Best Kombuchas

By Gayot Editors

Kombuchas are Healthy Alternative to Soda

What is kombucha? Even though this tea-based drink, which originated in China, has been around for centuries, it’s only in the past several years that this bubbly beverage has really taken off. As we become more health-conscious, we’re learning of this fermented tea’s natural health benefits. It includes probiotics (essential for good digestion), low sugar, healthy acids and energy-boosting properties. And because it’s naturally carbonated, it makes it feel like you’re drinking soda except that this tangy-sweet elixir is actually good for you.

Here at GAYOT, we taste-tested many brands (there seems to be a new one popping up every week) to help you find the best kombuchas on the market with great taste and low glycemic levels that don’t surpass 10 grams of sugar per bottle.

> For more ways to stay healthy, peruse through our Guide to Healthy Living to stay up-to-date on the latest wellness trends.

1. Health Ade

We highly recommend all the kombuchas on our list, but if we had to choose just one to drink for the rest of our healthy, happy lives, it would be Health Ade.

Offering the most robust bubbles, this sparkling feel-good beverage is brewed in Los Angeles and tingles the tongue with every swig. All the flavors – from beet to carrot to plum – boast low sugar content and a perfect sweet-to-tart ratio. We can’t get enough of the Pink Lady Apple and Pomegranate comes in at a close second. Cayenne Cleanse tells no lies, so be prepared for a little kick in the throat … in a good way, of course.

Calories: 60-80 per bottle
Sugar: 4-6 grams per bottle

2. WILD TONIC® Jun Kombucha

The beverage’s bubbly nature has earned it the nickname “Champagne of Kombucha.”

Female-founded brand WILD TONIC® Jun Kombucha specializes in jun kombucha, a cousin of traditional kombucha crafted primarily with honey as its base instead of sugar cane, making it stand out with its refreshing and smooth taste. Brewed and bottled in Sedona, Arizona, WILD TONIC® Jun Kombucha contains prebiotics, probiotics and antioxidants, with all and only organic and natural ingredients, without any artificial flavorings or sulfites. Their non-alcoholic jun kombucha comes in five flavors: Raspberry Goji Rose, Blueberry Basil, Mango Ginger, Blackberry Mint and Chai Pear. Hard kombuchas are also available.

> For more information, visit WILD TONIC® Jun Kombucha official website.

3. GT’s Kombucha

There are more than 20 flavors of GT’s Kombucha, all vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO.

We can’t help but reach for Synergy Trilogy, a slightly acidic and fruity sparkling elixir that will definitely give you a little buzz. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for that afternoon slump. GT is also impressively low-glycemic with just three to four grams of sugar per serving. For a real boozy sensation, try the brand’s “Classic” line, first introduced in 1995, and features bottles with more than 0.5% alcohol. In other words, you must be 21 or over to purchase these bad boys.

Calories: 60 per bottle
Sugar: 4-6 grams per bottle

4. Brew Dr. Kombucha

This 100% raw kombucha from Townshend’s Tea Company is just what the doctor ordered.

Made in Portland, Oregon, Brew Dr. Kombucha starts with loose-leaf organic teas that are blended with organic herbs, fruits and other botanicals. No juices or flavorings are added after fermentation, making it a truly 100% raw kombucha with naturally occurring probiotics. While there are many flavors such as Clear Mind (subtly minty with peppermint, rosemary and sage) and Spiced Apple (almost like drinking liquid apple pie), our favorite is Ginger Lemon Organic, a tangy lemon and ginger quencher.

Calories: 60 per bottle
Sugar: 10 grams per bottle

5. Kombucha Dog

Even if the flavor wasn’t so doggone good, we’d have to include Kombucha Dog on our list if for no other reason than the brand donates 100% of its proceeds to dog rescues and no-kill shelters.

The charitable aspect alone is worth buying a few (dozen) bottles of Kombucha Dog. Photographer Michael Faye helps homeless dogs get adopted by featuring them on the labels. You can also find this brand at restaurants, sometimes on tap, which is definitely worth trying for the unbeatable freshness. Kombucha Dog is the only kombucha naturally fermented long enough to contain the lowest amount of sugar and the highest number of probiotics and antioxidants. Plus, the level of carbonation, sweetness and tang is on point. Who needs beer when you’ve got this fizzy lifting drink?

Calories: 60 calories per bottle
Sugar: 6 grams per bottle

> For more information, visit Kombucha Dog official website.

6. The Bu

You’ll hang loose when you take a few swigs of The Bu kombucha.

This brand, launched in Hawaii, has five flavors from which to choose: honeydew, ginger peach, lavender, strawberry hibiscus and tropical. Our favorite is the unusual, slightly floral experience of the lavender, although the strawberry hibiscus comes in at a close second. The bubbles are at a moderate level – not too light, not too strong – and each bottle of The Bu is organic, raw, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and contains more than 1 billion probiotics.

Calories: 60 per bottle
Sugar: 6 grams per bottle