Is there alcohol in kombucha?
Is there alcohol in kombucha? Yes, a small amount. Even if it has undergone a distillation process (as has been undertaken by some kombucha breweries in the US), there will still be some alcohol present. But, that doesn't make it an alcoholic beverage. It is still effectively a soft drink, and not all kombucha is brewed in the same way, which affects the alcohol content.
So, how much?
Some soft drinks and juice naturally contain trace amounts of alcohol, and we don't even think about it. Orange juice, sparkling apple juice, ginger beer to name some examples.
Alcohol is a natural by-product of fermentation so, as with any fermented drink (and food for that matter, think rye bread), kombucha does contain alcohol. As a general guide kombucha alcohol levels can range from 0.2 to 1.2%, depending on production and ingredients. Left Field brews are lower than 0.5% ABV. By way of context, low alcohol classification, in UK legislative terms, are drinks which contain between 0.5% and 1.2% ABV.
Did you know ginger beer contains trace alcohol?
When I do tastings the question of kombucha alcohol levels often comes up. And when I tell people it is 0.5% which is the same amount as in ginger beer (and we mean the non-alcoholic versions not their boozy counterparts), it comes as somewhat of a surprise. Did you know that kombucha and ginger beer are fermented in a similar way, even down to the symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast? Indeed, ginger beer was first brewed in England in the 1700s as an alcoholic drink, ask Bundaberg - they know a thing or two about it, and yet most of us today think of the soft drink ginger beer as the traditional version.
What about home brewed kombucha?
This is where it can get tricky. Home-brewers may use higher temperatures, than in commercial breweries to try to ensure any harmful bacteria is eliminated and this can cause the alcohol level to rise. They may also ferment longer to get a fizzier result, which can also have the effect of making a boozy brew. That's not to say home-brewed is not for you, it just has to be managed.
Commercial brewers (even small-batch ones), ensure that temperatures are accurately controlled and timing is everything.
Further, here at Left Field Kombucha, we brew with only the finest teas with no added fruits or flavourings in our drinks which helps to keep the sugar, and hence the ABV, lower.
Interesting notes: This blog post applies to the UK only. Different countries have their own brewing methods and alcohol licensing laws. There are breweries in the US producing alcoholic kombucha, 'hard kombucha', which are brewed up to 7% ABV.