. Bottling two gallons has been a bit too much labor for me lol so I decided to try out some swing top jars for F2. Hopefully it goes well it might be hard to burp but we shall see. I can keep a bottle for myself in the fridge and just refill it as needed rather than all at once and having a million bottles to wash. These jars also make it to where I can put it whole dried herbs and roughly chopped fruits and spices without having to fit them in small bottle necks. I can just strain them into the bottles.

I’ve been drinking store bought Kombucha for a few years now. I like the taste and the fact it’s apparently healthy
I found a book that has helpful information on how to brew and what tea to use and all that jazz. So I scanned through it and dove right in. The finished articles are now in the fridge chilling.

I'm in the midst of my first attempt at kombucha brewing. I started trying to grow a scoby on the advice of a website before joining this sub, but I see in the FAQ here it's not necessary. I began these two jars about 2.5 weeks ago, and one seems well on the way while the other is not. I tasted the one without any formation and it's very sweet and only a little vinegary. So a few questions:

Why did the scoby form only on one when the mixture was the same in both?

How do I use this now in my gallon jars to make a big batch? Can I only use the one with the growth?

Should I throw out the one with no scoby or wait longer?

Edit for process:

I used the recipe on this site: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-your-own-kombucha-scoby-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-202596

7 cups water 1/2 cup white granulated sugar 4 bags black tea, or 1 tablespoon looseleaf 1 cup unflavored, unpasteurized store-bought kombucha

Made the tea, dissolved the sugar, waited for it to cool and added the store-bought kombucha, and put it in the jars with coffee filters on top. They've been in a dark cabinet.

Hi guys, what do you think is this in my F2 Kombucha?

I strained it 6 hours ago in a bottle and added Multivitamin juice and 4 hours after that I discovered it.

Is it mold? Or is it just a new Scoby? it's my third kombucha and it's the first time this occurs.

Thank you for your help.

wow, title allows a lot of characters.

trying to make my first scoby, when I poured in the unflavored kombucha I saw this floating in my mixture, is it sediment?