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DRINK THIS: GELATIN GLOW TEA BOMBS
It’s not often that I get to eat cute food, but Gelatin Glow collagen-infused tea bombs have become the most adorable way to start my day.
Made with nutrient-rich collagen and gelatin – the same ingredient that gives Jell-O its attractive wibble wobble – these “bombs” are an instant cup of tea in solid form. Pour hot water over them and, with a quick stir, they almost instantly dissolve into a delicious hot drink.
Santa Cruz-based maker Gaby Geise shapes the teas into either a chubby little lemon, for the Morning Glow lemon-honey tea, or a rounded emerald-green leaf for her Matcha Glow tea. Firm but slightly squishy, watching each one bounce into my mug brings me far more delight than dipping in a tea bag.
The only explosive thing about these “bombs” is the flavor. The citrusy, sweet Morning Glow ($20 for seven) is made of lemon, honey, ginger, bee pollen and a touch of olive oil and sea salt, and a tangy hit of apple cider vinegar. Her Matcha Glow tea ($25 for six), made with high-quality matcha, is sweetened with coconut milk and whole dates, and flavored with earthy turmeric, ginger and cinnamon. The teas last for seven to 14 days in the fridge, and up to three months in the freezer.
Geise, a mom of two little girls, was looking for ways to improve her diet and drink less coffee. She experimented by drinking flavorless bovine-derived collagen, which is said to improve the health of skin, hair, nails and digestion, in hot lemon water. In a rush one day, she put it in the fridge – when it turned nearly solid, the idea for batch-making teas to have on hand whenever she wanted them came to her.
After testing her recipes on friends and family, Geiss launched her business online in November, crafting the teas in a shared kitchen inside the Capitola Mall. Customers can order her products online through her website, and she delivers weekly to two locations in Santa Cruz and one in Capitola. Gelatin Glow will also be at the Sunday farmers market in Live Oak starting May 11, and is available online through local meal service Golden Roots Kitchen.
Geise created Gelatin Glow to make the morning routine easier and healthier for busy people like herself. “As a mom of two, it’s hard to get a little moment to ourselves. Having the ritual of drinking warm lemon water in the morning feels so good, and it’s nice to not have to go to a coffee shop to get that experience,” she said.
BEST OF THE WEEK AHEAD
Below, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
ICYMI – here are food news stories from Lookout that you might have missed.
- A brew hope: Santa Cruz homebrewing culture bubbles to life with return of community festival (Lookout)
- Downtown Santa Cruz farmers market will move to its new location May 21 (Lookout)
- Santa Cruz Oaxacan cultural festival continues despite Trump immigration fears (Lookout)
- Eaters Digest: Lacto crudité at Emerald Mallard (Lookout)
