You’ll love this Japanese fermented superfoods line as much as you love kombucha

Ever since we discovered that fermented foods are key for a happy, healthy gut, we’ve stocked up on kombucha, sauerkraut and all the kimchi we can. After all, that fermentation gives a serous boost of probiotics and other microbiome-friendly materials while giving off that tangy, tangy taste.

Then we were introduced to Manda Superfoods, a new product from Japan. Manda originally began as a sake distillery more than 300 years ago and has since shifted their knowledge of fermentation into crafting unique, plant-based, health supplements. After generations honing their skills as sake distillers, the founding Matsuura family decided to put their unparalleled knowledge of fermentation to new use by shifting their focus to supplements. Following 23 years of intensive research, the Manda family of lifestyle wellness products were born.

Cultivated at one of Manda’s many farms, ripe fruit, bountiful grains, edible sea algae, and vegetables grown from nutrient rich soil (called Kakoku Sousai) undergo a three year and three month natural fermentation and maturation process. These carefully selected and sourced ingredients spend the duration of their fermentation time in Manda’s factory, without use of added water, heat, or preservatives, to yield maximized nutritional value.

Made from more than 53 raw, botanical ingredients, Manda’s Superfood and Superdrink pro and prebiotic elixirs harness the power of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables with the added benefits of fermentation, in order to create effective products to facilitate improved immunity and digestive health.

The line is touted as a must-have in anyone’s beauty/wellness toolbox. What does this have to do with clear, glowing skin? When your digestive system is functioning at a high level, it is able to filter out and eliminate toxins that can affect your body’s largest organ - your skin. Pro and prebiotics support your gut flora, allowing you to better absorb the vitamins and nutrients in your diet, which is where Manda comes in.

We put two of their signature products to the test: the Superfood and the Superdrink. The superfood is a paste-like prebiotic botanical product can be squeezed directly into your mouth, or onto your favorite healthy foods like yogurt, grain bowls, or salads. We opted to take Superfood in the morning alongside our supplements on an empty stomach. It had an immediate impact on our improved digestion during the early part of our trial. These effects did not sustain as we continued to include it in our morning routine however that does not mean we did not continue to reap its benefits. It made for a nice alternative to the prebiotic pill form we were taking prior to adding Superfood to our morning routine. Superdrink is a prebiotic and probiotic green powder that contains the original Manda Superfood that’s found in the paste, mulberry leaves (which is more nutrient-rich than Kale), young barley leaves, which is an excellent source of fiber and iron, and matcha. We added it both to water and almond milk, and preferred the latter as it made a wonderful afternoon matcha latte.

The Superfood and Superdrink can be used interchangeably. You can take them morning or night, although, some people find them to be energizing and prefer to take them in the morning for that reason. The key is to take them around the same time each day so that the pro and prebiotics are continuously active in your system.