23 Kombucha Brands: A Complete Breakdown
As kombucha becomes more popular, it’s high time we looked into the most popular fermented tea brands with an emphasis on the flavoring and nutritional value of each. Due to health concerns, it’s recommended to start kombucha consumption on a low amount such as 4 oz to allow your body to acclimatize to the increased probiotics intake. This can then be scaled up to the desired amounts.
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Considerations Before Buying Kombucha
Kombucha has quite a wide range of flavors and nutrients due to the application of a wide range of substitute ingredients. As a result, it's recommended to take a couple of factors into consideration before settling on the specific kombucha brand to buy.
Unpasteurized/Raw Vs. Pasteurized
Raw kombucha is bottled directly from the fermentation process without changing its composition. It, therefore, contains a naturally balanced culture that continues feeding off the dissolved sugar until you consume the kombucha.
Pasteurized kombucha, on the other hand, has been treated with heat for preservation purposes and sealed airtight. While this is a sure way to kill invasive bacteria, it also kills the good bacteria and yeast rendering the drink less helpful. While some companies do add extra probiotics after pasteurization, it's nearly impossible to give the drink a natural amount of culture as it had before the entire process.
Flavor
There are so many unique kombucha flavors that rely on adjusting the recipe. The process typically takes place during a second ferment during which the flavoring ingredient is anaerobically fermented with the raw kombucha, and at times sugar can be added to make the drink fizzier.
Ensure that you pick a flavor that you are comfortable with if it's your first kombucha experience. Alternatively, you can choose to experiment and try out multiple flavor combinations to achieve unique tastes.
Price
Bottled kombucha can be quite pricey, and this is why the majority of avid kombucha drinkers usually take up brewing as a hobby as it’s cheaper.
The price consideration will come in handy when you have to work within a budget, in which case it's important to remember that just because a drink is expensive doesn’t mean that it has more nutritional benefits that a moderately priced brand.
Sugar Content
One of the health-related factors to consider when shopping for kombucha is the sugar amount. The amount of sugar in kombucha will vary depending on the recipe. We recommend opting for a brand with less than 5g sugar per serving. If you are trying to cut down on your calorie intake, then the best choice would be raw kombucha with the lowest sugar count per serving. Learn more about Kombucha and Sugar and Is Kombucha Bad For Your Teeth?
Alcohol Content
Raw kombucha contains around 0.5-1.5% alcohol concentration; this usually goes up by another 0.5-1% after bottling. This is considered to be quite low compared to other alcoholic beverages. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, we do not recommend consuming.
Some brands strive for higher alcohol content and therefore, must indicate their alcoholic content on the label. This is achieved by adjusting the brewing process allowing alcohol to form at a higher rate than it is being broken down by the bacteria culture.
Probiotic Content
Different kombucha brands contain varying amounts of probiotics due to the application of varying brewing setups and bottling processes. It’s recommended to avoid drinks which have pasteurized, and ‘’active’’ probiotics added as the ratios used are not as balanced as those found naturally in raw unpasteurized kombucha.
Grocery Stores and Kombucha
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Whole Foods Market |
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Albertsons |
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Kombucha Tea Brands
To derive the best flavor from your kombucha, first settle on the variety of tea. This can be influenced by many decisions such as health reasons, amount of caffeine, brew time, and type of sweetener used to feed the culture during the fermentation stage.
Factors To Consider When Picking The Best Kombucha Tea Brands:
Tasting Notes
You don’t have to be a tea sommelier to identify the best-tasting notes that are distinctive with each blend of tea. You can decide to use a single tea variety or a mix of multiple varieties to achieve the desired tea notes, which will ultimately determine how the final brew gets to taste. Alternatively, you can use a second ferment to dilute tea flavor if it turns out to be too strong.
Nutritional Information
Every tea blend contains a unique blend of nutrients which vary in concentration across the tea varieties. These range from vitamins to trace macronutrients such as caffeine. It’s, therefore, recommended picking the best-suited blend of tea leaves that fits your health goals as well as the best enjoyable flavor.
Price
Unique tea blends can be quite pricey as they have to be imported. When getting tea leaves, the best strategy is always to buy in bulk as it will be much cheaper in the long run. Consider purchasing loose leaves rather than tea bags as the extra packaging isn’t worth it when brewing the tea for fermentation.
Unique flavors are also pricier when buying bottled kombucha. However, the choice of having to buy a pricey bottle of kombucha versus a standard raw kombucha brew should also be considered from a price to benefit perspective.
Where To Buy
The choice of whether to purchase online or in store depends on personal preference. It's all a matter of convenience, and essentially you should go for the most readily available option depending on how soon you need the drink. Consider buying in bulk where transportation cost incurred is at a minimal as kombucha can be quite bulky.
1. GT's Kombucha
For over 20 years, GT’s have continued to brew top-shelf kombucha brews. What began as a SCOBY gift has now become a health trend. The firm aims at providing authentic drinks relying only on organic ingredients and handcrafted small batches. The brewing house currently has the following lineup of brands: synergy, enlightened, classic, chia, cocokefir, and cocoyo. These offer a wide range of kombucha flavors and varieties from raw to blends.
Our Recommended Flavor: Gingerade
Tasting notes: Sweet and tart with ginger flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 6g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 25
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: 0.5%-1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: 4-8mg
Price per 16 oz bottle: $2.97
2. GT’s Enlightened Synergy
Synergy kombucha is a line up of raw and organically brewed kombucha from GTs kombucha. The lineup currently has eight flavors, such as golden sage, cucumber mint, karma citra, and coffee. These are infused with the raw kombucha during the second ferment. The drinks are brewed for an extended period to allow the culture to breakdown most of the sugar, making the lineup low sugar kombucha.
Our Recommended Flavor: Synergy Mystic Mango Kombucha
Tasting notes: Sweet mango flavor with a hint of tartness
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 10g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 40
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: 0.5%-1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: 4-8mg
Price per 8 oz bottle: $2.04
3. GT’s Classic Synergy
Synergy Trilogy happens to be one of their original recipes from back in 1998. The brew relies on a blend of tart lemon and tangy raspberry as well as spicy ginger to flavor this classic drink. An 8 oz serving contains at least 30 calories, which is much lower than standard kombucha, making it highly recommended for anyone currently trying to cut down their weight.
Our Recommended Flavor: Trilogy
Tasting notes: Sweetly tart flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 8g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 30
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: 0.5%-1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: 4-8g
Price per 16 oz bottle: $2.97
4. Humm Kombucha
Humm aims to make you hum when you sip on any of their kombucha brews. Humm currently offers 3 product lineups with 13 products ranging from non-alcoholic and GMO-free raw kombucha to flavored beer kombucha. The brewing house also operates a kombucha taproom in downtown New York as well as selling their products online and in local grocery stores.
Our Recommended Flavor: Coconut Lime Kombucha
Tasting notes: Tart with hints of coconut lime
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 9g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 40
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: 0.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: 14mg
Price per 14 oz bottle: $2.99
5. Health-Ade
Health-Ade is a US-based microbrewery that prides itself on redefining commercial kombucha brewing while still maintaining the traditional flavor profile. They achieve this by fermenting all their kombucha in glass and small batches of 2.5 gallons each. This makes it much easier to keep track of the brew until it achieves the ultimate taste profile. The firm also relies on cold-pressed flavors and handcrafted preparation. Their lineup includes 16 uniquely flavored kombucha drinks.
Our Recommended Flavor: Organic Pink Lady Kombucha
Tasting notes: Sweet apple-pear flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 7g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 40
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 0.5%-1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: 8-15mg
Price per 16 oz bottle: $4
6. Revive
Revive makes brews as good for you as they are super tasty. The brewing house started as a family-owned craft brewery dealing with kombucha in California back in 2010 and has now expanded to offer their unique recipes, brewing techniques, and starter cultures. Their most common flavors include ginger lime, hibiscus, turmeric, yerba, mocha, and cucumber.
Our Recommended Flavor: Original Cola Kombucha
Tasting notes: Sweetly tart flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 8g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 30
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 1.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 8 oz bottle: $4
7. Holy Kombucha
Holy kombucha is a USA based beverage company that has been operating since 2011. The company offers a lineup of flavored kombucha brews ranging from their blood orange kombucha to raw unpasteurized kombucha. The company currently operates from Dallas and relies on locally sourced organic ingredients for all their drinks.
Our Recommended Flavor: Blood Orange
Tasting notes: Tart blood orange flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 8g
Calories per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 35
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 12mg
Price per 16.9 oz bottle: $3.30
8. Suja
Suja kombucha relies on exceptional cultures and fermenting to perfection and a final blend of flavors to brew their lineup of kombucha drinks. The adaptogen Ashwagandha is used to ensure consistent fermentation results in various batches.
Our Recommended Flavor: Organic Mixed Berries
Tasting notes: Sweet mixed berries flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 7g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 30
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: less than 0.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Suja advises, “We do not add any caffeine to our kombucha, however there is a small amount of naturally-occurring caffeine that comes from the black tea.”
Price per 15.2 oz bottle: $7.6
9. Happy Leaf Kombucha
Happy kombucha prides itself on brewing a more approachable and refreshing drink in the right way. In the spirit of keeping everything natural, the firm doesn’t use GMOs, preservatives, or pasteurization. The firm also believes in an environmentally sustainable production process and endeavors to invest in innovative spirit and organically driven brewing.
Our Recommended Flavor: Cranberry Lavender
Tasting notes: Tart sweetly cranberry flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 7g
Calories per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 30
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 0.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 8mg
Price per 12 oz bottle: $4.99
10. Kevita
Kevita master brew offers a refreshing and bold taste as an alternative to the traditional kombucha flavor. They achieve this by infusing a blend of flavors ranging from blackberry hops to blueberry basil and dragon fruit lemongrass. All of their products are GMO-free and low-calorie due to the reduced sugar content.
Our Recommended Flavor: Dragon Fruit Lemongrass
Tasting notes: Sweet-tart flavor of lemongrass
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 8g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 35
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 0.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 15.2 oz bottle: $2.68
11. Buchi Kombucha
Buchi believes that a drink should be more than just another ordinary drink and that healthy guts are the way through the current health problems facing humanity. As a result, their kombucha lineup futures raw unpasteurized brews which have undergone a second ferment to infuse them with unique flavors.
Our Recommended Flavor: 100 Kombucha
Tasting notes: Refreshing and tart
Sugar per 12 oz serving: 16g
Calories per 12 oz serving: 70
Alcohol per 12 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 0.5%
Caffeine per 12 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 12 oz bottle: $7.44
12. Brew Dr.
Brew Dr. aims at providing 100% raw kombucha with the best flavors possible. Their products range from fruit-based flavors such as strawberry to processed flavors such as chai apple, mint, and even vanilla oak. The firm believes that authentic tea provides authentic kombucha. As a result, all their ingredients are organic and sourced from authentic sources.
Our Recommended Flavor: Chai Apple Kombucha
Tasting notes: tart with cinnamon and nutmeg flavor
Sugar per 7 oz serving: 5g
Calories per 7 oz serving: 25
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Nonalcoholic via non-heat distillation
Caffeine per 14 oz serving: 15mg
Price per 14 oz bottle: $9.2
13. Kyla Hard Kombucha
Kyla offers a line up of fizzy, refreshing kombucha brews that are fermented locally in Hood River, Oregon. The firm relies on world-class brewers and microbiologists in their quest to perfect the cultures and ferments for the ultimate drink. Their drinks are indicated as alcoholic with a 4.5% alcoholic content with the right amount of fizziness.
Our Recommended Flavor: Hibiscus Lime
Tasting notes: Hints of hibiscus with tart lime flavor
Sugar per 11 oz serving: 2 g
Calories per 11 oz serving: 100
Alcohol per 11 oz serving: 4.5%
Caffeine per 11 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 16 oz bottle: $10.99
14. Whalebird
Whalebird offers gluten-free plant-based live culture brews that are bottled raw with all this goodness and the vitamins from the tea used to brew the ferment. Their kombucha drinks are tart like cider and are somewhat fizzy. This gets a boost in the second ferment during which flavors like strawberry and lemongrass are infused.
Our Recommended Flavor: Passion Green
Tasting notes: Tart with fresh notes
Sugar per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 5g
Calories per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 30
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 0.5%-1.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 12-16mg
Price per 8 oz bottle: $2.95
15. Buddha’s Kombucha
In the cozy outskirts of Oak Hill, Texas Hill Country lies Buddha’s Brew Kombucha brewhouse. This establishment has been operating since 2006 and offers over 14 flavored raw kombucha drinks that are teeming with billions of live culture and essential amino acids.
Our Recommended Flavor: Guava and Grapefruit Brew
Tasting notes: Sweet beer like flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 12g
Calories per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 56
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 8mg
Price per 16 oz bottle: $9.3
16. Lionheart Organic Kombucha
Lion Heart began its operations in 2008 as a mission to bring healthy raw kombucha to the table in Portland. The firm still relies on its original mother culture from Russia that has been brewing since the 1980s. The firm relies on organic ingredients for the second ferment flavoring process.
Our Recommended Flavor: Blueberry Ginger
Tasting notes: Sweet watermelon flavor with hints of tartness
Sugar per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 6g
Calories per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 25
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 1.5%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 12mg
Price per 12 oz bottle: $2
17. Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha
Rowdy Mermaid promises to provide the reinvention of the 2000-year-old kombucha brew. The brewery relies on the Colorado snowmelt and gets its inspiration from the local wildscape. Their flavors range from living ginger to flower grow and rowdy belly.
Our Recommended Flavor: Ginger
Tasting notes: Sweet-tart ginger taste with hints of strawberry
Sugar per 12 oz serving: 9g
Calories per 12 oz serving: 45
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise: 8-14mg
Price per 8 oz bottle: $3
18. Juneshine Kombucha
What started as a walk down the local grocery store turned out to be a lineup of great-tasting kombucha brews. The brewhouse currently offers over ten unique flavors that require a second ferment to infuse the specially blended flavors for the ultimate taste profile.
Our Recommended Flavor: Blood Orange and Mint
Tasting notes: Tart flavor with hints of citrus
Sugar per 12 oz serving: 1-4g
Calories per 12 oz serving: 130-150
Alcohol per 12 oz serving: 6%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 16 oz bottle: $5.49
19. Blueridge Kombucha
Blueridge was founded in 2010 and has since then been providing delicious handcrafted brews with their proprietary refillable bottle. This has enabled them to save over a million bottles since then. Their no waste model allows the entire brewing system to have an environmentally sustainable production.
Our Recommended Flavor: Bluegrass Bucha
Tasting notes: Sweet taste with a hint of blueberry flavor
Sugar per 6 oz serving: 7g
Calories per 6 oz serving: 20
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Less than 0.1%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 13-18mg
Price per 12 oz bottle: $5.65
20. Soma
Meet the self-proclaimed world’s healthiest kombucha, Soma Kombucha. The firm offers an extensive collection of flavored kombucha ranging from fruits to spice tastes. The brewery operates a taproom in Portland to bring kombucha on the go to the masses. Currently, the firm produces seasonal flavors such as ginger kombucha, which usually retail at a lower price during the specific season.
Our Recommended Flavor: Radiate
Tasting notes: Warm, sweet cherry chai
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 8g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 32
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: Not currently published
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 8 oz bottle: $4.99
21. Confluence
Confluence kombucha operates a brewery and tasting room with eight flavors on tap. The brewery relies on vegan and GMO-free ingredients to brew a natural and probiotic-rich drink. To provide a completely different perspective to kombucha brewing, the firm uses blended flavors, which are then infused to the raw kombucha. These include rose, honeysuckle, and vanilla.
22. Dr. Hops
Dr. Hops brand is all about health-conscious and delightful alcohol while still supply the much needed prebiotic and probiotic content. The brewhouse is currently led by a team of experts ranging from microbiologists to professional brewers, all working together to brew some of the best hard kombucha on the market.
Our Recommended Flavor: Pomegranate Chai
Tasting notes: Spicy cinnamon flavor with hints of ginger
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 6g
Calories per 8 oz serving: 100
Alcohol per 8 oz serving: 6%
Caffeine per 8 oz serving: Currently not published
Price per 16oz bottle: $7.99
23. Flying Embers
Flying embers is a California based brewing company founded in 2016. As the name suggests they were molded in a literal fire as their first brewhouse almost went up during the summer wildfires of 2016. The firm relies on ancient brewing practices to ensure that only the best botanical adaptogens make it to each brew.
Our Recommended Flavor: Ancient Berry
Tasting Notes: Sweet elderberry and goji fruit flavor
Sugar per 8 oz serving: 0g (erythritol 2.5g)
Calories per 12 oz serving: 85
Alcohol per 12 oz serving: Not currently published by the company, other sites advise 4.5%
Caffeine per 12 oz serving: Not currently published
Price per 22oz bottle: $7.79
