Kombucha is a unique beverage, so it’s easy to understand why we get so many questions about it. Certain drinks are consumed all day, while some are associated with different times of the day as they are consumed around specific daily tasks, events, and meals. For example, we have coffee in the morning, smoothies in the afternoon, protein shakes after working out, mimosa with brunch or wine with dinner…… or anytime over here. So, where does kombucha fall on this scale? For most, it’s an all-day event!
For those of you new to kombucha, kombucha is fermented sweet tea with health benefits. It’s effervescent, slightly tart, slightly sweet, and fermented! To dig a little bit deeper, be sure to check out our post on what is kombucha?
For the most part, you can drink kombucha anytime, as it’s considered a healthy soda alternative. Any limiting factor merely comes down to particular individuals with sensitivities. Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol, caffeine, probiotics and can be acidic. So if these aren’t important to you, then go wild – drink kombucha anytime you’d like or as Shakira would say, “Whenever Wherever.”
For those of you with sensitivities, let’s go over each in detail to help you decide when it will be best for you to drink kombucha!
Since Kombucha is filled with probiotics, drinking it on an empty stomach may cause you to have an upset stomach. Although, if you eat breakfast and have a cup of kombucha on the side it may help you kickstart your day. It is also a great alternative to a cup of coffee and still provides you with the caffeine you need to wake yourself up. If you are a fellow coffee lover, make sure you check out our coffee kombucha recipe.
Drinking Kombucha with or after your meals can help aid digestion because of the acidity and carbonation within the drink itself. If you find yourself feeling tired and bloated after lunch, try drinking kombucha as a wake-me-up and something to cure your desire for something sweet. If you are an experimental brewer- you can also try your part in making kombucha into food!
As we stated earlier, kombucha contains caffeine. Meaning if you find yourself lying wide awake in bed- twisting and turning trying to fall asleep; you should try to avoid drinking kombucha before going to sleep. However, if you are not caffeine sensitive, kombucha is known to be a great alternative for wine because of its acidic flavor and display of fancy flavors.
If you have a sensitivity to alcohol or if you are trying to avoid it altogether, it’s essential to know that kombucha does contain small amounts of alcohol. The typical alcohol content of kombucha, while usually on the lower end, ranges from 0.25%-1.00% A.B.V., sometimes a bit higher. This range is relatively standard for