8. Storing Kombucha: Why Temperature Matters
Kombucha is alive, filled with living cultures that continue to develop long after the brewing process. As we learned in the bottling stage, we remove the oxygen to stunt the fermentation process. However, there is still room for fermentation in the bottle if the kombucha is stored incorrectly, affecting the flavour, fizziness, and shelf life of your kombucha. If left in warm conditions, this change happens even faster, leading to kombucha that’s more acidic and fizzier.
To preserve the fresh taste and texture of kombucha, we store it at a low temperature until it’s ready to be shipped to you. Cold temperatures slow down the fermentation process, keeping the live cultures active yet maintaining the flavour and balance we crafted. This step ensures that when you open a bottle of our kombucha, you experience the same refreshing taste and smooth fizz that we intended.
With a few storage tips, you can keep your kombucha just the way you like it.
Keep It Cool
When your kombucha arrives, we recommend continuing to store it in a cool place. This keeps the flavours stable and prevents the drink from becoming overly tart. It doesn’t have to be in the fridge but the cooler the better.
In the Dark
UV light can impact your kombucha, which is why we bottle it in brown glass, the best colour to prevent UV light impacting liquid. However, the glass will still act like a greenhouse and will heat up the kombucha much more than ambient temperatures so we still recommend keeping your kombucha in a cupboard, in the dark.
This Way Up
Always store kombucha bottles upright to minimise leakage and maintain even carbonation.
Once Opened, Refrigerate
Through clever process wizardy we’ve managed to keep kombucha still bursting with good bacteria and healthy goodness and tasty while shelf stable for up to 6 months. However once opened if you don’t drink a whole bottle in one sitting, please do replace the cap and store in the fridge. We recommend consuming it within two days.
Remember, kombucha is a living beverage, and proper storage is the key to keeping it as delicious and satisfying as the day it was bottled. So, the next time you pop open a bottle of kombucha, take a moment to appreciate the balance of flavours and fizz, preserved by thoughtful storage.