Kombucha is a fizzy and fermented tea you’ve likely heard about recently. They say it’s refreshing, tart, and healthy. But is kombucha alcoholic? If you’re currently in the process of recovering from alcohol addiction, then you must know before drinking any.
While kombucha is marketed as a non-alcoholic beverage, the fermentation process inherently produces a small amount of alcohol. In the following sections, you can explore kombucha alcohol content more and what to look for in your next drink. If you’re ready to begin, let’s cheers to learning more in a bit!
What Is Kombucha And How Is It Made?
Kombucha is a fizzy, tart, and slightly sweet tea that’s become a favorite among health-conscious drinkers. However, unlike common teas, kombucha is a fermented beverage made with tea, sugar, healthy bacteria, and yeast.
The fermentation begins with a sweet tea composed of tea and sugar. What entirely activates this fermentation is a culture of bacteria and yeast called SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). The bacterial culture feeds on the sugar in the tea, grows, and produces various products after a week or two. Among these end products are healthy acids such as lactic acid and acetic acid, carbon dioxide that creates the fizz, and a small amount of alcohol.
The reason kombucha is classified as a non-alcoholic beverage is because this alcohol content typically stays under 0.5% (ABV).
Does Kombucha Contain Alcohol?
So, does kombucha have alcohol? Absolutely. Most kombucha teas in stores have trace amounts of alcohol from fermentation. By federal standards, beverages such as kombucha teas containing less than 0.5% (ABV) are considered non-alcoholic.
But can kombucha make you drunk? That’s another story, especially if you’ve been trying to detox from alcoholic beverages. This is because some brands intentionally produce higher-alcohol versions of kombucha exceeding 0.5%. You’ll know this is the case if a bottle is marketed as “hard kombucha” and thereafter falls into the same category as beer and wine. As such, these hard kombucha versions are regulated accordingly and clearly labeled as “alcoholic.”
Is kombucha alcoholic? They can be, so make sure you’re always double-checking the label before purchasing a bottle.
Why Kombucha’s Alcohol Content Varies
Kombucha’s alcohol content can vary, which is something to keep in mind if you’re staying away from alcohol. This all comes down to how the kombucha is made and stored. Here are two factors contributing to the varying alcohol content of your tea.
Fermentation Time
One of the primary factors is the fermentation time. Longer fermentation times allow the bacteria and yeast in kombucha to convert more of the available sugar into alcohol. Brands typically control the fermentation to keep alcohol levels low, but even slight differences in timing can make noticeable differences. A shorter fermentation time, on the other hand, will ensure that your kombucha is sweeter and less alcoholic.
Storage Conditions
Another factor that could affect the alcohol content of kombucha tea is the storage conditions. Just because the kombucha has already been bottled means that it has finished fermentation.
Continuous fermentation is especially likely if the bottle is stored at warm temperatures. The yeast activation is partially temperature-dependent, and they thrive at room temperature and higher. When they are reactivated, they produce more alcohol and carbon dioxide over time.
Additionally, remember that continuous fermentation can occur even for sealed bottles, especially if you expose them to heat for too long. This is precisely why these bottles are often labeled “Keep refrigerated.” Keeping these drinks cold slows the fermentation process and maintains its alcohol levels.
Is Kombucha Safe For Those Avoiding Alcohol?
Is kombucha alcoholic? The trace amounts of alcohol produced during fermentation don’t bother most people. However, you may want to pay closer attention.
Most brands are transparent and clear about their alcohol content. You’ll even find that the vast majority of them will fall under the federal threshold for non-alcoholic beverages. However, you still want to keep fermentation time and storage conditions in mind. If you’re very sensitive to alcohol at the moment, it may be wiser to avoid kombucha altogether or, at the very least, stick to the brands you know you can trust.
For example, some brands create zero-alcohol versions by using special brewing methods. These are great options if you really enjoy the taste and health benefits of kombucha tea, and would love to stop worrying about alcohol.
In Conclusion
So, is kombucha alcoholic? The answer is it does contain alcohol, but only in small amounts. Generally speaking, kombucha tea is federally classified as a non-alcoholic beverage. However, there are some things you have to consider, such as the brand variations, fermentation time, and storage conditions.
Ultimately, whether kombucha is safe depends on your comfort level, how strictly you must avoid it, and your current recovery stage.
If you’d care to join us for some tea and how you can enjoy it while in recovery, contact us at the Restore Health and Wellness Center today!
