Key points
- Kombucha is a fermented drink made from black, green, or white tea, sugar, and a SCOBY, a unique combination of living bacteria that makes kombucha’s taste indeed unique.
- Kombucha has a sour, tart, slightly vinegar-like, and sweet taste that can be influenced by many factors. Depending on how long kombucha is brewed, it may have stronger or weaker sour notes. Another factor that impacts the taste is the tea that kombucha is made of.
- Kombucha has a fizzy texture with some SCOBY floating on the surface. Many people are repelled by the texture and look for alternatives. FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are the best healthy and delicious kombucha alternative.
Kombucha’s popularity is at its peak now, and you can find this drink almost on every shelf in all sorts of varieties and flavours. If you taste it just once, you won’t forget its unique flavour. But perhaps you have never tried it and wonder what it tastes like?
Well, as strange as it sounds, fermented tea has a delicious taste that many people love. In this article, we’ll talk about kombucha’s taste and texture in detail and explain what influences them.
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha’s unique taste is hard to forget, and you’ll definitely recognise it among all other soft drinks. However, some people worry about how it’s made and whether it’s safe to drink it. Traditional kombucha is a fizzy fermented tea that originated in China and has been used in traditional medicine for decades. You may have heard of it being called “mushroom tea”, but don’t worry - there are no mushrooms or fungus in kombucha. The name refers to the shape of SCOBY during fermentation.
But what is SCOBY? It’s a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that feeds on sugar in tea, resulting in fermentation. Kombucha is typically made from black or green tea. Bacteria and yeast then convert the sugar into ethanol and acetic acid. Kombucha has been touted for its potential gut-promoting health benefits as well as for boosting the immune system due to its probiotic and antioxidant content.
What Does Kombucha Taste Like?
The fermentation mostly determines kombucha’s taste. Kombucha has a distinct tart, sour, and slightly sweet taste. Many brands also sell flavoured kombucha, and depending on the added flavours, kombucha may have a fruity, floral, herbaceous, or spicy taste. Some people describe kombucha’s flavour as similar to sparkling apple cider but with a more clear sour taste. After the fermentation is complete, kombucha doesn’t taste like brewed tea. It also has slightly musty notes. It’s considered to be a non-alcoholic beverage, even though it does contain a small amount of ethanol.
Kombucha’s Texture
Kombucha is a naturally fizzy drink, but its fizziness depends on the amount of carbonation. Kombucha is effervescent and not as bubbly as soda. It does not have the syrupy thickness either. Kombucha’s fizziness is a result of carbon dioxide that gets released when the SCOBY feeds on sugar. When you open a bottle of kombucha, you may notice some odd-looking chunks floating on the surface. These are pieces of the SCOBY. When kombucha is sold raw and unpasteurised, a new SCOBY is formed after the fermentation is complete and the drink is bottled. These bits are safe to consume.
Kombucha’s Smell
You’re likely to be hit with kombucha’s smell when you first open the bottle. Depending on whether it’s flavoured or not, you may smell some hints of fruit. It can also have floral or herbal notes. Kombucha also has subtle notes of vinegar since it contains acetic acid. But the smell usually isn’t too strong or overwhelming. Home-brewed kombucha tends to have a more vivid vinegar taste and smell than commercially sold kombucha.
How The Type Of Tea Used To Make Kombucha Affects The Taste
While kombucha has a unique sour taste, it can still vary depending on the tea that is used as the base for the brew. For example, kombucha made from green tea has a slightly earthy flavour. Black tea kombucha, on the other hand, reminds of a light dry cider with a fruity and slightly acidic taste. Black tea kombucha is also the strongest type, and it usually has the most distinct taste. Kombucha can also be brewed from white tea, and it’s usually more aromatic and has some hints of vanilla.
FUL® Sparkling Spirulina Drinks
While kombucha is an excellent healthy soft drink, many people want to have more healthy beverage options to choose from. For instance, some want a drink that contains no alcohol, and others are worried about the fact of consuming living bacteria with raw kombucha. And many people just don’t like the sour taste or the floating pieces of SCOBY, which does not have the most pleasant look. Regardless of your reasons, we have a great option for you.
FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are both nutritious and delicious and will give you the satisfaction of consuming a carbonated drink that’s completely healthy. In fact, spirulina is one of the most nutrient-rich foods in the world, and it is known for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are loved for their delicious taste and delicious flavours that include sweet white peach, refreshing lime & mint, or citrusy lemon & ginger. Their mesmerising blue colour is all-natural, derived from phycocyanin - one of the main antioxidants found in spirulina. With these drinks, you’ll treat your body to all the nutrients contained in spirulina while enjoying a tasty beverage that doesn’t have even a dash of spirulina’s unpleasant flavour.
FAQ
Why does kombucha taste like vinegar?
Kombucha naturally has a slight vinegar taste that occurs as a result of fermentation. During the fermentation, SCOBY converts sugar into organic acid. Depending on how long kombucha was brewed, it may have stronger or weaker vinegar notes.
How do you describe the taste of kombucha?
Kombucha’s taste is tart, sour, and slightly sweet. It also has subtle notes of vinegar because acetic acid is produced during fermentation. The taste differs from brand to brand, and some kombucha varieties are flavoured with herbs, spices, and fruits.
How do you get the vinegar taste out of kombucha?
You can’t eliminate kombucha’s vinegar taste as it occurs because of the released acid, which is a natural by-product of fermentation. If you want a delicious drink that doesn’t taste like vinegar, try FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks. Made from spirulina extract, these drinks are not only nutritious but also very delicious and available in different tastes.
Is kombucha supposed to taste like beer?
In terms of taste, kombucha tastes more like apple cider than beer. But it has a stronger sour taste than apple cider.
