Karvana

Product Type:Other; Container: 4.5 oz PET
BevNET Review: Of the two Karvana Kombucha Shot varieties, this product, “Ten Billion Probiotics,” is the more drinkable of the two. The flavor is very much like a typical kombucha, with a tart berry flavor that offsets a good deal of the underlying fermented flavor. Using sugar (presumably as part of the kombucha itself) and added stevia, the product is sweet and, assuming you like kombucha, pleasing to the palate. Functionally, this product is all about its ten billion probiotics that are found in the bottle, but, of course, there is no way to really contextualize the benefit of having this many probiotics (the other variety has only 3 billion...). On the branding side, Karvana is a fine name (it’s reminiscent of Teavana), but the naming convention for the two flavors definitely needs work (we’re honestly not sure what to call them -- the red one and the white one?). However, the use of a smaller and opaque package might help pull in consumers who like the concept of kombucha but are afraid to buy a larger bottle. Overall, this is a nice kombucha product that, despite some need for refinement, has something unique to offer the space.Reviewed on: 5/10/2012

Product Type:Other; Container: 4.5 oz PET
BevNET Review: Adding energy ingredients to their base kombucha shot, Karvana’s Energy + Probiotic Kombucha Shot is, unfortunately, not nearly as palatable as its counterpart. Specifically, it has a very bitter finish, which is likely from the added B vitamins and vitamin C. It also has added green tea, which is presumably for caffeine (although they don’t say how much it adds). Visually, the product’s red label feels stronger and has more “pop” than the white label that is used on the flagship flavor. That said, we suspect that this variety will pull better thanks to both the more eye catching look and the more marketable energy function. Overall, we really like the concept, but the flavor needs work.Reviewed on: 5/10/2012