Discovering Carpinteria’s Not-So Secret gem
Picture this: you’re hanging out with your high school best friend who happens to live in another state. You finally see each other for the first time in over a year and you’re looking for a delicious and fun California experience.
Enter: Carpinteria
There are many words to describe this beautiful little beach town but a few that immediately come to mind are:
• Quaint
• Cozy
• Fun
It’s very rare you find a town that’s both small and booming at the same time, especially any proximity to a major city like Los Angeles.
Personally, I grew up going to close beaches like Ventura or Oxnard, but Carpinteria was always low on our radar because my family and I always associated it with being overcast.
It wasn’t until we decided to invest in the cutest beach home property in 2021 that I discovered the the true beauty of Carpinteria.
Without a doubt, I am forever grateful for the peaceful and beautiful experiences I’ve had in this little beach town.
From being walking distance of pretty much everything to the morning coffee at Lucky Llama, or the yummy Thai dinner at Siam Elephant or having the best smoothie ever at Pacific Health Foods store called the “Mint Chip”, everything a health-conscious low-key person could ask for is all in one place.
Matcha Latte from Lucky Llama
So of course I would take my best friend to this amazing little town and enjoy all the goodness it has to offer!
It started off with having some not-so-heavy ciders at Rincon Brewery out on their patio — which by the way has the most DELICIOUS gluten free shrimp tacos, just ask to have it lettuce-wrapped — and seeing this cute little restaurant with live folk music across the street.
To my surprise, we ended up at this clean rustic-modern style wine bar called Sunburst that had the BEST options ranging from local wines to local beers and my introduced me to my new favorite: hard Kombucha and Mead.
Sipping on yummy Mead (right) and Wine (Left)
Thankfully, they offered Mead and Hard Kombucha from the lovely Apiary Brewing Co., and here’s why I went absolutely loco when I found out the meadery/cidery was right down the street:
Hard kombucha has become a gluten-free alcohol sensation and to my delight, it’s not super sugary and has good gut health benefits.
Mead, which is basically fermented honey and water, is tasty, light and also gluten-free. It has been considered one of the first and longest beverages in human history.
Not only does it taste delicious, but it also has medicinal properties and considered “a drink for the gods” according to German and Nordic legends. Our own modern word “honeymoon” comes from the very legends of mead’s boost in virility and fertility(1)!
Let’s also mention the plethora of Biblical references to honey which is usually relating to its goodness, nourishment, and satisfaction — all glory to God who created these busy bee’s!
Ooey gooey goodness from Nevada City
As an herbalist, it’s always amazing to find other makers who value both quality and bold creativity — and even better when herbs are involved!
My friend and I both had a flight of 6 and there were over 15 options to choose, ranging from ciders, to hard kombucha and Jun to my now-favorite, mead. We were definitely excited to try a majority of them.
Starting with botanical and slightly sour kombucha and jun, their profile reminded me of sweet sparkling wine with full body flavor and thankfully zero notes of chemicals, over tartness, or turning (if you’ve made your own kombucha at home, you know what I mean).
Then we transitioned to ciders and to my surprise, they were light and refreshing! My only experience with cider, as of recent, has been really heavy and overly sweet bubbly apple juice. This was far, far from that.
Finally, we went to the mead — I saved the best for last!
It had been a couple years since my last experience with mead at the SoCal Renaissance Fair, and to be honest, I enjoyed it a little too much and couldn’t remember how the taste was. It was good enough to drink a lot!
While enjoying my first mead in years, I started with the star of the show — “Golden Clover”.
Friends, when I tell you this is one of the most delicious alcohol drinks I’ve tasted, I’m telling you the God’s honest truth. This mead is INCREDIBLE — light, dry, Vanilla-tasting and oh-so refreshing!
Visiting the Apiary Beverage Co. was a pleasant, wonderful, and memorable experience that I will remember (and recommend!) for years to come. It’s ran by husband and wife, and formulated with health in mind — the perfect spot for friends, laughs, and good drinks.
Danielle Waterman
Danielle is a Certified Herbalist & Nutritionist and teaches people about health and wellness using herbs and traditional lifestyle habits.
References
(1) O’Riordan, M. (2016, January 23). Looking into the long history of mead. Irish Examiner. https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandgardens/arid20377522.html#:~:text=The%20ancient%20Greeks%20called%20mead,gathered%20in%20by%20the%20beeseeks%20called%20mead,gathered%20in%20by%20the%20bees