Lo Bros kombucha review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Lo Bros kombucha. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of this popular kombucha.
For this review we have taste-tested the blueberry lemonade version.
Lo Bros kombucha is available in UK and Australian supermarkets and food stores.
Ingredients of Lo Bros kombucha
Lo Bros is a sugar-free, low-calorie kombucha - which means that it largely relies on natural flavourings and sweeteners for taste.
A word on sweeteners
Regular readers will know that I don’t love sweeteners - whether they are natural or artificial. This is because artificial sweeteners have been shown to negatively affect gut microbe composition - and so it could be that natural sweeteners also have a negative affect on your gut. But more research is needed.
In any case, I’d prefer to avoid sweeteners altogether to be on the safe side. This is a personal choice though and essentially a trade off between some sugar (which is not good) and natural sweeteners (which may or may not be shown to be unhealthy in future).
There is no actual blueberry in this drink - eg juice, puree or concentrate - just natural blueberry flavouring.
So it’s fair to say this is a mass produced kombucha, not a premium product.
Here’s the specific ingredients of Lo Bros kombucha: kombucha (filtered water, kombucha culture, black tea, green tea, raw sugar), flavour enhancer [naturally fermented glucose (erythritol)], apple cider vinegar, natural flavours (blueberry, lemon), natural sweetener (steviol glycosides), living cultures.
In case you were wondering about the ‘flavour enhancer’, erythritol is an organic sugar alcohol and it is used as a low-calorie sweetener.
Benefits of Lo Bros kombucha
Lo Bros kombucha comes with various health benefits - more so than you might expect from a mass-produced kombucha.
Probiotics
The main benefit of this kombucha is the probiotics (ie live healthy bacteria) it contains.
However there is no mention of the amount of bacteria in each serving or the amount of strains included (which would likely only be one I would guess).
Learn more about the benefits of probiotics.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are essentially things probiotics produce during fermentation. These include healthy short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Prebiotics
This kombucha contains prebiotics in the form of acacia fibre.
These prebiotic fibres will feed the good bacteria in your gut and help them multiply to create a healthy microbiome.
Read more about the benefits of prebiotics.
Low in calories
This kombucha has zero sugar and only 3 calories per 100ml. This extremely low amount of calories is the upside of using sweeteners.
Green tea
Green tea contains polyphenols which are strong antioxidants.
Studies have shown green tea may also:
increase the amount of calories you burn
improve cholesterol levels
help control blood sugar levels
Read more about the evidence-based benefits of green tea and kombucha.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can help with blood sugar control, weight loss, heart health and more.
Read more about the evidence-based benefits of apple cider vinegar.
Flavour
The aroma is like bubblegum, with a sort of fake fruit vibe.
The taste is of blueberry, however, considering these is no real fruit ingredients (just natural flavours) there is little depth to the flavour.
The carbonation is a little high like other kombuchas on the cheaper end of the range.
Cost of Lo Bros kombucha
In both the UK and Australia you can find various sizes of Lo Bros kombucha in supermarkets and other food stores.
Buying the UK: around £2 for a 330ml bottle in Sainsbury’s or cheaper in bulk on Amazon UK.
Buying in Australia: $4 for a 330ml bottle in Woolworths or cheaper in bulk on Amazon Australia.
Summary
3.5 stars out of 5.
A low-calorie kombucha with a nice enough taste which includes prebiotics and apple cider vinegar for additional health benefits.
Pros
low calories
probiotics
prebiotics
apple cider vinegar
Cons
taste is lacking depth
slightly overly carbonated
includes natural sweeteners (if that bothers you)
no information on probiotics strain
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M&S x ZOE gut shot - this is both the best kefir and best gut shot in the UK in our opinion. It has 14 different strains of beneficial bacteria, prebiotics, fruits, ginger and lemon - all which have been shown to be good for the gut.
Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut enthusiast and passionate kombucha maker!
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