![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Ever dreamed of enjoying your favorite sodas but with less sugar and fewer calories? Enter probiotic sodas, with the added benefit of potentially improved gut health.
For centuries, fermented drinks like kombucha have been kitchen staples across Europe and Asia. Now, they’ve been reimagined for the modern market by brands like The Superfood Company. With a diverse lineup of vegan, probiotic sodas made with fresh ingredients, Superfood’s products encompass both familiar and exotic flavors in its kefir sodas and carbonated kombuchas, Superbooch®. We tried them, and here are our thoughts about eight flavors, ranked from most to least favorite.
Peaches and Cream: Our favorite out of all the options, Peaches and Cream has a classic fruit punch taste that takes us back to our younger years drinking CapriSun and other packaged drinks. It’s juicy and refreshing, and despite all the different fruits contained within one bottle, the individual hints of peach, apple, lemon and vanilla are still distinguishable and combine to create a great burst of flavor.
Green Apple Jasmine: For those who prefer a drink milder in flavor, Green Apple Jasmine is the right choice for you. Exactly as the name suggests, this soda combines lemon green tea with herby, floral undertones. The apple and lemon pairs well with the earthiness of the jasmine. It’s a great option for any time you’re looking for something that’s not too sweet.
Hibiscus Ginger: Ginger lovers are sure to enjoy Hibiscus Ginger, which fully captures the essence of the pungent spice. The root dominates in both smell and flavor, and the drink reminded us of ginger tea. Learning to appreciate this drink may be difficult for those without a previous affinity for the root, but it certainly rewards the brave.
Signature Seven (Superbooch®): Signature Seven is kombucha with a mix of seven uncommon ingredients: lucuma, goji berry, bilberry, aronia berry, mangosteen, mesquite pods and reishi mushroom. When put together, they make for a drink that’s crisp, fruity and creamy at the same time, reminiscent of honeydew. However, the fermentation also introduces a faint overripe or rotting note that may not appeal to everyone’s taste. Even if you’re looking for probiotic sodas just to help with digestion, we definitely recommend trying this one at least once for its flavors and ingredients.
Passion of the Elders (Superbooch®): This drink infuses traditional kombucha with flavors from exotic fruits, including passionfruit, elderberry, and cupuaçu from the Amazon rainforest. It balances sweet and sour well, and its strong carbonation and tangy quality give it a refreshing feel.
Watermelon Lime: While typical beverages made from watermelon juice deliver the familiar sweet flavor we all know and love, Watermelon Lime goes beyond and captures the freshness of the rind as well. The tartness from the strong fermentation, reminiscent of kimchi or fermented radish, proved a bit too sour for our taste. Still, the lime adds a crisp, slightly sour profile that’s both unexpected and invigorating.
Real Root Beer: This new take on a classic drink uses sarsaparilla, the root in root beer, along with vanilla, cupuaçu and various tree barks. Real Root Beer stays true to the classic sweetness of root beer, along with its iconic taste. At the same time, its flavor is a bit more complex, with woody undertones and hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Though the earthiness was a little too strong for us, and the sediment at the bottom of the can was slightly off-putting, root beer lovers looking for a variation on the traditional drink may find this option right for them.
It’s POG!: Named after its three primary ingredients: passionfruit, orange and guava, It’s POG! evokes tropical flavors while also incorporating a hint of tangy citrus. We can’t quite put our finger on why, but this drink and its aftertaste felt a bit stale and unnatural. Though not among our top favorites out of the entire selection, it’s still a solid option for fans of POG, the classic Hawaiian beverage.
The Superfood Company presents a diverse selection of choices for those looking to improve gut health through its kombucha and water kefir options. Overall, most of the probiotic sodas we tried tasted natural and refreshing, each with a distinctive taste and unique blend of ingredients you won’t find in other drinks.
The carbonation, fermentation and flavor profile of each drink form an excellent bridge between the familiar and unfamiliar and create an experience fitting both for those wanting a healthier alternative to soda and for the adventurous looking to go beyond typical probiotic drinks.
