Review: Revive Kombucha (2012)

Revive Kombucha is an organic raw live kombucha beverage that comes in a 16 oz. amber glass bottle with a ceramic top. From a flavor perspective, the product is very mild and has almost no fermented flavor. Instead, the flavor has a pleasant vanilla note to it, which is no surprise given that Revive contains added vanilla extract. In addition to vanilla, the drink contains almond extract and lemon juice, but those flavors only have a very faint presence in the finish. All in all, this is a good entry point into kombucha -- it’s not the strongest blend we’ve ever had and it definitely skews towards the mainstream. Honestly, we’d like this product more if there were other flavors in the brand to support it. Being a single-SKU product seems tough considering the competition. Functionally, it’s difficult to compare this product’s probiotic content to the competition, but Revive contains gluconic acid, 2-ketogluconic acid, and 5-diketogluconic acid. Packaging is, at least compared with the rest of the category, very eye-catching. The style of bottle, which is typically used for beer, is unique and adds a nice visual point of differentiation for the product. The label is professional looking and appealing, with a simple design that helps bolster the artisanal image of the product. In addition, we like the call-out for Sonoma County as its place of origin (keeping in mind, of course, that this product is sold in California) and the cute “revive drinks facts” panel on the back, which lists all the environmental steps that the manufacturer has taken (such as using biodiesel for delivery). Overall, a good entry that seems like a decent platform for building out a full kombucha line.