Is kombucha alcoholic?

Yes, according to Dutch law, kombucha is alcohol-free. However, there is a very small amount of alcohol in kombucha. But don't worry, this isn't an alcoholic drink that will get you drunk. Instead, it is a natural byproduct of the fermentation process.

How much alcohol is in kombucha?

Kombucha contains as much alcohol as a ripe banana or a carton of fruit juice that has been left out of the refrigerator for several days. That's less than 0.5% ABV, making it considered alcohol-free by law . Our Untamed Kombucha contains approximately 0.2 to 0.3% ABV.

Does kombucha make you drunk?

But don't worry, kombucha won't make you drunk. The alcohol content is so low that you would have to drink at least two large cases in ten minutes to feel anything. Don't worry, we tried to test it, but after eight bottles our bellies were completely full. Fun fact: there are plenty of horses in the world who have gotten drunk after eating a lot of overripe apples.

Why is there alcohol in kombucha?

The answer is simple: fermentation. Kombucha is made by fermenting tea and sugar with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). During the fermentation process, the yeast eats the sugar and produces carbon dioxide and a small amount of alcohol. The bacteria then use the alcohol as food and convert it into organic acids.

Is alcohol in kombucha bad for you?

Now you might be thinking - wait a minute, isn't alcohol bad for you? Why would I want to drink anything that has even a little bit of it in it? But fear not, kombucha lover, because the small amount of alcohol in our kombucha is not harmful to your health and will not make you drunk. In fact, it is a natural byproduct of the fermentation process, which you see in many other products. Think of yogurt, vinegar, bread and kefir.

How much alcohol is in Untamed Kombucha?

The duration of fermentation largely determines how much alcohol is contained. Yogurt, bread and kefir are fermented in a few hours to a day, so the alcohol content is really negligible. Vinegar needs months to break down the alcohol. And what about kombucha? When kombucha is about three weeks old it can contain up to 1.0% ABV. Very young and very old kombucha contain virtually no alcohol. At Untamed Kombucha we make a blend of these different kombuchas, which means they contain only 0.2 to 0.3% alcohol.

How much alcohol is in kombucha that you make at home?

We personally find homebrews tastiest after a number of weeks, when the amount of alcohol also happens to be at its highest. Some people like kombucha better when it has only been slightly fermented in one week. And another is very sour, after the kombucha has been standing for more than a few weeks. So it is difficult to answer this, but it could easily be 1.0%. Do you want to be sure that there is a negligible amount of alcohol in your kombucha? Then you better drink an Untamed Kombucha!

What is 'hard' kombucha?

Hard kombucha is kombucha with alcohol, often between 5% and 8%. The brewing process is consciously adjusted halfway through fermentation, so that the bacteria no longer have the opportunity to convert the alcohol. You can do this by not allowing any more oxygen and adding a different type of yeast such as champagne yeast. In the Netherlands you don't see much 'hard' kombucha yet, and Untamed Kombucha doesn't brew it either. We are very curious!

Can you drink kombucha when you are pregnant?

Although the alcohol content in kombucha is negligible, it is still not recommended for pregnant women, young children, and people with liver disease. To be sure, ask your doctor, who has studied this. And while you're there, ask immediately what you should do with overripe bananas and fruit juices during pregnancy.

Would you like to know more about kombucha? Is kombucha healthy? Read more about it on our about page. Order kombucha? Take a look at our webshop .