There is no question that more and more people are switching to Kombucha for its probiotics. Kombucha contains abundant probiotics that are beneficial for the gut and for overall health. However, like other beverages, Kombuchas are not made equally and their probiotics content also varies depending on the brewing or manufacturing method. So, which Kombucha has the most probiotics?
The Kombucha that has the most probiotics is raw and unpasteurized. Pasteurized or filtered Kombucha has undergone the process of heating that kill all the bacteria in the Kombucha including the probiotics, also called the good bacteria. Typically, homebrewed Kombucha has the highest probiotic content as they do not undergo any heating or pasteurization. Some commercial Kombucha brands also offer unpasteurized probiotic-packed Kombucha. These brands include:
- GT’s
- Brew Dr. Kombucha
- Wild Tea Kombucha
- Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha
- Forage Kombucha
- Humm Kombucha
- Captain Kombucha
- B-tea Kombucha
- Bucha Brew
- Tonica Kombucha
- RISE Kombucha
- Katalyst Kombucha
- Captain Kombucha
These brands are just among the most popular manufacturers of unpasteurized Kombucha. Some less-known or local brands may also offer unpasteurized Kombucha. Usually, you can check if the Kombucha is unpasteurized through its label.
If you don’t like brewing Kombucha or buying store-bought Kombucha drinks, you may also consider buying from another local brewer to get your daily dose of probiotic-enriched Kombucha.
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How Do Probiotics Get into Kombucha?
There are several ways how probiotics can get into Kombucha depending on how the Kombucha was made. Homebrewed Kombucha naturally gains probiotics as a result of the fermentation process.
On the other hand, some commercial Kombucha products may get their probiotics content from the probiotics and other chemicals and compounds added during the manufacturing process. Typically, Kombucha manufacturers add these probiotics when they pasteurize Kombucha. While pasteurization is deemed a good safety measure, this process can harm the probiotics leaving Kombucha with no probiotics. This requires the manufacturers to add probiotics that have been lost through pasteurization. The added probiotics to commercial Kombuchas are not natural products of fermentation but may still provide similar probiotic effects.
Does Store Bought Kombucha Have Probiotics?
The truth is it all depends on how the Kombucha was made. Different commercial Kombucha brands have different manufacturing techniques for making their products. Some Kombucha brands have billions of probiotics while some may have fewer to no probiotics. So, how do you know if the store-bought Kombucha you want to buy in a store has probiotics? Well, it’s actually very simple.
Kombucha that has probiotics are often labeled raw, wild, unfiltered, or unpasteurized. These labels mean that the Kombucha product didn’t undergo any heating or cleaning processes that could harm its probiotics content.
While checking the label is a foolproof method to confirm if a Kombucha product has probiotics, not all Kombucha products have the same manufacturing details on their labels. Nevertheless, there are still some ways to know whether the Kombucha is pasteurized or not, Below, we list down the qualities of pasteurized Kombucha that you should watch for.
- Shelf-stable
Natural unpasteurized Kombucha is not shelf-stable. Shelf-stable means that the product can be safely stored on a shelf for at least a year and doesn’t require cooking or refrigeration to stay safe for consumption.
Raw Kombucha that finished the second fermentation must be stored in the refrigerator to preserve the taste and slow down the fermentation process. If not stored properly in a fridge, unpasteurized Kombucha will continue to ferment and potentially explode.
If the Kombucha is labeled shelf-stable, it means that it doesn’t contain any live bacteria that can continue fermentation and provide probiotic benefits.
- Long best-before date
Unpasteurized Kombucha will continue to ferment even if it’s stored in the fridge. If it is stored for a long time, the Kombucha will continue to get more carbonated and acidic. It can also lead to Kombucha bombs which can cause a lot of mess and potential danger. Generally, natural Kombucha’s best-before date is six months after the canning date.
However, that doesn’t mean that bottled Kombucha past its best-before date is not safe to drink anymore. Natural Kombucha is safe to drink when stored in the fridge for up to eight months. If it hasn’t passed that time, feel free to drink your Kombucha, however, expect that it will be less sweet and more acidic.
- Not labeled as raw, wild, unpasteurized, or unfiltered
Typically, this is the most visible sign that the Kombucha has undergone pasteurization and does not contain any traces of probiotics. However, if you still want to confirm whether the product has probiotics or not, you can always look it up on the web or check the product’s website.
If you are still having a hard time identifying whether a commercial Kombucha product contains probiotics or not, you may opt to buy from a local brewer who can guarantee that their Kombucha is pure and unpasteurized. However, if this is not a suitable choice for you, you may also consider brewing Kombucha at home. By doing this, you can make sure that the Kombucha is brewed all-natural, unpasteurized, and fully fermented.
What Are the Healthiest Brands Of Kombucha?
Different Kombucha brands offer different health benefits. These benefits may be influenced by the brewing process and the ingredients added to the Kombucha. Different drinkers are also looking for specific health benefits that are not available in all Kombucha products. Hence, identifying the healthiest brands of Kombucha can be subjective.
Nevertheless, we did our research and made this list of the healthiest brands of Kombucha according to their manufacturing method and claims. These brands also offer Kombucha drinks that are affordable and easy to find in many leading stores.
Brew Dr. Kombucha is a well-known brand when it comes to delivering unpasteurized Kombucha products. Apart from delivering Kombucha with live probiotics, they are also widely known because of their delectable Kombuchas that feature different blends of fruits, vegetables, essential oils, and more. Brew Dr. Kombucha products claim to be USDA organic, certified kosher, certified gluten-free, and non-GMO verified.
It is no doubt that Health-Ade Kombucha is among the healthiest Kombucha brands nowadays. They offer a wide variety of Kombucha flavors that are mild and easy to drink. Their Kombucha products also claim to help gut health and are vegan, non-GMO, and USDA Organic Certified. Health-Ade Kombucha drinks also have detoxifying acids that can help maintain gut health.
GT’s is a go-to brand for everyone who wants a little pick-me-up during the day. They are one of the leading Kombucha brands and are particularly popular for providing probiotics-packed Kombucha at an affordable price range. Their products are 100% raw and contain 9 billion living probiotics. In addition, they do not have added sugar and are organically produced.
Humm Kombucha boasts of having Kombucha products that are low in sugar and calories. They are one of the fastest-growing Kombucha brands nowadays and often launch new Kombucha flavors. Their Kombucha products are naturally brewed, unpasteurized, USDA-certified organic, Non-GMO, and gluten-free.
Can I Get Enough Probiotics from Kombucha?
The short answer is it depends. The amount of probiotics needed by someone is subjective and can be affected by several factors like their health condition, lifestyle, and even diet. These result in different gut flora conditions and probiotics requirements.
Some may need higher amounts of probiotics and may be required to drink probiotics supplements while some may only have to eat probiotic-packed foods for their daily probiotic needs.
If you are thinking of using Kombucha as a source of your probiotics, it’s best to consult your doctor first especially if you have a preexisting health condition. Kombucha is generally safe to drink and provides billions of probiotics but does not guarantee absolute safety for consumption to some people.
What Kombucha Is Best For the Stomach?
If you are having stomach problems, there is no doubt that Kombucha can help you. However, you do need to choose the right Kombucha to ensure that it is suitable for maintaining stomach health. Raw or unpasteurized Kombucha is the best Kombucha drink for the stomach. This Kombucha product didn’t undergo any pasteurization process and is able to retain its live probiotics.
How Often Should I Drink Kombucha For Probiotics?
You can drink Kombucha as often as you want as long as you stay within the recommended amount of consumption per day. The recommended amount of consumption for Kombucha is only 12 oz. each day. Drinking more than this amount can cause adverse effects like:
- Gas or Bloating
- Potential digestive issues
- Possible allergic reactions
Some long-term Kombucha drinkers may drink up to 16 oz. of Kombucha a day without any problems. However, if you are new to drinking Kombucha, we suggest taking less or exactly the recommended amount of consumption to give your stomach some time to adjust to Kombucha and avoid side effects.
If you are not sure if Kombucha is the best probiotic product for you or if you have a health condition, we highly encourage you to seek medical advice first.
