A 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, including probiotics (essential for good digestion), low sugar, healthy acids and energy-boosting properties. And because it’s naturally carbonated, it feels 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.
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 California Grape 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
Time and time again we can’t help but reach for Synergy Trilogy, a slightly acidic and fruity sparkling elixir that will definitely give you a little buzz — 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 that was 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
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 Lemon Ginger Cayenne, a tangy lemon and gingerquencher with the slightest hint of cayenne.
Calories: 60 per bottle
Sugar: 10 grams per bottle
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
The Bu
You’ll hang loose when you take a few swigs of The Bu kombucha.
This brand was launched in Hawaii and there are five flavors from which to choose: honeydew, tangerine, chai spice, lavender and tropical. Our favorite is the unusual, slightly floral experience of the lavender, although the honeydew 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