Getting to Know Kombucha

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha, like cider, is a fermented beverage. In this case, tea (green or black), sugar, and bacteria & yeast are the main components. The symbiotic mixture of bacteria and yeast for kombucha is known as a SCOBY. Kombucha does contain alcohol as it goes through the fermentation process. Kombucha can ferment for as little as a week and for as long as desired, but generally 30 days.

Also like cider, companies are adding flavors, adjuncts, etc. to open the range of kombucha offered. Kombucha generally tastes fermented, vinegar-like, and effervescent. As companies have made kombucha for some time now, many offerings do not have that potent, overbearing sour flavor. Kombucha has the ability to take on the flavor of the fruits, florals, spices, or herbs added to the mix.

Is Kombucha Healthy?

Here are some of the known benefits of kombucha:

1. Kombucha is a probiotic and aligns your gut health
2. It can lower your risk of cancer
3. It can lower your risk for infection
4. It can lower your risk of heart disease
5. It can help with weight loss
6. It can help with Type 2 diabetes management
7. Contains antioxidants

References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-kombucha-tea#section8
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319630.php#what-is-kombucha

Does Kombucha Have Alcohol In It?

Generally, kombucha has a low level of alcohol content. As of late, that trend has changed. Brewers of hard kombucha have been making mixtures with an abv around 5%, higher than your run-of-the-mill beer.

Some companies making that boozy stuff:

• Booch Craft (7% ABV) https://boochcraft.com/
• Kombrewcha (4.4% ABV) https://kombrewcha.com/
• Flying Embers (4.5% ABV) https://flyingembers.com/flavors/
• KYLA Kombucha (4.5% ABV) https://www.kylakombucha.com/flavors/

What Kombucha Tastes The Best?

To be honest, I haven’t really got my hands on the boozy kombucha, so I can not speak to that side of things too much. I will, however, start delving into that in the near future.

For non-alcoholic, such low ABV that anyone can drink it, I have a few great selections from the world of kombucha I’ve explored.

Humm Kombucha

I was able to taste almost all of what Humm has to offer, and I was so surprised by what they were doing. They offer several 5g of sugar kombuchas, hopped kombuchas, and kombucha flavors like mango passionfruit, coconut lime, blueberry mint, and more! All of their offerings are USDA organic, Gluten-free, and GMO-free. Their kombucha is also made with organic cane sugar and organic fruit juices.

What I also love about Humm’s story is this business is founded by two women, Jamie & Michelle. They have created a patent-pending fermentation process called FIP. In this process, it ensures consistency, stability, limits alcohol content, and ensures that the microbial activity is active.

What I love about their kombucha is that they are not overwhelming in ways many kombuchas can be. They are subtle on the vinegar side, not overly bubbly, but maintain a consistent, controlled flavor throughout. They hold the flavor of the added juices, but it never becomes too acidic, always balancing after every sip. My favorite offering they had was hopped grapefruit, along with the rest of the hopped series. They have mastered the combination. I like how it gets a hint of bitterness, some of the mouthfeel, but, by the end of it, a smooth, almost creamy grapefruit flavor that dries the mouth. This, as always, entices another drink. I love what they offer at Humm and you, too, can buy their product across the US!

Revive Kombucha

Another kombucha company I adore is Revive. They offer more of the punchy, bombastic kombuchas. While I love the more subtle Humm kombuchas, I also sometimes want to have a more punchy experience. Revive’s offerings are more candy-like, rich, delicious, hitting you more directly with the organic fruit juices.  As a vegan, non-gmo, gluten-free, roughly 5g of sugar kombucha company, you can rest assured that this is a great option for you and your family all year round.

I was able to try their canned series with flavors like citrus ginger, mango orange, cherry hibiscus, and strawberry lemon. I like the taste combinations and the overall design Revive puts into the airwaves. My favorite was cherry hibiscus. Like I said before, their flavors were punchy in all the right ways. I love the cherry flavor, but the hibiscus opened up the flavors beyond the general tartness you’d expect from the cherry. Very effervescent offering here that has the rich color of cherry juice. 

When I say some of their kombucha is soda-like, it makes sense after reading their origin story. Sean & Rebekah Lovett took their passion product and gave it a home.

“Years ago, my wife Rebekah handed me my first Kombucha as she was attempting to get me off my serious soda habit. Having tasted nothing like it ever before, I nearly spit it out. I did, however, keep giving it a shot and actually did love what it was doing to my health. I simply just started feeling better all around. The Revive Kombucha seed was planted.”

Local Options: Forage & NessAlla Kombucha

Being near Madison, Wisconsin now (was living in Nashville, TN), I sought out some local options for Kombucha. I won’t dig into too great detail, as many of you won’t be able to try their kombucha, but, if you are in the area, I suggest Forage kombucha and NessAlla Kombucha. Forage takes on more of a floral, fruit-rich flavor. NessAlla takes on more of a sweet flavor with high levels of carbonation.