Is kombucha alcoholic?

Is there alcohol in kombucha? How much alcohol is in Kombucha? Why does kombucha contain alcohol? How much alcohol is in kombucha that you make yourself? What is Hard Kombucha? Can you drink kombucha when you are pregnant? These questions are all answered below.

Let's get straight to the point: yes, there is a very small amount of alcohol in kombucha. But don't worry, this is not an alcoholic drink that will get you drunk. Instead, it is a natural by-product of the fermentation process.

How much alcohol is in Kombucha?

Now, the question you all want to ask: exactly how much alcohol is in kombucha? Good news, dear readers, Untamed Kombucha contains as much alcohol as a ripe banana or a carton of fruit juice that has been out of the fridge 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 get you drunk?

But don't worry, kombucha isn't going to get you drunk. The alcohol content is so low that you would have to drink at least two large cartons in ten minutes to feel anything. Don't worry, we tried to test it, but after eight bottles our belly was full. Fun fact: there are plenty of horses in the world that got drunk after eating a lot of overripe apples.

Why is there alcohol in kombucha?

Now that you know that kombucha contains a little bit of alcohol, you may be wondering why this happens. 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 does not make you drunk. In fact, it is a natural by-product of the fermentation process, which you see in many more products. Think of yoghurt, vinegar, bread and kefir.

How much alcohol is in Untamed Kombucha?

The duration of the fermentation largely determines how much alcohol it contains. Yoghurt, bread and kefir are fermented in a few hours to a day, so the alcohol content is really negligible. Vinegar needs months to process, and this has broken down the alcohol again. What about kombucha? When kombucha is about three weeks old, it can contain up to 1.0% ABV. Very young and very old kombucha contains virtually no alcohol. At Untamed Kombucha we make a blend of these different kombuchas, so that it contains only 0.2 to 0.3% alcohol.

How much alcohol is in kombucha you make at home?

We ourselves think homebrews taste best after a few weeks, when the amount of alcohol happens to be highest. Some people like kombucha better when it's only slightly fermented in one week. And another very sour, after the kombucha has been standing for longer than a few weeks. It is therefore difficult to answer this, but it could just be 1.0%. Want to make sure there's 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 deliberately adjusted halfway through the fermentation, so that the bacteria no longer have the chance to convert the alcohol. You can do this by not adding any more oxygen and adding another type of yeast such as champagne yeast. In the Netherlands you don't see that much 'hard' kombucha, and at Untamed Kombucha it is not brewed either. We are very curious!

Can you drink kombucha when you are pregnant?

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

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