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ByEmily Way
Updated: May 06, 2024
Whether enjoyed for its benefits or flavors, the best kombucha delivers high marks in both categories. Our team tested over 6 brands and 17 different flavors to find the best options on the market.
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Healthy foods don’t get a very good reputation when it comes to flavor. However, that doesn’t mean beneficial beverages are boring. Enter: Kombucha. Like prebiotic soda, the best kombucha contains vitamins and gut-cleaning bacteria (the good kind!) that aids with digestion and tastes pretty darn good to boot. The tangy-yet-sweet beverage’s unique, zippy flavor makes it a favorite among foodies and casual sippers alike.
“Kombucha is a fermented tea known for its tangy flavor and effervescence. This popular beverage, made by fermenting tea (usually black or green) with sugar and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), has been enjoyed for thousands of years,” says Certified Nutrition Consultant Lila Volkas. “It’s an excellent choice for those seeking a low-sugar alternative to soda, foodies looking for a drink with creative flavors or folks looking for a sip with a probiotic boost.”
A longtime fan of the bright, tart beverage, I began brewing my own kombucha back in 2019. Over the years I’ve tested dozens of brands, from local brews to gourmet blends to bottled beverages available in the grocery store. While brewing my own makes for a fulfilling hobby, there’s no shortage of options out there that taste just as good (and sometimes better!) than the ones I ferment in my home kitchen.
Despite its reputation as tasting like apple cider vinegar, good kombucha is more akin to a fruity, tart tea. In order to find the best kombucha options, I made it my mission to scour my knowledge of different, easily-accessible brands and try six new ones (over 17 flavors total) in order to discern which option is truly tasty, and which you should skip.
Best Overall Kombucha
Health Ade
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Best Kombucha Flavors
GT Synergy
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Best Health Benefits
Humm
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Best Budget Kombucha
Brew Dr.
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Pros:
- 16 different flavors, including spicy and speciality blends
- Organic, GMO-free, kosher, raw, gluten-free and certified vegan
- Each bottle contains 1B probiotics at the time of bottling
- No artificial carbonation methods used
- Shelf-stable product (though it tastes better cold)
- Includes under 0.5% alcohol by volume
- Available in both bottles and cans
Cons:
- 13 g added sugar
- Taste may be too acidic for some
In our tests of the best kombucha options, one brand consistently outperformed the others in terms of taste, fizziness, benefits and flavor: Health Ade. Whether it’s a replacement for canned alcoholic drinks or a healthful option for those looking to boost their gut flora, Health Ade’s impressive catalogue of 15 different flavors like Cayenne Cleanse, Bubbly Rose, Mint Limeade and Guava Dragon Fruit offer options for every mood. It’s the closest we found to traditional kombucha in terms of taste, too—though the zippy, tart flavor may be too acidic for newbie booch heads.
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Health Ade is incredibly transparent about their brewing process, and they let each batch ferment for several weeks. That gives plenty of time for good bacteria (which averages at about 1 million per bottle) to feed, grow and release tons of tongue-tickling carbonation. At under 0.5% alcohol per bottle, it’s also safe for most folks to enjoy. Even better, it contains only around 70 calories per bottle, making it a much more waistband-friendly option than traditional soda. That said, with 13 grams of added sugar, it’s best to limit intake to one or two bottles a day.
Editor’s Favorite Flavor:Pomegranate
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Pros:
- 29 flavors available, including green, spiced and chia seed blends
- Fermented for over 30 days
- Bottles include around 9 billion living probiotics
- Brand has been crafting raw kombucha since 1995
- 5-gallon, small batch fermentation
- Very fizzy, indicating lots of live cultures
Cons:
- The brand is not organic
- On the pricier side
Wanna take your taste buds on a flavor journey akin to a non-alcoholic canned co*cktail, but with added benefits? GT Synergy’s catalogue of over 29 different flavors means there’s surely something for any palate—they’ve been refining their selections since 1995! Flavors range from traditional mango to marine greens and even a few chia seed options. There’s also seasonal releases that include other beneficial ingredients like turmeric and carrot juice. Each small batch of brew ferments for over 30 days, meaning that each bottle boasts a whopping 9 billion living probiotics—nearly 10 times the amount of other brands!
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While not organic and on the pricier end, GT’s Synergy kombucha uses a mix of green and black teas and other all-natural ingredients. Every type of culture they use comes listed on the bottle, and each bottle also offers additional beneficial ingredients like lactic acid, acetic acid and gluconic acid. It’s also the fizziest of the bunch—not surprising given the large number of cultures and the longer fermentation time. GT’s myriad options are a bit less acidic than Health Ade’s offerings, making them more approachable for folks not accustomed to the signature tart kombucha tang.
Editor’s Favorite Flavor:Sacred Life
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Pros:
- Comes in 12 different flavors
- 5 sugar-free options and 3 Whole30 options
- Only 35 calories per can
- Each can contains 2 billion probiotics
- B12 vitamins added
- No added sugar
- Raw and unpasteurized
- Only 14 mg of caffeine per 8-ounce serving
Cons:
- Not many discernible particles
While kombucha contains gut-boosting probiotics, acids and vitamins, it’s not exactly light on sugar. The best kombucha for weight loss thanks to varieties that contain zero added sugar, Humm kombucha boasts the addition of B12 vitamins. Bodies need B12 not only to keep blood and nerve cells healthy, but also because it helps make DNA. What makes Humm better for the waistband is the addition of five sugar free and three Whole30 options on top of their existing 12 flavors. At only 35 calories per can, Humm’s sugar free kombucha remains raw and unpasteurized throughout the brewing process. This keeps probiotics intact and nurtures additional effervescence and flavors.
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While fewer discernible particles means less probiotics that GT Synergy (thought twice the number as Health Ade), each batch boasts only around 14 mg of caffeine, or less than half the amount in a cup of green tea. It’s also far less acidic and sweet than the other options we tried, making it a healthful and hydrating option that tastes more like a sparkling CBD drink rather than a fermented beverage. These are also certified vegan and organic.
Editor’s Favorite Flavor: Zero Sugar Blueberry Mint
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Pros:
- 15 different flavors available
- Less than 15 mg of caffeine in a bottle
- Raw, unpasteurized
- USDA Certified Organic, non-GMO, gluten free, vegan and kosher
- Non-heat distillation removes trace alcohol content
- Type of tea used clearly labeled
Cons:
- Contains more carbs than other options
Better booch doesn’t mean a lighter wallet. Brew Dr. kombucha brings together robust flavors and different types of tea in a wallet-friendly package at only around $2.50 per bottle in grocery stores. Each bottle of raw, unpasteurized booch contains less than 15 mg caffeine. In addition, one area where Brew Dr. excels is accessibility. They use a proprietary non-heat distillation process that removes any trace alcohol content, making them completely safe for folks of any age.
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Unlike the other brands which use a blend of green and black tea for every flavor, Brew Dr. actually rotates between white, black and green teas for the majority of their 15 flavors, with only a few options containing tea blends. This is actually something I really liked, as each inclusion is clearly labeled for those who prefer one type of tea over others. That said, this brand also includes more carbs than the other options on this list, so it’s worth keeping that in mind if you’re choosing non-alcoholic drinks instead of co*cktails due to the high carb count.
Editor’s Favorite Flavor: Clear Mind
What to Look for When Buying Kombucha
When looking for the best kombucha, it’s important to first identify what you’re looking for in a beverage. Those hunting for brews that offer the best benefits rather than better flavors should stick with brands that include additional vitamins and little added sugar, like Humm. For folks who prefer this zippy beverage for the fruity taste, GT Synergy or Health Ade offer incredible blends and exotic pairings.
One big consideration is caffeine, according to Certified Nutrition Consultant Lila Volkas. “The amount of caffeine in a bottle of kombucha can vary between different companies and even different batches,” she says. “The caffeine content in kombucha will depend on the type of tea used, how long it’s steeped and the length of fermentation.” Those sensitive to caffeine should always check the caffeine content prior to enjoying a glass.
In addition, we only included non-pasteurized options on this list. While some of the beverages we tested (like Kevita) secured top scores in taste, they add cultures after pasteurization to make up for those lost in filtering. Because of that, it’s difficult to discern exactly how many live cultures each bottle boasts (and whether they’re as effective as cultures from fermentation). In addition, we didn’t include options that add sparkling water to boost effervescence.
Why You Should Trust Us
Aside from being theTaste of Home shopping team’s resident food and beverage expert, I have over five years of experience brewing kombucha in my home. I know that the best kombucha offers effervescence (indicative of a good number of bubbly bacteria) and tastes bright and zippy—never flat and dull or acidic, like vinegar. For this piece, I also spoke with two kombucha experts, one of which is a Certified Nutrition consultant, who discussed the benefits and brewing methods of the drink.
Hannah Crum, aka “The Kombucha Mamma”, pioneered her educational workshop Kombucha Kamp in 2004 out of her small Los Angeles kitchen. Along with husband Alex LaGory, they created the Kombucha Kamp website, the world’s leading educational kombucha site, with a mission to “Change the world, one gut at a time” by providing quality information, quality cultures, and quality customer support. A popular speaker about Kombucha, fermentation and bacteriosapiens, Hannah frequently tours and can be found speaking at corporate and health conferences, fermentation festivals and events throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Lila Volkas is a Certified Nutrition Consultant and workshop facilitator based in Oakland, California. Lila has been hosting food events and classes since 2012 with thousands of participants all around the world, and she also has an active Instagram where she posts about food benefits. She works with companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon to bring team-bonding and wellness into the workplace.
How We Found the Best Kombucha Brands
Since my experience with commercially available kombucha goes back at least six years, I began my research by sourcing the brands I already know and enjoy, taking care to exclude any I already know aren’t very good. Then, I researched the best kombucha brands on the market. We compiled 17 flavors from 6 brands, in addition to all the additional brands and flavors I’ve tried over the years. At that point came the fun part: sipping and enjoying. We evaluated each flavor individually and then came up with an overall ranking for each brand. The top performers stood out for their unique flavors, variety, exceptional health benefits, price and availability.
FAQ
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What is kombucha?
According to Kombucha Kamp creator Hannah Crum, kombucha is an ancient Chinese fermented brew that has been consumed for more than 2,000 years, dating back as early as 221 B.C.
“Kombucha is made by adding a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) to a solution of tea and sugar,” she says. “During the course of the week to month-long fermentation process, the cultures metabolize the sugar and tea components to render a naturally effervescent beverage with a slightly sweet-tart flavor, full of healthy components like B vitamins, organic acids and antioxidants.”
Kombucha has less than one third of the sugar commonly found in soft drinks and numerous healthful properties, making it a popular pick for the health conscious individual. Plus, it’s pretty darn tasty!
Is it OK to drink kombucha everyday?
Heather notes that, “just like eating blueberries or spinach, Kombucha is a nutrient dense food.” Therefore, it’s safe to drink daily. However, she suggests starting with smaller portions.
“If your body isn’t used to consuming fermented foods, it can experience immediate benefits and immediate need to use the bathroom,” she warns. “A good rule of thumb is to mix in an equal amount of water for every glass of Kombucha consumed. Because it supports the body’s detoxification process, drinking water in between ensures that your body has the liquid it needs to flush the released toxins from the body so they aren’t simply reabsorbed.”
That said, Certified Nutrition Consultant Lila Volkas notes that it may not be the right beverage choice for everyone. “Kombucha does contain sugar and caffeine, so if you’re sensitive to caffeine or monitoring your sugar intake that is something to be aware of,” she says.
Does kombucha offer any health benefits?
“The primary health benefit of kombucha is its probiotics, says Certified Nutrition Consultant Lila Volkas. “The fermentation process not only gives kombucha its distinctive taste, but also transforms it into a drink rich with beneficial bacteria. Consuming fermented foods, like kombucha, has been studied to support digestion and enhance immune system health.”
Originally Published: May 06, 2024
Author
Emily Way
As Taste of Home's shopping editor, Emily has covered everything from travel and food to DIY. She is passionate about locating the best products at prices that readers can afford. Her expertise lies in product testing and exploring viral products from Tiktok and Instagram.
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