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How + Where to Buy Kombucha (+ a Bonus Kombucha-Based Mocktail Recipe!)
When kombucha first appeared on the scene, it was considered a fringe product—a mysterious new bottle among the green teas and juices at a select few natural-food stores. Fast forward a few years and it’s now everywhere (even Costco!). But even though it’s firmly rooted in the mainstream as a go-to healthy beverage, many people still have questions about the fizzy wonder-drink.
Today, we’re breaking it down for you. Read on for everything you need to know about kombucha, including what it is, what to look for when buying it, and a (huge!) list of some of our favorite spots to buy it around the country. And for those days when you feel like changing up your kombucha routine, scroll all the way down for our Liquid Gold Mocktail recipe!
SO…WHAT EXACTLY IS KOMBUCHA?
Known for containing beneficial probiotics, kombucha is a fermented, slightly fizzy tea drink made from a starter (similar to sourdough).
Due to the fermentation process, kombucha often contains 1% alcohol (some more potent varieties require an ID to purchase) and has live enzymes—which is why it’s kept refrigerated and is often sold in dark bottles (light can affect the enzymes). Kombucha may give your immune system a boost and help your digestive system work a little better.
THERE ARE SO MANY KOMBUCHAS OUT THERE. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?
First, look for kombucha made without added sugars or juices when possible. Some sugar is unavoidable, as it’s required for the fermentation process. But sugars that are added after the fact simply to sweeten the drink should be avoided.
Second, check to see whether the kombucha is raw or pasteurized. Pasteurization kills the probiotics—and they’re a big part of why we drink kombucha in the first place!
Third, check out the bottle. As mentioned above, a darker glass bottle ensure that those all-important probiotics are alive and well.
Beyond those three steps, the rest comes down to personal preference. Some Kombuchas have a mild flavor, while others are more intense. Some stick to a purist recipe, while others have “bonus” ingredients like chia seeds (if you’re new to the drink, you may need to work up to those since the texture takes some getting used to).
Some of the best kombucha out there is the stuff that’s brewed locally, so when possible, reach for a local brew. You can often find this on tap to buy by the glass or growler at grocery stores, breweries and, of course, kombucha shops. They frequently include seasonal ingredients and are made by hand in small batches. Some shops even offer home delivery, like a modern version of a milk man. Here are a few of our favorites around the country, along with our flavor pick from each one.
Probiotics (and kombucha) are one way to create a healthy microbiome. Interested in learning more? Barre3 Online Plus members can head to the Connect tab in this week’s workout to access Sadie’s webinar with renowned gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkah and to download our 7-Day Microbiome Reset. Not a member yet? Join here to access more than 300 online workouts ranging from 10 to 60 minutes, plus our targeted programs, upcoming webinars, and so much more.
|
MIDWEST
Wild Culture Komboucha, Iowa City, IA
Honey Lavender Chamomile
Bearded Butch, Cleveland, OH
Concord Grape
NessAlla Kombucha, Madison, WI
Hibiscus Cardamom Ginger |
NORTHWEST
Sound Kombucha, Seattle, WA
https://soundkombucha.com/
Green tea blend
Lion Heart Kombucha, Portland, OR
Marionberry (seasonal) |
|
WEST COAST
Revive Kombucha, Sebastopol CA
Ascend Lemon Refresher
Maui Kombucha, Maui, HI
Ginger Lime
Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha, Boulder, CO
Flower Grow (with rose petals and rooibos)
House, San Francisco, CA
Jasmine Grape
Better Booch, Los Angeles, CA
Golden Pear |
NORTHEAST
Natalie’s Craft Kombucha, Central PA
Strawberry Basil
Pilot Kombucha, Brooklyn, NY
Apple Cider
Aqua Vitae, Vermont
Elderberry
Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland ME
Wild Blueberry
Capital Kombucha, Washington, DC
Coconut Water |
|
SOUTH
Golda Kombucha, Atlanta, GA
Peach Ginger
Up Dog Kombucha, Winston Salem, NC
Mojito
Big Easy Bucha, New Orleans, LA
Bayou Berry
Mother Kombucha, St. Petersburg, FL
Ginger Lemonade
Holy Kombucha, Dallas Fort Worth, TX
Blood Orange |
|
And finally, a recipe to give you yet another reason to embrace kombucha. Enjoy!
LIQUID GOLD MOCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
Ginger-honey syrup
½ cup honey
½ cup water
⅛ cup sliced ginger
Pinch of salt
Mocktail
½ of a small pear, core and seeds removed, cut into thin slices
2 Tbs. ginger-honey syrup (recipe below)
2 Tbs. lemon juice
3-4 ice cubes, plus crushed ice for serving
1/4 cup kombucha
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make the ginger-honey syrup: In a small saucepan, combine all syrup ingredients. Stir, cover, and bring to a simmer for five minutes.
- Remove from heat and let rest for one hour before straining through a fine-mesh strainer (if you don’t have a strainer, you can just pick out the ginger slices). The ginger-honey syrup will last for two weeks in the refrigerator.
- Make the mocktail: Set two slices of pear aside and muddle the rest in a cocktail shaker.
- Add the ginger-honey syrup, the lemon juice, and the ice cubes, and shake.
- Strain into a glass with crushed ice and fill with kombucha. Garnish with the remaining two pear slices.
When kombucha first appeared on the scene, it was considered a fringe product—a mysterious new bottle among the green teas and juices at a select few natural-food stores. Fast forward a few years and it’s now everywhere (even Costco!). But even though it’s firmly rooted in the mainstream as a go-to healthy beverage, many people still have questions about the fizzy wonder-drink.
Today, we’re breaking it down for you. Read on for everything you need to know about kombucha, including what it is, what to look for when buying it, and a (huge!) list of some of our favorite spots to buy it around the country. And for those days when you feel like changing up your kombucha routine, scroll all the way down for our Liquid Gold Mocktail recipe!
SO…WHAT EXACTLY IS KOMBUCHA?
Known for containing beneficial probiotics, kombucha is a fermented, slightly fizzy tea drink made from a starter (similar to sourdough).
Due to the fermentation process, kombucha often contains 1% alcohol (some more potent varieties require an ID to purchase) and has live enzymes—which is why it’s kept refrigerated and is often sold in dark bottles (light can affect the enzymes). Kombucha may give your immune system a boost and help your digestive system work a little better.
THERE ARE SO MANY KOMBUCHAS OUT THERE. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?
First, look for kombucha made without added sugars or juices when possible. Some sugar is unavoidable, as it’s required for the fermentation process. But sugars that are added after the fact simply to sweeten the drink should be avoided.
Second, check to see whether the kombucha is raw or pasteurized. Pasteurization kills the probiotics—and they’re a big part of why we drink kombucha in the first place!
Third, check out the bottle. As mentioned above, a darker glass bottle ensure that those all-important probiotics are alive and well.
Beyond those three steps, the rest comes down to personal preference. Some Kombuchas have a mild flavor, while others are more intense. Some stick to a purist recipe, while others have “bonus” ingredients like chia seeds (if you’re new to the drink, you may need to work up to those since the texture takes some getting used to).
Some of the best kombucha out there is the stuff that’s brewed locally, so when possible, reach for a local brew. You can often find this on tap to buy by the glass or growler at grocery stores, breweries and, of course, kombucha shops. They frequently include seasonal ingredients and are made by hand in small batches. Some shops even offer home delivery, like a modern version of a milk man. Here are a few of our favorites around the country, along with our flavor pick from each one.
Probiotics (and kombucha) are one way to create a healthy microbiome. Interested in learning more? Barre3 Online Plus members can head to the Connect tab in this week’s workout to access Sadie’s webinar with renowned gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkah and to download our 7-Day Microbiome Reset. Not a member yet? Join here to access more than 300 online workouts ranging from 10 to 60 minutes, plus our targeted programs, upcoming webinars, and so much more.
|
MIDWEST
Wild Culture Komboucha, Iowa City, IA
Honey Lavender Chamomile
Bearded Butch, Cleveland, OH
Concord Grape
NessAlla Kombucha, Madison, WI
Hibiscus Cardamom Ginger |
NORTHWEST
Sound Kombucha, Seattle, WA
https://soundkombucha.com/
Green tea blend
Lion Heart Kombucha, Portland, OR
Marionberry (seasonal) |
|
WEST COAST
Revive Kombucha, Sebastopol CA
Ascend Lemon Refresher
Maui Kombucha, Maui, HI
Ginger Lime
Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha, Boulder, CO
Flower Grow (with rose petals and rooibos)
House, San Francisco, CA
Jasmine Grape
Better Booch, Los Angeles, CA
Golden Pear |
NORTHEAST
Natalie’s Craft Kombucha, Central PA
Strawberry Basil
Pilot Kombucha, Brooklyn, NY
Apple Cider
Aqua Vitae, Vermont
Elderberry
Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland ME
Wild Blueberry
Capital Kombucha, Washington, DC
Coconut Water |
|
SOUTH
Golda Kombucha, Atlanta, GA
Peach Ginger
Up Dog Kombucha, Winston Salem, NC
Mojito
Big Easy Bucha, New Orleans, LA
Bayou Berry
Mother Kombucha, St. Petersburg, FL
Ginger Lemonade
Holy Kombucha, Dallas Fort Worth, TX
Blood Orange |
|
And finally, a recipe to give you yet another reason to embrace kombucha. Enjoy!
LIQUID GOLD MOCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
Ginger-honey syrup
½ cup honey
½ cup water
⅛ cup sliced ginger
Pinch of salt
Mocktail
½ of a small pear, core and seeds removed, cut into thin slices
2 Tbs. ginger-honey syrup (recipe below)
2 Tbs. lemon juice
3-4 ice cubes, plus crushed ice for serving
1/4 cup kombucha
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make the ginger-honey syrup: In a small saucepan, combine all syrup ingredients. Stir, cover, and bring to a simmer for five minutes.
- Remove from heat and let rest for one hour before straining through a fine-mesh strainer (if you don’t have a strainer, you can just pick out the ginger slices). The ginger-honey syrup will last for two weeks in the refrigerator.
- Make the mocktail: Set two slices of pear aside and muddle the rest in a cocktail shaker.
- Add the ginger-honey syrup, the lemon juice, and the ice cubes, and shake.
- Strain into a glass with crushed ice and fill with kombucha. Garnish with the remaining two pear slices.
