Whether you’re getting ready to do Sober October (refraining from any alcoholic beverages during the month) or cutting back on booze in general, it’s always nice to have some festive-looking beverages on hand that feel more special than, say, a glass of water. Don’t get me wrong—hydration is important—but sometimes I want something with a celebratory that’s both zero-proof and not loaded with sugar.
Fortunately, there are a lot of new, nonalcoholic beverages on the market now that feel party-worthy without the hangover or the sugar rush, but I don’t think I’ve found any that are as beautifully packaged as MaraBela Sparkling Tea.
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MaraBela’s Sparkling Tea comes in a really gorgeous champagne-style bottle, complete with a cork to pop (nothing starts a party like that sound). It has all the elements of a special bottle of wine, except that inside is a bubbly, non-alcoholic tea.
MaraBela
After traipsing through Lisbon this summer and enjoying a little something at nearly every quiosque I passed (if you know, you know), I decided to take a break from my usual glass of wine and bring a bottle of MaraBela to a friend’s house recently. It was a BYOB situation and since my friend doesn’t drink, it felt like the perfect time to give the sparkling tea a try.
I will say, I had zero FOMO as almost everyone around me popped bottles of wine while I chose to sip tea. Everyone was really curious about the bottle and equally impressed by the effervescence while pouring it into a glass flute.
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What Does It Taste Like?
I love an iced tea anyway, but I was really impressed by this blend that brings together several teas and botanicals for a flavor that’s bright, fresh and a little bit floral. It’s a fusion of Sencha green tea, Chun Mei green tea, White Peony tea, lemon verbena and a touch of lavender. Much like wine, it’s a layered blend that’s refreshing without being one-note.
What I really love is that there are only three grams of sugar per serving and eight milligrams of caffeine per glass, which is similar to a cup of decaf coffee. This is important because if I’m drinking it in the evening, I don’t want a ton of caffeine or sugar to lead to a restless night’s sleep.
Now that I’ve sung its praises, let me prepare you for a little sticker shock. A 750 ml bottle of MaraBela costs $20, and you can find it at marabelatea.com. I get that it sounds like a lot for a bottle of tea when you can buy a 59-ounce bottle of Pure Leaf at Target for $4.29. With that said, MaraBela is a special occasion drink, or the bottle you pop when you want to create a moment.
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