Does kombucha have alcohol?
Yes, kombucha usually has a little alcohol. It is fermented by yeast and bacteria, and that fermentation can produce alcohol. In the US, kombucha that reaches 0.5% alcohol by volume at any point, including after bottling, counts as an alcoholic drink. Because fermentation can continue in the bottle, the alcohol level can rise after it leaves the producer.
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Key facts
- What kombucha is. TTB describes kombucha as "a fermented beverage produced from a mixture of steeped tea and sugar, combined with a culture of yeast strains and bacteria". [1]
- The 0.5% line. If kombucha has 0.5% or more alcohol by volume "at any time during production, when bottled, or at any time after bottling", it is an alcohol beverage under TTB rules. [2]
- It can rise in the bottle. Fermentation may continue after bottling, so a kombucha below 0.5% at bottling can later reach 0.5% or more. [1]
- Tax class. Kombucha of 0.5% ABV or more whose alcohol comes from fermenting sugar is generally classified as beer under the Internal Revenue Code. Whether the federal malt-beverage labelling rules also apply depends on the recipe and is decided case by case. [1]
- Labels. Alcoholic kombucha must carry the health warning statement required for alcohol beverages. [1]
Why does kombucha contain alcohol?
Yeast in the culture ferments the sugar, and that fermentation produces alcohol. Time and temperature affect how much alcohol is produced. [1] New York's food regulator notes that most kombucha is sold unpasteurised, with refrigeration used to slow further fermentation and keep it below 0.5% ABV; see does kombucha need to be refrigerated. [3]
How can I tell how much alcohol a kombucha has?
- Look for the health warning. In the US, kombucha of 0.5% ABV or more must carry the government health warning, and its label must state the nature of the product, such as "beer". [1]
- Read the small print on non-alcoholic kombucha. New York's guidance says labels should state that minor amounts of alcohol may be present. [3]
- Treat homemade kombucha as unknown. Commercial producers can test alcohol with validated lab methods; a home brew is not tested, so its alcohol level is not known. [1]
How does kombucha compare with hard cider?
Both are fermented, but cider is made from apple juice and is meant to be alcoholic; in the US, cider of 0.5% ABV or more is regulated as wine, not beer. [4] See what is cider? for how cider is made. If you're pregnant, the NHS advises not drinking alcohol at all, so check labels carefully. [5]
Related answers: what kombucha is · whether kombucha needs refrigeration
We don't give health advice. For questions about your health, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Questions
Is hard kombucha the same as regular kombucha?
No. Kombucha that reaches 0.5% ABV or more is regulated as an alcohol beverage in the US and must carry the government health warning. [1]
Is kombucha classified as beer?
When its alcohol comes mainly from fermenting sugar, TTB says kombucha of 0.5% ABV or more is generally classified as beer under the federal tax law. Some recipes can be classed as wine or spirits. [1]
Sources
- Kombucha Information and Resources (FAQs) — TTB
- Kombucha — TTB
- Kombucha Processing — New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
- Cider FAQs — Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
- Drinking alcohol while pregnant — NHS