Kombucha
Bubbling up in the last few years is an odd vinegar tasting sparkling beverage made of fermented black tea and sugar called Kombucha. Though the health benefits have been debated, Kombucha sales have exploding across the country in stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Sales were up 28 percent through June 2011, and are expected to be up 60 percent this year over last, according to SPINS, an analytics firm tracking the industry. At $5 for a 16oz bottle, Kombucha doesn’t come cheap, but consumers don’t seem to care. “I spend about $30 a week on the stuff, but it’s good for me so I budget for it,” said Caroline Millot, a restaurant manager from New Jersey.
