Cover Prebiotic sparkling beverages from Supergulp, healthier soda alternatives (Photo: Supergulp)
Prebiotic sparkling beverages from Supergulp, healthier soda alternatives (Photo: Supergulp)
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Get locally made soda alternatives and prebiotic refreshers from Super Gulp, Topo Kombucha, Uinah Craft Sodas and more
When craving a sweet treat in the middle of a work day or an ice cold beverage on a particularly sunny afternoon, you most likely reach for intensely sweet fizzy drinks. Conventional canned sodas can provide much needed refreshment but as mindsets shift towards sustainability, local sourcing, and personal wellbeing, homegrown drink specialists have begun to offer healthier alternatives to help you cool down.
In an effort to support local businesses in the spirit of Merdeka, we’ve taken the liberty of sourcing local craft soda and kombucha brands you should try if you can’t keep away from fizzy drinks. From kombucha infused with kelulut honey to craft sodas flavoured with Sabahan produce, you’ll be able to placate your cravings with the help of this list.
Uncle Jeff Drinks
Above Bottles of kombucha and Jun Tea (Photo: Instagram / @unclejeffdrinks)
Bottles of kombucha and Jun Tea (Photo: Instagram / @unclejeffdrinks)
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Known for its impressive selection of kombucha, Uncle Jeff Drinks also offers its signature sparkling tea infused with kelulut honey. Find inventive kombucha varieties from apple pie and roselle to nutmeg and chrysanthemum. For a soda alternative a little left of centre, look no further than Jun Tea.
The brand works closely with indigenous communities in Perak to source local, organic honey before combining it with its signature kombucha.
Uinah Craft Soda
Above Craft soda made with roselle (Photo: Instagram / @uinahbeverages)
Above Sodas infused with ginger and wild honey (Photo: Instagram / @uinahbeverages)
Craft soda made with roselle (Photo: Instagram / @uinahbeverages)
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Born out of a passion for ginger beer and an idea to showcase Sabah-sourced ginger, Uinah Craft Soda shines the spotlight on healthier sodas made with local produce. The brand has championed Bornean culinary heritage since 2019 with a lineup of sodas infused with spicy Sabahan ginger, roselle buds harvested by hand, wild rainforest honey from Borneo, calamansi, and black tea grown at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu.
See also: Borneo Doll: Wesley Hilton is preserving indigenous Malaysian culture on a miniature scale
Supergulp
Above Supergulp’s range of flavours (Photo: Supergulp)
Supergulp’s range of flavours (Photo: Supergulp)
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So much more than your average can of soda, Supergulp is a local specialist in sparkling prebiotic beverages. Each can is packed with Vitamin C and prebiotics that support gut health and better digestion. They are low in sugar and calories but packed with flavour that’s super refreshing, you can currently find them in three flavours: watermelon pineapple, lychee lemon, and lemon lime.
Topo Kombucha
Above Cinnamon and clove kombucha (Photo: Instagram / @topolivingfoods)
Above Dragonfruit and turmeric kombucha (Photo: Instagram / @topolivingfoods)
Cinnamon and clove kombucha (Photo: Instagram / @topolivingfoods)
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A budding homegrown kombucha brand, Topo Kombucha sets itself apart by educating beginner drinkers about the benefits of kombucha. Visit their Instagram and find posts that delve into the healthy organic acids found in this ferment, how antioxidants can combat inflammation, and that champion holistic wellness.
Topo Kombucha is available infused with lemon and ginger, cinnamon and cloves, and dragonfruit and turmeric.
Don’t miss: Culinary cures: The Sleepy Girl Mocktail and other wellness trends
The Tapping Tapir
Above Sodas from The Tapping Tapir (Photo: Instagram / @thetappingtapir)
Sodas from The Tapping Tapir (Photo: Instagram / @thetappingtapir)
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Perhaps one of the most popular local craft soda labels, The Tapping Tapir can be found in virtually every brunch hotspot, upscale grocery store, or minimart. Its signature range of flavours houses a variations crafted with real juice and local aromatics, from hibiscus and lime to lemonade and lengkuas.
The craft soda specialist also offers sparkling infused waters to help with hydration and gut friendly prebiotic sodas with hints of apple cider vinegar to boost immunity.
Finding Hylas Kombucha
Finding Hylas Kombucha brings together the worlds of personalised supplement plans and refreshing beverages with its one-of-a-kind customisable ferments. You’ll be able to personalise bottles of kombucha according to your wellness needs and preferred flavours to help address your health goals.
Choose from one of its blends that aid immunity, digestion, and inflammation or mix and match turmeric, spirulina, guava, and more in a bottle entirely unique to you.
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About
Chelsea is a Dining Writer for Tatler Malaysia. When she’s not eating or writing about eating, she’s probably deciphering which oat milks froth the best for homemade flat whites.
Work
Chelsea writes about where to find great food and is passionate about exploring the cultural significance of different cuisines.
