Botanical brew

Kombucha fans love making declarations about the beverage's health benefits: It supposedly improves the digestive system, increases blood flow and so on. Regardless of what those probiotics do or don't do, I will keep coming back to Zeal Kombucha's fantastic Red Heather. Rooibos tea gets fermented with organic sugar, then hit with floral heather, grains of paradise, chamomile, mint, vanilla and palo santo wood. The result is a nuanced, crisp and refreshing brew, with a sour beer-like funk. The local company distributes kegs to a number of Sacramento cafes and often pours at the Midtown Farmers Market. Expect to pay $4 or $5 for a pint. www.zealkombucha.com.