Personal Life / September 28, 2024

Kombucha & Kaftans

One week ago, I dressed up in a beautiful yellow kaftan, frosted a cake, packed my kombucha, and headed over to my friend’s house for my second *ever* kombucha party. After having a wonderful time at my first kombucha party earlier in the year, I knew that I had to say YES to attending another one.

You’re probably asking yourself, “What in the world is a kombucha party?!”

Well, let me explain!

The kombucha party that my friend hosts once or twice a year was birthed out of a conversation she had had with a friend (something about not really enjoying going out for alcoholic drinks but being down for spending time with friends over a glass of kombucha…I’m sure I’m butchering the details!). What started as somewhat of an inside joke turned into a party that has evolved into a fun and wildly themed event where friends gather for kombucha and food tasting.

For this most recent party, the theme was “Kombucha & Kaftans”, and in full transparency, I had to Google what a kaftan was because I had NO IDEA! If you also don’t know what a kaftan is, it’s a long, loose-fitting garment with wide sleeves that is typically worn as a tunic or robe. It originates from the Middle East but is often used as a beach cover up these days. Think muumuu vibes but not Hawaiian!

After wearing my first kaftan, I want to order 20 more. They are so cozy and can be quite beautiful!

So here were the instructions for the party:

Get yourself a colorful kaftan.
Pick one flavor of kombucha: grab 2 bottles of any brand or flavor.
Bring a food pairing (sweet or savory) to share. It can be homemade or store bought.
Find a song that goes with your pairing.
Plan to present your pairing!

So what did I bring, you may be wondering?

I was intrigued by this kombucha by Wild Tonic in the flavor Lavender Love. It’s a sparkling kombucha that is made with honey instead of sugar and is from a woman owned brand. I know that lavender can either taste delicious or like a cheap candle, so I knew it was a gamble. But I was just too interested to pass it up! I grabbed two bottles of this from Natural Grocers and started thinking about a food pairing.

It was my dream to make something with culinary grade lavender (like a muffin or cake or scone). But low and behold, culinary lavender is not something easily found in stores. So I started scrambling for an idea! I had considered making a salad with Mediterranean flavors since I learned that lavender plants are native to the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean. But I didn’t have many ingredients on hand for a fresh salad and didn’t have tons of time to go grocery shopping. I love to bake, so I scrolled through various recipes to see what baked goods looked yummy. After being indecisive and uninspired for hours, I had a thought that came to mind. Lavender is often used in teas, products, or foods for its calming effect. I then started to think about other complimentary flavors that fell into that calming category. I instantly thought of chamomile and found a recipe for a chamomile cake with salted honey frosting. It sounded interesting to me, and I had all of the ingredients on hand. So I made a cake to pair with my kombucha and hoped that it would be a good fit!

I am pleased to say that my kombucha was delicious and my cake paired incredibly well with it! If you’ve never tasted kombucha before (I hadn’t before attending these parties), I would describe it as somewhat vinegary. And although I like vinegar in food and especially on salads, I don’t know that I love drinking it. Surprisingly, my lavender kombucha did not have a strong vinegar flavor and was more drinkable in my opinion than other flavors and brands I’ve tried in the past at these gatherings. I would actually buy this one again and enjoy it!

The cake was a pleasant surprise and a recipe I would make again. I think it would be perfect for a tea party or baby or bridal shower. It definitely has a honey flavor from the frosting, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you just don’t like honey. But if you do, it’s truly a refreshing cake to try! Here’s the recipe if you’re curious: Chamomile Cake with Salted Honey Buttercream

Overall, it was a delightful time of trying new things, building friendships, laughing a lot, and enjoying life. Would you ever host or attend a kombucha party?

*Pictures were taken from my fellow buches