Wait…what is Kombucha and can it be Mad Magic?

Have you heard the buzz over kombucha? People all around the world are taking note and trying these drinks, but their benefits were first discovered many years ago. Kombucha is a fermented tea that is full of amazing health benefits. Kombucha contains probiotics which promote gut health. The word probiotic means “promoting life” and kombucha does exactly that! When your gut health is boosted, the rest of your body benefits as well. Recent studies have shown a strong connection between gut health and overall well-being. Kombucha also contains antioxidants which have been shown to help the body fight certain diseases and help cleanse the body of toxins. Another great benefit to kombucha is that it is delicious and refreshing to drink! To learn more about Kombucha and why it is good for you, check out the FAQ  on Mad Magic’s site.

Why do we love Mad Magic?

Drinking kombucha is becoming a popular go-to for people all over the world, so why did we choose Mad Magic for our farm market? One thing that caught our attention about Mad Magic is that its “SCOBY” which stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria yeast (what gives kombucha life) is brewed in an organic environment and only once to create a strong brewed taste. This means, no artificial flavorings or ingredients and no added sugar. Their kombucha is hand brewed in Northern VA to ensure the highest quality drink possible. Mad Magic claims, this is why you’ll be drinking “ purely magic” and we agree!

What are their different flavors?

Mad Magic brews a total of over 15 flavors of kombucha and we proudly sell 7 of the most popular ones in the Great Country Farms market. For a new kombucha fan, this can feel overwhelming. We found this fun personalized quiz on their site to help you narrow down the choices and find the flavor that fits your personality and taste. Mad Magic also created a page to help describe each of their delicious fermented flavors.

How can I try their products?

We are proud to offer a selection of Mad Magic in our farm market so you can pick some up on your next visit and lucky for us, Mad Magic is locally distributed! They also share their products at Farmers markets, local breweries like Vanish Brewery in Leesburg and House 6 Brewing located in Ashburn and several other pop up locations all around Northern Virginia. One of the most exciting things about Mad Magic is that they also have a tasting room, a one stop shop for all of your kombucha desires, now that’s magic!

Contact:

Website:https://www.madmagickombucha.com/ 

Phone: 540-364-2639

IG: @Madmagickombucha

Tasting Room Hours: Monday-Friday 11AM-5PM, Saturday 1PM-5PM

If you’re planning your next outing to Bluemont, leave room for cheese! We are excited to  feature Loudoun’s newest  local, natural, (and delicious) cheese from Village Cheesworks in our Farm Market and at Henway Hard Cider on their local menu.  Their products are a perfect compliment to your favorite summer beverage on the porch, charcuterie board for a night in, or grilled cheese dinner for the kids. 

Why do we love them?

When Eric Hilgartener walked into our Farm Market this spring with a small cooler and a cutting board, we were blown away by his passion and energy for the newly formed Village Cheeseworks.  We have known this Loudoun Family for years as Eric’s dad used to coach our boys in wrestling and Eric was an amazing wrestler at Loudoun Valley in his day. Now that discipline and energy is focused on making fine cheese and actively engaged in supporting and preserving family farms. Their attitude is that it “takes a village,” and we couldn’t agree more! All of their milk comes from the last Loudoun Dairy Family Farm, Potts Dairy, outside of Purcellville.  The dairy has been in operation for 5 generations and produces some of the highest quality milk for cheesemaking (think butterfat) found on the east coast.   

Another way that this cheese is uniquely local is that the Blue Cheese, aptly named, Bluemont,  is washed with our own cider from Henway Hard Cider Company. This washing process keeps the blue marbling inside the cheese rind rather and is a natural approach to creating this blue cheese rather than using a chemical wash.   

What are the different cheese varieties?

Bluemont

The Bluemont is tried and true to its name! This blue cheese pairs well with red or sparkling wine. It also pairs well with dried fruits, pears, figs, and whole grain crackers. When it comes to meat, this flavor tastes best with beef, especially steak. Uniquely cider washed with our own Henway Hard Cider.

Round Hill

The Round Hill is a beautiful example of the Brie/Camembert style of cheeses. It makes a great compliment to farm fresh plums or sweet jams and crackers. When choosing food with this cheese, think of a rich brie style flavoring.

Zulla

The Zulla is a French Muenster inspired washed rind cheese with a little bit of complex ripening for the real cheese lovers. Due to its slightly salty nature, Zulla is great on sandwiches and has excellent melting properties. This cheese is rich and designed for the true connoisseur. 

How can I try their products ?

At Great Country Farms, we carry Village Cheeseworks in our farm market for purchase. Village Cheeseworks strives to create strong relationships with the local community by offering their products at local farmer’s markets and events. They are passionate about making their products available to customers in the area. To find out more about where to try their cheese, give them a follow on Instagram!

Instagram: @villagecheeseworks

Peach Picking Perfection

We’re starting to feel the heat this summer which means one thing- it’s finally peach season at Great Country Farms! Our peach trees are loaded with some of the biggest, juiciest peaches we’ve seen in years at the farm. We want our guests to have the best peach picking experience, so we sat down with Orchard Manager, Andrew Taylor, to get the inside scoop on all things peach as we approach our Peach Fuzztival Weekend July 31- August 1, 7 & 8! 

5 Steps to Picking the Perfect Peach

1. Determine the plan for your peaches.

Peaches can be used in a variety of different ways! Determining your plan for the peaches you pick before you pick them will help you decide how ripe you’ll need them to be. If you plan on enjoying them as soon as you leave the parking lot, you will want to search for a riper, softer, peach. If you’d like to use your peaches further in the future choosing a firmer peach will be a better option for you.

2. Choose your variety.

Once you arrive in the orchards, decide which peaches you’d like to try. Will you pick both white and yellow or will you only stick to one variety? We’ve got the rest covered! Simply check in with a GCF employee and they will be happy to help guide you!

• Yellow vs. White Peaches

At Great Country Farms, we are proud to grow 20 different varieties of peaches. It’s almost hard to believe that there are so many different peaches out there!  It might seem overwhelming, When you are picking your perfect peaches, you will see that there are both white and yellow peaches to choose from. People have preferences on which they think could be sweeter based on their palette, but the sweetness is actually more determined by how long they hang on the tree. We agree that both are equally delicious.

• Donut Peaches

If you have little ones in your picking crew or are looking for a less messy peach, a donut peach may be the way to go! Donut peaches are small in size, sweet, and they make an easy, healthy snack! Donut peaches are great for the whole family to enjoy because of their small size and sweet taste. These peaches will be available for u-pick in the coming weeks. Be sure to sign up for our U-pick alerts on our website and to follow it on social media to be notified when these delicious treats are available for picking.

3. Give the perfect twist & pull.

Once you’ve spotted the perfect peach (yay!), gently grab it and pull down, removing it from the tree. Keep it safe in a bag or box from home or provided to you at the U-pick station. Now that you’ve got the hang of it, have fun and pick as many as your heart desires!

4. Store gently to prevent bruising.

We recommend picking peaches toward the end of your visit to avoid adding extra weight to your farm visit if you plan on roaming the play area and visiting our adorable animals. On a hot summer day, it is best to avoid leaving them in your car for a prolonged period of time. 

5. Take home and enjoy!

If you can resist eating them all on your drive home, peaches are best stored at room temperature on your counter top until they reach your desired ripeness. If you are looking to keep your peaches longer, you may want to learn how to can or freeze them for later use. If you can’t make it to our orchards this year, visit our farm market from 9AM-5PM daily to purchase fresh picked peaches at your convenience. You don’t want to miss this harvest!

Bonus Tip:  Plan your visit for extra family for on the farm and mark your calendar for our Peach Fuzztival (July 31-August 1,7 & 8, 2021). It’s going to be peachy!