July 24, 2024

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Sunrise 5:46 a.m. | Sunset 8:47 p.m.
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The ‘world’s healthiest kombucha’

A person holds a glass of yellow colored liquid. Designs on the front of the glass read "SOMA Kombucha taprooms."

You’ll find flavors like boysenberry beet, ginger lemongrass, and pear fennel, as well as flights and “Yappy Hours,” at SOMA’s Southeast Portland taproom. | Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

People have been experimenting with fermentation since ancient times, changing milk to yogurt and brewing alcoholic drinks from fruit, honey, and rice. Mead, beer, and wine craft even predates the smelting of metal. Indeed, our relationship with the microorganisms responsible for breaking down sugars is an old one; today, the fruits of that friendship are colorful and wide-ranging.

Kombucha represents one drop in the ocean of fermented beverages. With the earliest recipes dating back over 2,200 years to China’s Qin Dynasty, kombucha is not a new fad — but its local popularity has bubbled over since marketing began in the US in the 1990s.

What is it?

Sugared green, black, or white tea is fermented with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (or “SCOBY”) to create the slightly fizzy, acidic, sweet beverage with at least trace amounts of alcohol.

Similar to fermented foods like sauerkraut or kefir, kombucha can help rebalance a drinker’s gut flora. But its health benefits may go far beyond that: one study found kombucha “has several health benefits due to its antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anti-bacterial properties.” (It’s important to note that kombucha can contain varying amounts of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.)

Portland 🤝 kombucha

Portland-based SOMA Kombucha claims to make “the world’s healthiest kombucha.” Jean-Pierre Parent opened the business in 2008 after his home-brewed ‘booch attracted a following.

A man wearing a green shirt with the words "SOMA, balance, and jun-kombucha" on the front stands before a row of taps anchored to a blue wall. — The name SOMA is “from the Upanishads, means elixir, I think it’s referring to the nectar that’s secreted by the pineal gland during deep meditation,” said Parent.
|
Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday

“My mom started brewing in the ‘80s and experienced some really helpful benefits,” he said. “Fast forward 20 years and I was teaching yoga in Portland, noticing that people would shyly roll up their mats and leave class; I had a sense they were looking for community. So I started bringing mom’s recipe kombucha after class for people to enjoy and gather, and it just snowballed from there.”

SOMA offers a handful of bottled flavors, as well as several rotating brews at its three (soon to be four) taprooms. Each is made using a slow fermentation technique that Parent says encourages higher levels of probiotics and healthier organic acids.

Asked

Do you drink kombucha?

A. Kombucha is life, I drink it daily
B. Yes, but not every day
C. Tried it, but it’s not for me
D. Never have I ever had a sip

Let us know

Events

Wednesday, July 24

20th Annual Washington County Fair | Wednesday, July 24-Sunday, July 28 | Times vary | Westside Commons, 801 NE 34th Ave., Hillsboro | Free | Big fair fun awaits you on amusement rides, watching live entertainment and livestock exhibits, digging into the food, and more.
Duckworth Summer Wednesdays | Wednesday, July 24 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Kevin J. Duckworth Memorial Dock, Eastbank Esplanade, Portland | Free | Cool off by cannonballing into “the best swimming hole in Portland’s central city” and listening to a setlist by Bike DJ PopCartPDX.

Thursday, July 25

Last Thursday | Thursday, July 25 | 6-9 p.m. | Locations vary, Northeast Alberta Street, Portland | Free | Artists, art vendors, musicians, performers, and visitors will spill into a car-free Northeast Alberta Street for an evening of revelry.

Friday, July 26

SneakerWeek K.I.C. Off | Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28 | 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Ave., Portland | $35-$85 | Kick off this annual week-long celebration of sneaker culture with three days of workshops, product launches, demonstrations, and more.
Wizarding Weekend | Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28 | Times vary | McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland | Free | You don’t need a portkey to access this event where Harry Potter trivia, costume contests, magical food, film screenings, and more await — all muggles welcome.

Saturday, July 27

Portlandia Mermaid Parade & Festival | Saturday, July 27 | 12-4 p.m. | Japanese American Historical Plaza to Poet’s Beach, Portland | Free | Join the ninth annual shell-abratory procession of local merfolk as they make a splash along the waterfront.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Development

Construction is underway on Darcelle XV Plaza along Southwest Harvey Milk Street between Ninth and Park avenues. When it’s completed next summer, the space — formerly O’Bryant Square — will honor the late drag queen, Darcelle XV, and feature a stage, a wall of fame for prominent LGBTQ+ leaders, and art. (KGW)

Art

Portland Art Museum (PAM) now offers special glasses that enhance colors for wearers with red-green color blindness. A grant from the French American Museum Exchange funded the purchase of the EnChroma glasses (adult and youth sizes are available to check out), as well as PAM’s “Sensing Art” collection featuring tactile art. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Sports

Mike Johnston stepped down as head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, handing the role to assistant coach Kyle Gustafson. Johnston coached the Western Hockey League team for 13 seasons, guiding them to five WHL Finals appearances, a 2013 championship, and 544 wins. He’ll continue serving as team president and general manager. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Asked

Could Portland still land a women’s professional basketball team? WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said further expansion plans will be revealed by the end of 2024. Portland was being “actively considered” for a team in 2022; those plans halted over Moda Center renovation concerns. (Portland Business Journal)

Real Estate

When you think of an urban Airbnb, a cabin with cedar shake siding and a huge pine tree growing up through a green front porch is likely not what you imagine. The forest-retreat vibes don’t end there: the 1923 home for sale on Northeast Russell Street also has mushroom-shaped doorways. (Portland Monthly)

Listen

Are the Trail Blazers done editing their roster, or do they have more moves up their sleeve this offseason? Locked On Blazers takes a stab at predicting the future — and explains what didn’t shake out as expected.

Edu

✏️ Setting up for success

Small metal cups hold an assortment of school supplies, including colored pencils, scissors, paintbrushes, and rulers.

Let’s get local classrooms stocked with supplies so kids can focus on learning. | Photo by Pixabay

The start of Portland Public Schools’ 2024-2025 school year is a little over a month away and teachers are stocking their classrooms with supplies to make sure students have the tools they need to succeed. Oftentimes, teachers use their personal finances to make it happen.

We want to show our support by helping local teachers cross items off their school supply wishlists. If you, or a teacher you know, has a wishlist let us know for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

If you’re a teacher and don’t have a wishlist but need help with school supplies, check out Schoolhouse Supplies. The local nonprofit offers a free supplies store for teachers at schools in the Centennial, David Douglas, Gresham-Barlow, Parkrose, PPS, and Reynolds school districts where 50% or more of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Share a wishlist

The Buy

The perfect shoe for the rest of summer: Birkenstock’s waterproof slide sandal, which comes in bright and cute colors like purple fog, coral peach, and popcorn.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

Eating outside is one of my favorite summer activities. If you agree, check out the upcoming outdoor dining series, Hayward Evening Suppers. The first event is on Saturday, Aug. 10 and features a coursed, farm-to-table meal with drinks at a secret location near Canby that’s revealed after you buy a ticket.

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