Hibiscus & Lime Jun-Kombucha - Loving Foods - 330ml

Ditch the sugary, syrupy artificial "Golden Milks". This is a bioavailable powerhouse designed for actual health. No fillers, no "magic powders"—just an earthy, anti-inflammatory hug in a mug. Proper fuel for a foggy morning.

This is a perfect hot beverage for cold autumn evening!

This warming healthy beverage is perfect for cold autumn and winter evening.

Hydrating, refreshing home made ice tea made with hibiscus flower and a hint of lemon.

This warm Ashwagandha tea will help your body adapt to stress and feel more relaxed.

What you drink is shaped, more than we like to admit, by what happens to be in the cupboard. When the easiest thing to hand is a sugary fizzy drink, that's what gets poured. Stock the good stuff instead, and the healthy choice becomes the lazy one. Here are four kinds of drink worth keeping in permanently, so there's always something better than a can of pop within reach. Magnesium water Magnesium water has become a bit of a wellness talking point, and there's a sensible idea underneath the hype. Magnesium is a mineral the body needs for normal muscle and nervous-system function, and plenty of us don't quite get enough of it from food. Magnesium water simply means water with extra magnesium in it, whether that's a naturally magnesium-rich mineral water or plain water with a drinking-grade magnesium or electrolyte supplement stirred in. It's a gentle way to top up while you hydrate. One important safety point. Magnesium water for drinking is not the same as Epsom salts, which are magnesium sulphate meant for the bath, never the glass. If you want to try it, use a product made and labelled for drinking, follow the dose on the pack, and check with a pharmacist or doctor first if you take medication or have kidney problems. Natural juices A good natural juice earns its place too. The ones worth keeping are 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice with nothing added, rather than the sweetened "juice drinks" that are mostly sugar and water. A splash brings flavour, a little natural sweetness and some vitamins to breakfast, smoothies or a jug of water. Two honest caveats. Juice still counts as free sugars, so it's a small glass alongside a meal rather than something to sip all day. And it's no replacement for whole fruit, which brings the fibre juice leaves behind. One juice that pulls its weight is prune juice, a traditional aid for digestion. Our prune juice is a handy one to keep in the door of the fridge. Fermented drinks If there's one category to add to your cupboard this year, make it fermented drinks. Kombucha and kefir are lightly fizzy, tangy and full of the live cultures associated with a healthy gut. They make a genuinely satisfying swap for a soft drink, with far less sugar and a lot more character. The research on gut health is still developing, so treat them as a tasty part of a varied diet rather than a cure, but they're an easy, enjoyable habit to build. Our kombucha range runs from classic ginger to zesty citrus and low-sugar options, so our Organic Ginger Kombucha is a good place to start. And for a version that lives in the cupboard rather than the fridge, our instant kombucha sachets stir straight into water, ready whenever you want one. Plant-based milk Plant-based milk is the quiet workhorse of a well-stocked pantry. Oat, soya, coconut and almond drinks all keep unopened for months in their ambient cartons, which makes them ideal to buy ahead and always have in. You'll reach for them constantly: in coffee and tea, over cereal and porridge, blended into smoothies, and in cooking and baking wherever a recipe calls for milk. A couple of pointers when you choose one. Go for unsweetened where you can, and look for versions fortified with calcium and vitamins if plant milk is a regular part of your diet. Oat drinks are the most versatile all-rounder, so a carton of organic oat milk is a sound default to keep on the shelf. Building your drinks cupboard You don't need all of these at once. Pick the ones that suit how you actually drink, keep a small stock in, and let them become the easy option. A carton of oat milk for the everyday, a bottle of real juice for flavour, a kombucha for when you fancy something fizzy, and a magnesium or electrolyte drink to hydrate with. Fill the cupboard with the right things and the rest takes care of itself.

Prune juice has a reputation as a bit of a grandparent's remedy, wheeled out only when digestion needs a nudge. That sells it short. This dark, sweet, surprisingly versatile drink has real, science-backed benefits and plenty of uses beyond a morning glass. Here is an honest, evidence-based look at what prune juice does, how it compares to whole prunes, and the best ways to enjoy it. What is prune juice? Prune juice is made from dried plums, or prunes. The prunes are rehydrated and the juice is extracted with water, producing a thick, dark, naturally sweet drink. Because it starts from an already concentrated dried fruit, prune juice is rich in flavour and natural sugars, which is why a small glass goes a long way. What prune juice actually does The best-known benefit of prune juice is supporting healthy digestion, and there is good reason behind it. Prunes, and the juice made from them, are naturally high in sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that draws water into the gut and has a gentle softening effect. This is the main reason prune juice is such a well-known, traditional aid for keeping things regular. It is one of the few home remedies with a genuine, understandable mechanism rather than just folklore. Prune juice also provides some useful nutrients, including potassium, which supports normal muscle and nerve function, along with plant compounds that act as antioxidants. It is worth being realistic, though: prune juice is a helpful, natural option for occasional digestive support, not a treatment for any medical condition. If you have ongoing digestive problems, it is worth speaking to a healthcare professional. Prune juice or whole prunes? This is the key question, and the honest answer is that they do slightly different jobs. Whole prunes keep all of the fruit's fibre, which juice largely loses during extraction, so whole prunes are the better choice if you want the full fibre benefit and a satisfying snack. Prune juice, on the other hand, still delivers plenty of sorbitol, is quick and easy to drink, and suits people who find it hard to chew dried fruit or who simply prefer a drink. Many people use both. If you would like to try them, our prune juice is an easy way to enjoy the benefits in liquid form, while our Organic Pitted Prunes give you the whole fruit and its fibre. For more on the fruit itself, our guide to the health benefits of prunes goes into more detail. How much prune juice should you drink? A small glass, around 120 to 150ml, is a sensible serving. If you are new to it, start with a smaller amount and see how you get on, because the same sorbitol that helps digestion can cause wind or a loose stomach if you drink a lot at once. Many people find a small glass in the morning works well, and you can always warm it gently, which some prefer on a cold day. Clever ways to use prune juice Prune juice is far more versatile than its reputation suggests. Beyond drinking it neat, try it in these ways. Blend a splash into a smoothie for natural sweetness and a digestive boost, especially alongside banana and oats. Use it in place of some of the sugar or liquid in baking, where it adds moisture and a deep, fruity sweetness to cakes, loaves and flapjacks. Reduce it gently in a pan to make a rich, sticky glaze or sauce for roast meats, which works beautifully with pork or lamb. Or drizzle a little over porridge or yoghurt instead of honey or syrup. If you enjoy cooking with the fruit, our guide to cooking and baking with prunes has plenty more ideas. A few sensible things to know Prune juice is a natural product, but a little honesty helps. It is concentrated, so it is naturally high in sugar, and juice sugars count as free sugars, the kind UK guidance suggests we keep an eye on. Stick to a small glass rather than drinking it like water, and be mindful of teeth, as with any sweet drink. Prune juice is not suitable as a remedy for babies or young children without medical advice, and if you are managing a health condition or taking medication, it is worth checking with a healthcare professional first. Prune juice deserves better than its dusty reputation. It is a naturally sweet, easy-to-use drink with a genuine, well-understood benefit for digestion, and it earns its place in the kitchen as much as the medicine cupboard. Enjoy it in a small glass, or get creative with smoothies, bakes and glazes, and this old-fashioned favourite quickly starts to feel a lot more modern.

If your morning coffee seems to cost more than it used to, you are not imagining it. Coffee prices have risen sharply in recent years, and behind that trend sits a mix of climate, economics and supply pressures that is unlikely to ease soon. There is also a second, less obvious change worth knowing about: some of the cheaper coffee on the shelves is not entirely coffee. Here is an evidence-based look at what is going on in your cup. Coffee is a fussy crop Most of the coffee we drink is arabica, and it only grows well in a narrow band of tropical highlands with the right temperature, rainfall and altitude. That makes it unusually sensitive to weather. A single bad season in a major producing country can move the global price, because supply is concentrated in relatively few places. Brazil and Vietnam alone account for a large share of world production, so when they struggle, everyone feels it. Why prices keep climbing Several forces have pushed prices up at once. The biggest is weather. Droughts and frosts in key growing regions have repeatedly damaged harvests, and climate change is making these extremes more frequent while slowly shrinking the amount of land suitable for growing arabica. As the climate warms, the cool highland zones coffee needs are moving higher up mountainsides and running out of room. On top of that come rising costs all along the chain. Fertiliser, energy, shipping and labour have all become more expensive, and those costs are passed through to the finished product. Both arabica and the hardier robusta variety have hit record or near-record prices on global markets in recent years, and market speculation can amplify the swings. Put simply, there is less coffee than demand would like, and it costs more to grow and move. That is a recipe for higher prices. Why your coffee may not be pure anymore Here is the part many people miss. When the raw ingredient becomes expensive, there is a commercial temptation to make it go further, and coffee has a long history of adulteration. Because ground and instant coffee are, by their nature, already broken down into powder, it is difficult for a shopper to see exactly what is inside. Laboratory testing has repeatedly found cheaper fillers bulking out some ground and instant coffees. Common additions include roasted chicory, barley and other cereals, maize, soybean, and even coffee husks, twigs and other by-products. These are not always declared clearly. This does not mean all coffee is suspect, reputable brands sell exactly what they say, but it does mean the cheapest products are the ones most worth scrutinising. The more processed and the more anonymous the coffee, the harder it is to know what you are drinking. How to know you're getting real coffee The simplest safeguard is to buy whole beans and grind them yourself. Whole beans are almost impossible to adulterate, because you can see exactly what you are buying, and grinding fresh also gives you noticeably better flavour and aroma. Choosing coffee from a transparent, reputable source, and looking for clear origin information, gives you further reassurance. If you would like to make the switch, our Roasted Organic Whole Coffee Beans come in a generous 1kg bag, so you get pure, single-ingredient coffee with nothing hidden, and better value per cup than small tins of pre-ground. Getting more from every cup With prices high, it is worth making your coffee count. Store beans in an airtight container away from heat and light, and grind only what you need just before brewing to keep the flavour at its peak. Buying in larger quantities, such as a 1kg bag, usually works out cheaper per cup than repeatedly buying small packs. And using slightly less of a good, full-flavoured coffee often gives a better result than piling in more of a weaker one. Coffee is getting more expensive because it is a climate-sensitive crop grown in a few vulnerable regions, hit by extreme weather and rising costs across the board. Those same pressures make cheaper, heavily processed coffee more likely to be bulked out with fillers. The good answer to both problems is the same: buy whole beans from a source you trust, grind them fresh, and enjoy coffee that is exactly what it claims to be.

With heatwaves now a regular part of the British summer, knowing what to reach for keeps you cool, hydrated and feeling well. Here is a sensible guide, starting with the best choice of all. The quick answer: On a hot day, plain water is the best drink for staying hydrated. It has no sugar, no calories, and your body absorbs it easily. When you sweat a lot you also lose minerals, so a naturally mineral-rich water such as a magnesium water can help replace them. For variety, lightly fizzy fermented drinks like kombucha, real-root ginger beers and botanical sodas, diluted natural juices, coconut water, and homemade lemonades and infused waters, all add interest while keeping you hydrated. Go easy on alcohol, very sugary fizzy drinks and large amounts of caffeine, which do less for you in the heat. Why does what you drink matter more in hot weather? When the temperature climbs, your body sweats to cool itself down. Sweat is mostly water, but it also carries dissolved minerals called electrolytes. The main one is sodium, but you also lose potassium and magnesium. During a UK heatwave you can lose far more fluid this way than on a mild day, often without noticing. If you do not replace that fluid, you can become dehydrated. Early signs include thirst, a dry mouth, dark yellow urine, tiredness, dizziness and headaches. The simple fix is to drink regularly through the day rather than waiting until you feel parched, and to top up minerals after a lot of sweating. What is the best drink on a hot day? Water. It is the most effective everyday choice for hydration, it has no sugar or calories, and it is cheap and easy to find. The NHS recommends drinking plenty of fluids in hot weather, with water as the mainstay. A few practical tips make it easier to drink enough: Keep a bottle with you and sip steadily rather than gulping a lot at once. Cool water, rather than ice-cold, is often easier to drink in larger amounts. Add slices of lemon, cucumber or mint if plain water feels dull. You are more likely to keep drinking something you enjoy. Eat water-rich foods too, such as cucumber, tomatoes, melon and berries. Why drink magnesium water on hot days? When you sweat, you lose magnesium along with other electrolytes, and magnesium has a direct role in how your muscles and energy levels work. Under the official GB and EU nutrition and health claims register, magnesium is authorised to carry these claims: it contributes to normal muscle function, to electrolyte balance, and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. These are often the first things to suffer when you are hot and tired. A naturally magnesium-rich mineral water is an easy way to take some on board while you rehydrate. Donat Mg Magnesium Water is a naturally sparkling mineral water from Slovenia that is naturally high in magnesium, rather than having a little added in. Because it is so mineral-dense, it is sensible to introduce it gradually and drink it alongside your ordinary water, not in place of it. Kombucha and fermented drinks Kombucha is lightly sparkling tea that has been fermented with a culture of bacteria and yeasts. It is refreshing, slightly sharp in taste, and usually has much less sugar than a typical fizzy drink. Served cold, it makes a good alternative to soft drinks on a warm afternoon. Worth trying from our range: Organic Ginger Kombucha, Equinox (250ml) Organic Classic Jun-Kombucha, Loving Foods (330ml) Organic Lemon & Ginger Jun-Kombucha, Loving Foods (330ml) Ginger beers and botanical sodas A ginger beer made with real root ginger, or a botanical soda built on plant and fruit extracts, gives you something fizzy and full of flavour without the heavy sweetness of standard cola or lemonade. These are treats rather than everyday hydration, but a cold bottle on a hot day is a better choice than a sugary energy drink. Organic Hot Ginger Beer, Luscombe (270ml) Organic Ginger Beer, Belvoir (750ml) Zesty Yuzu Bamboo Water, Juno (250ml) Natural juices and coconut water Natural fruit juices give you fluid plus some vitamins, but they also contain natural sugars, so they hydrate best when you dilute them with still or sparkling water. This stretches the flavour and lowers the amount of sugar per glass. Coconut water is another summer favourite. It is naturally refreshing and supplies electrolytes including potassium and a little magnesium, which is why it has a reputation as a natural hydration drink. Coconut Water, Vita Coco (1L) Homemade lemonades and infused waters If you want something cooling without buying it, a jug of homemade lemonade or infused water is cheap, quick to make and lets you keep the sugar low. A few that work well in summer: Classic lemonade: fresh lemon juice topped up with still or sparkling water, sweetened lightly to taste. Lemon and thyme: lemon slices with a couple of sprigs of thyme, left to infuse for an hour. Fresh lime: lime juice and a few slices over ice, topped with sparkling water. Watermelon: blend watermelon, strain out the bits, and finish with a squeeze of lime. Cucumber water: a few slices of cucumber left in a jug of cold water for a couple of hours. Keep any added sugar to a minimum so these stay refreshing rather than sickly. For a simple homemade electrolyte drink after heavy sweating, add a small pinch of Fine Himalayan Salt to a glass of lemon water. What should you go easy on in the heat? Some drinks do less for you when it is hot. Alcohol has a mild diuretic effect and can leave you more dehydrated, so it helps to alternate alcoholic drinks with water. Very sugary fizzy drinks deliver a lot of sugar without quenching thirst well. Large amounts of caffeine can also have a mild diuretic effect, so if you drink a lot of coffee or energy drinks, balance them with extra water. None of these are off limits. They are simply not the best choices during a heatwave. Key takeaways Water is the best all-round drink for hot weather. Sip regularly rather than waiting until you are thirsty. Heavy sweating loses minerals. A magnesium-rich water such as Donat Mg helps replace them, and magnesium is authorised to support muscle function, electrolyte balance and reduced tiredness. Kombucha, real-root ginger beers and botanical sodas are refreshing lower-sugar treats. Dilute natural juices with water, and coconut water adds electrolytes like potassium. Homemade lemonades and infused waters (lemon, lime, thyme, watermelon, cucumber) are cheap, low-sugar ways to stay hydrated. Go easy on alcohol, very sugary drinks and large amounts of caffeine, and alternate them with water. Stock up for the summer at Whole Food Earth® Donat Mg Magnesium Water, naturally sparkling and rich in magnesium Organic Ginger Kombucha, Equinox (250ml) Organic Classic Jun-Kombucha, Loving Foods (330ml) Organic Lemon & Ginger Jun-Kombucha, Loving Foods (330ml) Organic Hot Ginger Beer, Luscombe (270ml) Organic Ginger Beer, Belvoir (750ml) Zesty Yuzu Bamboo Water, Juno (250ml) Coconut Water, Vita Coco (1L) Frequently asked questions What is the best thing to drink in hot weather? Plain water is the best everyday drink for hydration in hot weather because it has no sugar or calories and is absorbed quickly. When you have been sweating heavily, a mineral-rich water and electrolytes help replace what you lose. Is magnesium water good for hot days? Sweating causes you to lose magnesium, and magnesium is officially recognised as contributing to normal muscle function, electrolyte balance and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. A naturally magnesium-rich water like Donat Mg is an easy way to top it up while you rehydrate. Introduce it gradually, as it is very mineral-dense. Does kombucha hydrate you? Yes. Kombucha is mostly water, so it adds to your fluid intake, and it is usually lower in sugar than standard fizzy drinks. Served cold it is a refreshing alternative to soft drinks. Are fizzy drinks bad in a heatwave? Very sugary fizzy drinks do not quench thirst well and add a lot of sugar. Lower-sugar options such as kombucha, real-root ginger beer and botanical sodas are better choices, and water remains the best for staying properly hydrated. How much should I drink on a hot day? There is no single figure, as it depends on your size, activity and how hot it is, but the general UK guidance is 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, with more when it is hot or you are active. Use thirst and the colour of your urine as a practical guide; pale straw is what you are aiming for. Sources: Authorised magnesium claims via the EU Register on nutrition and health claims (Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012) and the EFSA scientific opinion on magnesium. Hot-weather hydration guidance: NHS, how to cope in hot weather. This article is general information, not medical advice.

In the world of bottled water, most brands are essentially just filtered tap water in a plastic bottle. They might boast about being "spring fresh," but they offer very little in the way of actual nutritional density. If you're building a clean-label pantry, you know that every calorie—and every sip—should work hard for your body. Have you heard about Donat magnesium water? It isn't just water; it's a functional, single-ingredient powerhouse that has been a European secret for centuries. For those looking to support their gut health and nervous system without relying on synthetic supplements or artificial "coloured" fortified drinks, Donat is a total game-changer. What Makes Donat Different? Donat comes from a unique natural source in Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia. Unlike standard mineral waters, it is one of the most magnesium-rich waters in the world. We aren't talking about a trace amount; Donat contains roughly 1000 mg of magnesium per litre. In a modern diet, magnesium is often the "missing mineral." Because our soils are increasingly depleted, even those eating a Non-UPF diet can struggle to hit their targets. Donat provides this essential mineral in a highly bioavailable, liquid form that the body can actually use. The Health Benefits: Beyond Simple Hydration 1. A Natural Hero for Gut Health Donat is most famous for its ability to support digestion. It is clinically proven to help the digestive system function naturally. The combination of magnesium and sulphate ions helps to draw water into the digestive tract, making it a gentle, honest way to maintain regularity without the need for industrial laxatives or "tacky" chemical interventions. 2. Reducing Tiredness and Fatigue Magnesium is the "spark plug" of our cells. It's involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including energy-yielding metabolism. If you're feeling that 3 PM slump, a glass of Donat can help support your nervous system and reduce fatigue far more effectively than a third cup of coffee. 3. Muscle and Bone Support For those with active lifestyles, magnesium is non-negotiable for muscle function and electrolyte balance. Donat helps prevent the "jittery" feeling of a deficiency and works alongside your clean-label pantry staples—like Pumpkin Seeds and Organic Oats—to ensure your mineral stores are topped up. How to Drink It Because Donat is so nutritionally dense, you don't drink it like ordinary water. It is a functional booster. For Digestion: Drink 0.2L to 0.3L at room temperature first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. For General Mineral Support: Drink 0.1L to 0.2L cold or at room temperature before meals throughout the day. The Taste: It has a distinct, slightly metallic and salty flavour because of its high mineral content. It doesn't taste like "nothing"—it tastes like integrity. Ditching the Artificial Supplements Most magnesium supplements on the UK high street are filled with "nasties": magnesium oxide (which is poorly absorbed), bulkers like microcrystalline cellulose, and coloured artificial coatings. By choosing Donat, you are choosing a Non-UPF source of minerals. It is water, gas, and minerals—nothing else. No industrial binders, no synthetic flavourings, just "soil to spoon" (or in this case, "spring to glass") nutrition. Magnesium in Donat Mg plays a vital role and works on several health difficulties in combination with a varied and balanced diet as part of a healthy lifestyle. Reduces stress, fatigue & tiredness Replenishes the electrolytes Helps with muscle cramps Rebalances magnesium deficiency Revitalises the lost minerals Eliminates heartburn & indigestion Absorbs better & faster than pills Is an excellent natural recovery drink Stock Your Functional Pantry Looking to elevate your health without the artificial industrial shortcuts? Source your high-integrity staples through The Club. Joining our private UK wholesale community is free and unlocks prices up to 55% off.

Walk into any UK high-street shop today, and you'll see rows of colourful bottles labelled "Kombucha". It has become the go-to drink for the health-conscious, but few people actually know what it is. Is it a tea? Is it a cider? Is it just fizzy vinegar? At Whole Foods Earth, we like to look at the biology. Kombucha is a fermented tea, but unlike a standard brew, it is a product of a symbiotic relationship between bacteria and yeast. Meet the SCOBY: The Biological Engine The heart of every batch of kombucha is the SCOBY. This stands for Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast. To a normal person, it looks like a rubbery, beige pancake. To a scientist, it is a highly organised "biofilm"—a living city where billions of microbes work together. How the "City" Works: The Yeast: First, the yeast in the SCOBY "wakes up" and eats the sugar you've added to the tea. It turns that sugar into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide (the fizz). The Bacteria: Then, the bacteria (Acetobacter) take that ethanol and convert it into organic acids—like acetic and gluconic acid. This 7-to-21-day "hand-off" is why kombucha has that signature tart, vinegary tang. If the bacteria didn't do their job, you'd just have alcoholic tea! The Great Sugar Myth One of the biggest questions we get in the UK is: "If it's healthy, why is there sugar on the ingredient list?" Here is the scientific truth: The sugar isn't for you; it's for the microbes. Sugar is the fuel that keeps the SCOBY alive. During the fermentation process, the bacteria and yeast consume the vast majority of that sugar. By the time you drink it, a raw, traditionally made kombucha is very low in sugar, but high in the beneficial acids and B-vitamins created during the process. Real Kombucha vs. "Kombucha Soda" Because kombucha is popular, many large drinks companies have started making "fake" versions. As a consumer, you need to know the difference: Real, Raw Kombucha: It is unpasteurised and "alive." You might see a little bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle—that's a good sign! It means the microbes are still there. It needs to be kept in the fridge to stop the bacteria from over-fermenting. Kombucha-Flavoured Soda: Some brands take a sterile, fizzy tea, add a bit of kombucha flavouring, and then pasteurise it (kill everything) so it can sit on a warm shelf for months. This is basically just "dead" tea with bubbles. It has none of the organic acids or live cultures that make real kombucha a health staple. Why Your Liver Loves Organic Acids The "secret weapon" of kombucha isn't just the probiotics; it's the organic acids. Specifically, Glucuronic Acid. In clinical studies, this acid has been shown to assist the liver in "conjugation"—a fancy word for grabbing hold of toxins and escorting them out of the body. When you drink raw kombucha, you aren't just getting a refreshing drink; you're giving your body a biological tool to help clean itself. How to Choose a Real Brew When shopping at Whole Foods Earth or your local independent shop, look for these three markers of truth: "Keep Refrigerated": If it doesn't need a fridge, it's likely been heat-treated (dead). "Raw/Unpasteurised": This ensures the enzymes and acids are intact. Low Sugar (post-fermentation): Check the nutritional label. A real ferment should have less than 4g or 5g of sugar per 100ml. Explore our range of Raw, Organic Kombuchas