What is Hard Kombucha?

We realize not everyone may know what a SCOBY is or understand how you go about fermenting tea. So here is the quick 411 so you know what you are drinking, and you can share your knowledge with your friends.

WHAT IS HARD KOMBUCHA?

Kombucha is a fermented drink that’s made from tea (typically green or black but you can use white tea like we do as well), sugar, and an active culture consisting of bacteria and yeast. The fermentation process that yields regular kombucha naturally produces some alcohol, but trace amounts (less than 1% ABV depending on the kombucha you’re drinking).

Hard kombucha differs based on a variety of factors including amount of tea, sugar, and starter culture. They also get fermented for a longer period of time which means that more sugar gets converted to alcohol, so the alcohol by volume, or ABV, content rises.

IS IT GOOD FOR ME?

Any alcohol is alcohol, so your body has to process the alcohol content and the ingredients. So we aren’t here to tell you that this is “healthy”. Please eat kale, blueberries, or drink water for truly healthy options.

Now, with that stated, if you are mulling over a glass of wine, mixed drink or a beer, we argue that hard kombucha is a healthier alternative with natural, simplified ingredients and less sugar.

“We do know that kombucha is brewed with natural ingredients like black or green tea and bacteria and yeast, which can provide a bevy of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that our body appreciates. With alcoholic kombucha, you do still reap the benefits of the polyphenols and acids found in regular kombucha, including lactic, acetic, glucuronic, and butyric acids,” says Brown. The health benefits of these acids range from increasing the nutritional value of food, enhancing digestion, and increasing the activity of antioxidants”

— Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RDN, author of The Better Period Food Solution

Any Other Benefits?

• Hard kombuchas are typically free from wheat and barley. If you have celiac disease and need a gluten-free option, hard kombucha is a good alternative to beer

• Hard fermented tea, when compared to beer or hard cider, is a lower-calorie, lower-sugar, gluten-free alternative.

• It tastes super good

Any other questions hit us up and we are happy to share! ROVM ON!