Kombucha

Kombucha Beverage Development

Kombucha is a fermented, sweet and tangy beverage with relatively ambiguous origins. While scholars are unsure exactly when or where it originated, it certainly dates back to at least 200 years ago, and has been theorized to have come out of a region of Northeastern China where it was traditionally consumed. 

How It’s Made

Kombucha is made by fermenting green or black tea with sugar, resulting in a yeast and bacteria compound said to lend probiotic benefits to the drink. Probiotics (similar to those found in yogurt, cheese, miso, and other fermented foods) help to restore healthy bacteria to our gut, bringing supposed health benefits. 

While kombucha used to be mainly brewed at home, it has become more of a mainstream beverage with the recent popularity of functional foods and beverages. It’s now easy to find kombucha in a variety of flavors, with beverage giants, such as Pepsi, jumping onto the kombucha bandwagon. 

Kombucha’s Challenges 

The drink is not without its limitations, however. Most of the health claims that go along with kombucha have yet to be corroborated by any major scientific study, and the fermentation of the beverage poses opportunities for possible illness if improperly manufactured. Additionally, in order for fermentation to occur, sugar must be used, which may be an unpopular choice among some of today’s more sugar-conscious consumers. It can also be difficult to monitor the alcoholic content of kombucha during the brewing process, and federal regulations on alcohol content may pose a problem for kombucha manufacturers. 

Beer brewing outsourcing
Beer recipes have been found on Babylonian clay tablets dating back to 4300 BC.
Hard Seltzer Water & Sodas
Hard sodas and hard seltzers are commonly categorized as flavored malt...
Hard Cider
Hard cider is generally an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of...
Ready to Drink Cocktails & Wine Beverage Development
The demand for convenience in food and beverage is at an all-time high.
Wine Beverage Development
Wine is believed to date back as far as 7000 B.C.
Coffee & Tea
Both coffee and tea date back centuries, with long histories and rich and...
Cannabis Beverages (CBD & Hemp)
CBD (or cannabidiol) is a compound found in the cannabis plant and provides...
Functional Beverages & Supplements
Modern consumers are increasingly excited by the functional food and drink...
Flavored & Functional Waters
Because of recent saturation of the bottled water market,
Sport Drinks Beverage Development
Sports drinks are beverages containing a combination of water and electrolytes...
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are beverages that contain some sort of stimulant, artificial or...
Alcoholic Tea & Coffee
Tea-infused alcohol
Hybrid / Innovative Beverage Development
Beverage categories are ever-changing and evolving.
Juice Beverage Development
Juices are made from extracting or pressing the natural liquid out of fruits...
Probiotic & Prebiotic Beverage Development
Probiotic and prebiotic beverages are at the front of both the functional food...
Protein Beverage Development
Protein became widely popular in the mainstream food and beverage industry in...
Spirits & Distilled Liquors
Spirits are distilled alcoholic beverages.
Switchels, Shrubs & Vinegar-Based Beverage Development
Thanks to the recent popularity of kombucha (a vinegar-y, fermented tea...