Hi All,
So each night I get home after work and have a beer or 2. I like it cause it is cold and refreshing. I am going to stop drinking for a while and need to replace my after work drink with something.
I don't want to drink soft drink due to the sugar content, don't want to drink hot drinks so I guess I'm stuck with water or cordial.
Any suggestion from the people out there?
P. S I do not like ginger beer
I agree! I started making it a few months ago and love it. For those who don't know what Kombucha is, it is basically fermented sweet tea - though it tastes nothing like tea once it is brewed. The pain version tastes a bit like cider to me. I love that you can change the flavours using different types of tea and that it has a natural occurring carbonation. Very refreshing! You can grow your own scoby straight from a bottle of store bought Kombucha too. Although it uses sugar when brewing, this is consumed by the scoby, so the end produce it very healthy and low in sugar. The scoby looks freaky when brewing it, but damn it tastes good and is healthy so you don't have to feel guilty! Plenty of guides and info on Google regarding how to make it. Give it a go with a store bought bottle first and you won't look back!
I agree with Kombucha. Lightly sparkling, low calorie, low sugar. I just basically just this, black coffee (mornings) and water (filtered through a basic Bunnings ceramic filter).
You have almost convinced me to try it. I also assumed it was some disgusting filthy drink people forced down their throats.
I will buy a pre-made one. Any brand suggestions?
FWIW, you might find the bottled kombucha sold to mass market are pasteurised (I.e. no live culture to grow a scoby of your own), or are full of sugar/sweetness to appeal to "normal" people, a bit like how (liptons?) bottled iced tea can be too sweet. The (taste) comparison wouldn't be the same. Maybe try to find a kombucha stall at any hippy/food markets near you, that way you'll be tasting a freshly made 'live' culture and they'll tell you if they've added any flavourings to it like fruit or whatever.
Sorry can't help you on the brands, once you make it yourself for "free" it's hard to justify spending money on one haha but I have been curious how it tastes compared to home brewed kom.
I got given a scoby starter from a friend so I am not sure about which brand is better than others sorry. Before that, I had never tried it, and like you, I thought it would taste like crap because it was one of those things that all the hippy or super healthy people drink - so I was shocked at how good it tastes. I have given my other friends a try too and they were amazed at the flavour.
I like mine to be strongly brewed so it has more of a cider flavour, but for those who like a sweeter flavour, they just don't ferment it for as long.
Just like you can grow your own yoghurt from store bought natural yoghurt, you will be able to do the same with Kombucha. Realistically, any raw plain Kombucha that has not been flavoured will be fine to start from but not all scoby are equal, so if you can find some Kombucha or a scoby from a friend or a market then that would be best. It is highly unlikely that anyone would pastuerise or put artificial or additional sugar in it, as that would either kill all the probiotics or destroy any health benefits - which would stop most of the target market buying it (as it is mostly health conscious people who buy it).
I brew mine in one of those big glass jugs with a tap on it and just keep it going (as I use some I top it up with some amount of sweet tea). This saves the hassle of multiple jars and regular sterilisation. Because it naturally has quite a high acidity level like vinegar, it should remain quite sterile, but if it is diluted down a lot, then you have to be a bit more careful (though they have been making this stuff in far less sterile conditions than or kitchens for years!). The scoby looks freaky but the Kombucha tastes freakin great! Once you have the simple set up with a good scoby, you will never look back.
For those of you that are into probiotics and vinegary drinks like kombucha and apple cider vinegar, Water Kefir is also pretty good, and doesn't take as long to be ready to drink, only 24-48 hours instead of a week or two. So much easier and cleaner than milk kefir and doesn't need to be kept in the fridge. The taste is a bit like weak cordial, more subtle than kombucha as kefir is not brewed with tea (and so doesn't have any traces of caffiene). or the taste can be made more vinegary/concentrated if you leave it grow longer before bottling just like kombucha. I have grown my kefir grains into 3 x 500-1000ml jars so that I only need to bottle it once a week or longer if I forget, they don't seem to mind!
I find the grolsch flip top style bottles are great to keep these drinks in after they've brewed, if you put a tiny amount of honey or sugar in and seal it and leave it a week then they will have eaten the sugar and converted it into bubbles for a fizzy tasty drink (or if you can't wait, just mix with soda water).
Cost wise, just like kombucha once set up (glass jars/bottles/starter grains) its basically free, just a small amount of sugar or honey for the probiotics to grow and the time/space/effort you want to put into it.
us dr pepper
Zilched Slurpee.
catch me outside
How bout dat
All i need is water and coffee. I will have a glass of wine with dinner a few nights per week as a treat.
you shouldn't drink to much wine. it is not good for your liver.
Squeeze a quarter lemon into about 1L of water. Add the pulp if you like it.
Nothing wrong with an ice cold VB after work mate
It's the 3 + beers that's starting to worry me.
Just reading that comment has given me a taste!
I also enjoy beer most nights and I don't want to drink sugary, caffeinated drinks either.
Schweppes makes a sugar free mineral water. It actually tastes like there is sugar in there, but I think it's citric acid?
There are a variety of flavours, which I buy when they're on special for ~$1. My local Woolworths only sell the Lime flavoured one. Here's a link for Coles Raspberry, Lime and peach so you know what bottles to look for. You have to watch out though, as Schweppes does similar flavoured mineral waters that have a heap of sugar.
There is another brand that does something similar as well, but can't remember the name.
Edit: Keep an eye out on Price Hipster, as you'll see when Coles has them for $1.10. Woolworths also has them for a similar price, but doesn't list them on their website. I think I've seen them in IGA previously too. Don't pay $2.41! (unless you're buying 1 to try!)
Obviously, they're much nicer cold than warm…. :)
Diet rite cordial is sugar free and have a range of flavours. Try the strawberry and guava mixed with soda water - tastes great!
Gin and tonic.
Wow what a question and I thought we as humans were advanced enough to think for ourselves.
Stick to ice cold water and you'll be good.
It sounds kinda lame and the plastic bottles are wasteful but..
I just buy 24 packs of bottled water and crack one open when I get home, its the convenience of having a bottle ready and it has encouraged me to drink more water.
For me it was never the alcohol itself I loved but just the action of opening the fridge, grabbing a bottle, opening it and downing some.
Flavoured mineral water also has some sugar in it it.
I enjoy sparkling water :)
Can't go wrong with this for 75c! The fizzy-ness helps you feel like you're not drinking water too https://shop.coles.com.au/a/a-nsw-metro-greenacre/product/coā¦
69c at Aldi!
:O
Juice?
Cold carbonated water if you like fizziness
Non alcoholic beer is my option throughout the week.
Served iced cold you cannot tell the difference.
I prefer the schlossgold variety you get from woolies!
Otherwise we have diet lime cordial with soda water.
Then on weekends all the hard work is undone with wine beers and shots ;)
That's the thing, I have a few beers each night, then on the weekend it's normally one night on the turps. 6 Alcohol free days is a good thing, 1 or 2 not so good.
Pepsi vanilla max :)
They say a glass of red wine a day is good for your health.
Agreed š
What's the reason for stopping drinking? Is it the alcohol or the additional carbs etc from the beer?
I mainly drink sparkling water at home to avoid sugar drinks - it's really the fizz that I like.
Just finding that drinking is becoming a daily habit.
Weight loss has nothing to do with it.
The more I respond to the posts the more I think about what I want.
I think I like drinking beer because it is chilled in the fridge, in a easily accessed container I. E. Nice cold bottle, unopened, and one use so no going flat.
Maybe all I really want is any drink in a can or glass bottle that I can store in my fridge? I say no soft drink, because drinking soft drink every night at 6pm doesn't appeal to me.
Hmmmm
A lot of people have recommended apple cider vinegar in water. If you like that, you could consider a shrub (a "vinegared syrup" used as a mixer; not the plant thing that grows in the front yard). Not sure if this would pass the OzBargain test though - they're pretty hipster and have a price point to match.
I loved the suggestion way up near the top of soda water with lime juice and mint, but I suspect I would never do that because it would be too much hassle. It might be worth considering what role your evening beer(s) serve in your life at the moment. In addition to beer(s) being cold and refreshing, I suspect your current ritual works because it's easy and it feels a little luxurious, which is nice when you are tired at the end of the day and feel you need a reward. If you can find something that ticks the boxes of how the ritual fits in to your life, the change is much more likely to stick.
I will sometime treat myself to a Bundy Sarsparilla, acquired taste, but I love it. Sugar content is probably a little high though.
Normally it's just water. A nice filter and chiller can help if you have bench space.
ice cubes, water and fruit in a blender.
I use whole apples and peeled oranges, seeds and all
Easy - Ribena with lots of ice cubes
Ive been through the same problem.
Theres two answers I have found
Still have the odd beer after work but the two above seriously help.
Try iced tea or iced tea w/ milk, can be with sugar or without, depends on how you want it:
Milktea:
Simply ignore step 1
And use two black tea bags instead of one
Then at last put milk and stir
Always put sugar before putting ice or it won't melt. However, it can be mixed with sugar syrup otherwise
Sodastream some cold water and add then a squeeze from those $1 bottles of lime and/or lemon juice from the supermarket.
Very refreshing.
Maybe you can ask Donald Trump if you can join in on one of his golden showers
Coconut water?
Strangely enough it doesnt appeal to me, but I will buy a bottle and try it.
My local woolworths has real coconuts. Much better than the packaged stuff & it's quite nice sipping from a fresh coconut while trying to relax after work…except it's a double let down when you realise you're really not on holidays & still have to go back to work again tomorrow :'(
I was the same, I have mineral water but i have a stash of these in the fridge at work to change it up a bit - https://www.naturallysweet.com.au/our-products/drink-productā¦
Grapefruit juice and mineral water.
One part grapefruit juice to five parts mineral water.
Highly recommend!
I like your idea.
Have a challenge and try fermented black carrot juice (Åalgam) - sour and salty but I find it very refreshing. Better with meat. Non alcoholic.
It's definitely an acquired taste though!
I have a sodastream and it's great for making sparkling water. I just drink it plain and go thru 1-2 litres a night easily - it's so refreshing and I'm now totally in a habit of wanting it above any other drink. And because I use tap water it's good for my teeth because of the fluoride. For something sweeter Liptons peach iced tea cordial is delish too and you can make it really special in a jug w some ice, sliced fruit and mint. Sparkling apple juice can be nice too - haven't tried to do it in the sodastream though, just the regular one you buy like appletiser. Or blend up a little smoothie w ice, yoghurt, frozen fruit or berries, honey and skim milk - just experiment w ingredients and you'll find it's really satisfying and filling too.
Rivet from Aldi is cheap if price is the issue
https://www.aldi.com.au/en/groceries/liquor/beer-cider/laundā¦
$1.08 a can
If you're limiting alcohol intake, there are many tasty non-alcoholic beers available. The German wheat beers tend to be the nicest, probably because they're so popular in Germany and Austria..
Come on man! Beer can't be replaced!
Ice tea buddy.
monday - lemon
tuesday - peach
wednesday - raspberry
thursday - cucumber
friday - BEEERRRRRR
saturday - BEEEEERRR
sunday - lemon
Seriously if you taper BEER off too fast u're going to die.
Too much sugar unless you make your own with say stevia or use honey as something more beneficial
Milk.
Water is a great drink. Flavored mineral water is great as well. The natural flavors are delicious.
apple cider vinegar and soda water :)
Sparkling water. It's $6.50 for 24 bottles from Coles. (600ml)
I'll check this out. I like the single use convenience of bottles
Yeah same here. I find I drink a hell of a lot more water now this way. Sometimes I take a few sips and then poor in a little ginger ale for some extra flavour.
Once you get into it, you'll never need to drink soft drinks anymore.
We gave up drinking alcohol 6 years ago.We now drink non alcoholic beer . We drink Coopers Birell ultralight. Dan Murphy's,Cole's and Iga stock it.$25 a case in DM.$7.20 six pack. Love it.I wish restaurants and bars stock it. It kills me paying $5 for a fizzy drink. HTh.
Have you considered making your own Gin and Tonic?
A good one to start off is mixing some Hendrick's Gen with some cucumber and tonic water.
I find Hendrick's is a good place to start as it is quite mild and tastes really fresh due to the notes of cucumber and rose.
Slowly you can work your way to other combinations of different tonic waters and Gins.
I love gin and we always have at litres of it in the cupboard. When ever we travel OS all we ever buy is 2 litres of gin each, nothing else.
Our favorite is Bombay.
Sculling 3 gins wont solve my problem though, or then again it might solve all my problems :)
Chrysanthemum tea with a hint of honey will do. It best when drunk warm, not hot. Also jasmine tea with ice, a nice refreshment. A lime juice mixed with soda, a bit of sugar and some mint with ice.
How about just sticking to beer ? Healthier than the alternatives being suggested.
I have been thinking the same thing.
I used to grab a couple of beers when I get back home but not anymore because, after quite a while, I found that the hunger causes the temptation for beers. Try to finish your Dinner, maybe call it as Supper before 6 PM then you will see some difference.
Also try to make Lime juice with some ice cubes, salt and a spoon of sugar. You would love it!
This could very well be my problem.
We eat with the child now so cant really snack when I get home cause dinner is normally ready within 30min, so I grab a beer. Once I have finished eating, I do not drink anymore.
I was just watching Jamie's Super Food recorded on fetch TV (from Ten Network) and he was making Pomegranate Ginger and Lime drink. Looks simple and great.
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/pomegranateā¦
He also made another one with watermelon if iirc.
Appletiser, anyone?
A fresh cut lime slice squeezed then dropped and lightly stirred into almost freezing cold soda water is insanely refreshing!
But dont dare moderately stir it. Tastes awful then.
disgusting.
Coles Diet Tonic - it is cheap, you can buy it in little glass bottles if you like, or just use 1.25 litre bottles and drink what you like each night and throw out the rest if you think it is too flat the next day. It costs seventy five cents and tastes adult enough to replace alcholohic drinks.
Spoil yourself and get some delicious fresh squeezed orange juice! There's a few to choose from, some pretty cheap like $5-$6.
I get it once a week lately.
Definitely kombucha! You can even make your own to cut costs and experiment with flavourings.