12 Delicious Kombucha Alternatives You Should Try Right Now

Key points

• FUL® is the best non-alcoholic carbonated alternative to kombucha that delivers many health benefits. Spirulina is rich in essential vitamins and minerals and powerful antioxidants, which makes FUL® a perfect healthy drink to include in your daily diet.
• If you’re looking for fermented kombucha alternatives, Jun tea, rejuvelac, boza, tepache, and fermented vegetable juice are great options for you to try.
• Many people drink kombucha for its probiotic content. If you’re looking for other probiotic-rich drinks, then try kefir, water kefir, ginger ale, or lacto-fermented lemonade.

There are many ways you can improve your gut health and take care of your body, from taking dietary supplements and maintaining a healthy diet to including healthy drinks in your diet. If you’re a kombucha fan, you’ve probably wondered whether there are some other delicious drinks similar to kombucha. Spoiler alert - there are! Whether you’re looking for a nutrient-rich drink or something to satisfy your craving for carbonated beverages, read this article and discover the best kombucha substitutes. 

Many people drink kombucha for its health benefits. Kombucha is well-known for its probiotic content, which improves digestive system function. It also may have some antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and studies suggest that this drink may help to prevent cardiovascular diseases, strengthen the immune system, and lower the risk of infections. However, kombucha is not the only drink that possesses these qualities, and there are many probiotic-rich substitutes for it. 

Some people also consume kombucha for its distinct tart flavour. Yet, it may take a while for others to get used to it. Some individuals are repelled by those little pieces floating on the surface of kombucha. These are bits of SCOBY which are perfectly safe for you, yet many people are afraid of consuming them. Plus, kombucha contains a minimal amount of alcohol. While it’s too low to classify kombucha as an alcoholic drink, some people simply prefer to avoid alcohol in their diets for various reasons. All of this causes thousands of people to search for healthy kombucha alternatives that don’t have these downsides. Fortunately, there are many options, and we will tell you about all of them in this article.

FUL® Sparkling Spirulina Drinks

Spirulina is the newest health craze that has become incredibly popular in recent years, and the number of people including this algae in their diets is increasing every day. While kombucha’s benefits are generally unproven, at least for now, spirulina is one of the most well-researched foods in the world with many proven health benefits. It’s available in different forms, but the easiest way to consume it is via a delicious drink. 

FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are a perfect kombucha alternative that will satisfy your cravings for carbonated drinks while replenishing your body with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These drinks are not fermented, so they contain no alcohol, and they are also free of artificial colourings, preservatives, and flavourings. From improving gut health to managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels and even preventing cancer, spirulina is one of the superfoods that does it all. 

Jun Tea

Jun tea is a popular kombucha alternative that’s made from green tea and honey instead of cane sugar. You may have heard of it as the ‘champagne of kombucha’, and just like other fermented drinks, it’s rich in beneficial bacteria. Jun tea has a less acidic taste than kombucha, and it is also more carbonated. Be aware that while kombucha typically contains 0.5 per cent of alcohol, Jun tea has up to 2 per cent.

Rejuvelac

Rejuvelac is another fermented drink made from grains such as wheat berries, quinoa, rye, or buckwheat that are soaked for a few days. It has a citrusy flavour and is also fizzy. Rejuvelac may deliver some health benefits, including improving your gut health. It contains probiotics and some essential vitamins, including vitamin B, as well as some digestive enzymes.

Boza 

This is quite a unique kombucha alternative that’s especially popular in Turkey. Depending on the type, boza can be made from bulgur wheat, maize, or millet. It has a sweetly sour flavour and a thick consistency, which is why it’s sometimes called a fermented milkshake. This probiotic-rich drink also contains vitamins, proteins, and fats, as well as lactic acid that has antimicrobial properties.

Kefir

Traditional kefir is one of the most common fermented drinks, rich in probiotics that deliver many health benefits. It’s created by using starter grains and cow’s or goat’s milk. While it tastes like yoghurt, kefir has far more probiotics. It’s less sour than kombucha but still has a slightly tangy taste. Surprisingly, kefir is also slightly fizzy, which makes its taste really unique.

Water Kefir

Unlike traditional kefir, water kefir doesn’t contain any dairy, which makes it perfect for people with lactose intolerance. It’s made from sugar water and water kefir grains that form a living culture of bacteria and yeast. This fermented carbonated beverage has a similar taste to kombucha and is one of the easiest drinks to make at home. Some research shows that water kefir can decrease the risk of certain cancers due to the beneficial bacteria it contains. 

Tepache

This Mexican fermented drink is made from pineapples sweetened with brown sugar or unrefined cane sugar and flavoured with cinnamon. Tepache contains up to 2 per cent of alcohol that is produced as a result of the fermentation process. It’s also rich in probiotics along with vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals like calcium and potassium. This drink is typically consumed cold. 

Kvass

This traditional Slavic and Baltic European drink is brewed by fermenting rye bread with water. It has a distinct dark colour as well as a slightly sweet and earthy taste that may remind you of beer. Just like kombucha, kvass also has a low alcohol content, but it is not classified as an alcoholic drink. Now many brands produce kvass but kvass varieties available on the market usually come in different flavours. On the upside, kvass improves gut health and boosts the immune system. It contains B12 and manganese - essential nutrients with antioxidant properties. 

Cider

Cider refers to either a sweet drink similar to apple juice or an alcoholic drink made from pears or apples. Alcoholic cider is called hard cider and is similar to beer, with an alcohol content between 4.5% to 10% ABV. But unlike beers with a sharp taste, ciders usually have a sweet taste. Besides apples and pears, cider can be made from other fruits such as peaches, plums, and berries. 

Fermented Vegetable Juice

As the name says, fermented vegetable juices are made by fermenting vegetables in water. The most common vegetable to ferment is beetroot, but this drink can be made from other vegetables as well, such as celery, cucumber, carrot, cabbage, or ginger. Fermented vegetable juice has many health benefits, including detoxifying the digestive system and aiding in nutrient absorption. It also improves the immune system and is beneficial for the skin. 

Ginger Ale

This probiotic-rich drink is made from fresh ginger, water, and sugar and contains healthy bacteria known as the ginger bug. Ginger is one of the best foods with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It’s known to relieve stomach upset and help control blood pressure. Keep in mind that homemade ginger ale is better than store-bought varieties since commercially sold beverages aren’t fermented and might contain different additives. 

Lacto-Fermented Lemonade

One of everyone’s favourites, lemonade, and its tangy-sweet flavour is not only delicious but also very beneficial for the gut. Probiotic-rich lemonade is available at some stores, but the downside is that many of those varieties tend to contain other additives. Other than that, lemonade is a delicious alternative to kombucha that has a perfect mix of sweet and savoury flavours. Lacto-fermented lemonade is drained off of yoghurt, which makes it a probiotic-rich bubbly drink.

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