PROXIES
PROXIES are a category of NA drinks that are not an imitation of something else, no dealcoholized wine, NA beer, or cocktails without spirits. They’re designed for complexity and pairing, without the alcohol.
Our PROXIES go through our exclusive fermentation processes that result in new expressions in flavors from things like single-estate teas, foraged herbs, and local fruit. They have varying degrees of acid, tannin, body, sweetness, everything you expect from a complex ferment. We keep them low intervention and 100% natural with no preservatives.
If it’s fermented NA tea, is it kombucha?
We think so, but the process we use is not typical of most kombuchas and has its differences even from our own kombucha line. While the majority of our proxies are kombucha cultures and tea, some use additional fermentations or plants other than tea. Because of all these reasons, we find the title “kombucha” a little misleading to the general public, but it is an integral part of our proxies. Our hope is that these unique style expressions of kombucha can broaden peoples expectations and respect for its culture, and we can just call it “kombucha”.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a wonderful NA fermented tea, often sparkling and flavored with fruits, herbs, and other plants.
At Tisanity, we focus as much on the flavor as we do the benefits of kombucha. Our kombucha is always RAW (containing its living probiotics) and contains no preservatives or unnatural material. We also start with significantly less sugar than most standard kombuchas, increasing our fresh, dry flavor and minimizing the sugar and calories you consume.
Our kombucha is split into two categories: FRESH and DRY.
FRESH kombucha contains some sugar and the microbes are plenty active. It MUST be refrigerated and is best consumed within 4 months.
DRY kombucha is shelf stable, and does not contain sugar. It is fermented less than FRESH kombucha.
SHRUB
A Shrub typically refers to a fruit+sugar+vinegar combination that can be mixed with still or sparkling water to make a sweet-tart drink. Similar drinking vinegars such as Oxymels and Switchels (also called Haymakers Punch) feature minor differences such as a honey or ginger base. Historically, shrubs preserved the excess fruit harvested in order to enjoy its flavor and nutrients later, and they were also used by workers for hydration, electrolytes, and balancing blood sugar.
Our Shrubs are unique in that they use a kombucha base. This allows us to adjust the acid profile and incorporate the subtle tea flavors instead of the sharp fruit vinegar taste. We also use less sugar for a dryer final flavor profile. Shrubs are available as both a traditional syrup and premixed.
TEA & TISANES
We offer a range of teas, from the daily workhorses meant for lattes and mixed drinks, to the fine one-of-a-kind teas you save for a special occasion. We aim to deliver a direct and helpful experience in your selection of the worlds most popular beverage.
Tisanes (herbal tea) are tea’s more specialized relative. While tea itself is one plant with many permutations in flavor and usually similar in function, tisanes are every other plant you can drink, and usually come with a consistent, singular flavor and function. For example, Chamomile is always an appley-meadowy flavor that is great for winding down before bed. That’s why you’ll often find us blending them, to create new brews with more variety.