Carpe Diem

Product Type:Tea: Kombucha; Container: 16.9 oz PET
BevNET Review: If you’ve wanted to like kombucha, but just can’t tolerate the flavor, then Carpe Diem’s Classic Kombucha is worth a try. It features a pleasant sugar sweetened formulation that has just a touch of fermented tea flavor to it. It doesn’t have that bitter finish found in non shelf stable competitors, which gives the product a smooth taste from start to finish. Sugar (13g per serving) provides the drink’s subtle sweetness. Herbal tea, and a touch of acerola juice help round things out and help further cut the fermented flavor. Packaging is a proprietary 16.9 ounce PET bottle, which has a label around its mid section. The design of the label is clean, but conceptual, especially with the center graphic not really adding anything to the marketability of the product. Further on that, is the word “classic”, which doesn’t seem like the most descriptive word for a flavor that’s relatively new the market. Overall, this is a very enjoyable product that’s one of the more mainstream kombucha efforts out there.Reviewed on: 4/23/2010

Product Type:Tea: Kombucha; Container: 16.9 oz PET
BevNET Review: Of the Carpe Diem Kombucha line, the Cranberry variety has the most tart and sweet flavor. This has to do with the fact that they’ve added 5% cranberry juice, which adds a nice counterbalance to the fermented flavor of the drink’s kombucha base. The lightly carbonated kombucha used in this product is more mellow than some of its refrigerator case competitors. Those products use live cultures that grow stronger on the shelf. More importantly, we think that the addition of cranberry gives the uninitiated consumer something that’s familiar and appealing. As a result, we believe that this is likely the most marketable flavor of the trio. On the packaging front, they’ve created a clean looking 16.9 ounce PET bottle that has a sophisticated vibe to it. The graphics, which feature small cranberries surrounding an illustration of a man with a bow and arrow, have a subtle approach to them rather than one that’s in your face with massive fruit images or tea leaves. That seems to fit with what the brand is all about, although it’s difficult to say what type of consumer will see this product and select it from a cooler. Nit picking aside, we still think that this is the best flavor of Carpe Diem's Kombucha lineup.Reviewed on: 4/23/2010

Product Type:Tea: Kombucha; Container: 16.9 oz PET
BevNET Review: The Quince variety of Carpe Diem’s Kombucha line is a very pleasant tasting product. Aside from having quince juice extract, they’ve added apple, lemon, and acerola juices, as well as herbal and white tea extracts. The result is a product that’s lighter in the mouth than the other two Carpe Diem Kombuchas and has an almost floral note to it. This also lightens the fermented flavor to the point where you really only notice it on the finish. All in all, it’s a very pleasant product to drink – and one that would make a great adult alternative to traditional carbonated soft drinks. In terms of packaging and branding, this product presents itself in a way that’s clean and polished. This starts with the product’s proprietary 16.9 ounce bottle, which has a well organized and visually appealing label design. However, promoting it as a “Quince” flavor doesn’t seem like the most marketable approach. Something more conceptual might be a nice alternative. Overall, a very well done product.Reviewed on: 4/23/2010