Bärbucha Kombucha - FAQS

In this blog entry, I will answer most of the questions that we get about our Kombucha.

To help find those answers faster, they will be grouped into key categories.

But first, for those who are not familiar with our Kombucha, here are some important basics.

Our Bärbucha Kombucha is quite different from most of the commercially produced Kombuchas. It is made in 10 liter individual small batches and it is brewed in glass jars.

Most of our Kombucha varieties are made with single individual teas. Except for our Classic (a mixture of four different teas) and our Special Line (Chaga, Lapacho, Schisandra, and Jiaogulan), in which we use various botanicals instead of tea.

Our Kombucha is also unfiltered and naturally carbonated, as opposed to most commercial brands. It is also brewed in a traditional way, with a Scoby, and it is not made from a concentrate.

And finally, it is a living product, so it is not pasteurized (see the above label), like some of the commercially made "Kombuchas".

There are only four ingredients that go into our Kombucha: tea (or a botanical), water, sugar and Kombucha cultures (Scoby and the starter liquid)

And now, let's go to the questions:

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Sugar.

How much sugar is in Bärbucha Kombucha?

The amount of sugar varies in our Kombucha. At the time of bottling there is approximately 4.6 gr of sugar per 100 ml. We had that measured a couple of times.

Since we do not filter our Kombucha and we let the natural carbonation develop inside the bottles, a part of that sugar is broken down in order for the bubbles to develop.

Then, when our Kombucha sits inside the fridge, more sugar is "eaten away". This process varies depending on a variety. In some cases it goes faster, and in other it goes a bit slower.

This way, at some point most of this sugar might be gone in some of our varieties.

To know exactly the amount of sugar, we would have to open our Kombucha every day and measure the remaining sugar.

For more details about the amount of sugar in our Kombucha, please click here.

Is Bärbucha Kombucha sweet?

No, our Kombucha is not sweet. It has a nice level of sweetness to balance the sourness of organic acids which are present naturally in Kombucha. Some of the varieties turn dry quite fast, like our Jasmine, Schisandra, Jiaogulan, or even Jun.

What kind of sugar you guys use for Bärbucha Kombucha?

We use unrefined Organic (BIO) brown sugar called Demerara, as it gives our Kombucha extra complexity in flavor, and also as it contains some trace minerals.

And we use this sugar because it is not refined.

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Water.

What kind of water do you use for your Kombucha?

We use carbon-filtered and revitalized water, enhanced by pink quartz crystals.

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Flavors and/or added flavors.

I like ginger Kombucha. What flavors do you have?

Sorry, but we do not flavor our Kombucha. So, we do not have different flavors, but we do have different varieties of Kombucha, which are made with different teas (or botanicals).

Each one of our Kombuchas tastes distinctly different. Our Kombucha can be compared with different wines as far as flavor profiles go. For that reason we serve our Kombucha in champagne glasses.

Kombucha made with green teas can be compared with different white wine, black tea Kombuchas can be comparable with red wines. Oolongs are quite complex and can range from floral to almost fruity.

If you still insist on ginger, we always have flavored Water Kefir, and ginger is of of the flavors.

I like very sour Kombucha. Which Kombucha will you recommend?

Sorry, but our Kombucha is not very sour. Sourness would overpower the delicate flavors of most of the teas that we use. The flavor profiles of our Kombucha fall into these categories: pleasantly sweet (when freshly made), dry, floral or bitter. Our Schisandra Kombucha, made with a Chinese five-flavor berry has some sour notes. Otherwise, we would recommend our Kombucha Vinegar.

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Scoby

Do you use Scoby to make your Kombucha?

Absolutely yes. For us this is the only way. We use solid Scobies with an additional starter liquid. It is the traditional way to make Kombucha, as opposed to using concentrates or powders. Yes, those (concentrates and powders) are also available for commercial production.

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Teas.

What kind of teas you use for Bärbucha Kombucha?

We use all kind of teas for our Kombucha. In our standard selection we use various green teas, Oolongs, black teas and a Puerh. But we also have specials and there we also use some other teas varieties like white, yellow or even red teas.

Are the teas that you use Organic (BIO)?

Quite a few of them are, but not all of them. We try to source our teas from single estates where the pesticides are not used. Organic certification is not a sign of quality among tea growers. It only means that some of the known pesticides are not sprayed during the growing season. That is all. Almost all the high quality teas are not Organic certified.

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Carbonation.

How come some bottles have more carbonation than others?

The carbonation can and will vary depending on many factors. When Kombucha is freshly made, carbonation will be lighter when compared to the bottles that were made let's say a week earlier.

Some teas stimulate the yeasts more than some other ones. That's the case with a lot of Japanese green teas, as well as Jasmine tea, or even Schisandra. Same goes for our Jun.

Also, within the same batch, there might be a bit more yeasts in some bottles and they will have a stronger carbonation. This all stems from the simple fact that our Kombucha has a natural carbonation, as opposed to the vast majority of the commercially made products.

For that reason we always recommend to be careful with opening the bottle.

So first twist the cap a little and close it right away to see how active the carbonation is. This releases the pressure a bit, and normally it should be OK to open that bottle.

If it's a bit excessive, repeat that process a couple of times and finally the bottle should be ready to be opened.

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Alcohol

Does Bärbucha Kombucha contain alcohol?

Yes, our Kombucha does contain trace amount of alcohol, like almost all commercially made Kombuchas and all home-make Kombuchas.

How much alcohol is in Bärbucha Kombucha?

Our Kombucha contains from 0.5 to 1% of alcohol.

Is Kombucha an alcoholic drink?

No, it is not. In Germany an alcoholic drink should have above 1.2 % of alcohol. Anything below that, is considered non-alcoholic.

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Storage

Should Kombucha be stored in a fridge?

Yes, our Kombucha needs to be stored in a fridge, as it is a naturally fermented drink. Otherwise a bottle can even explode, if it sits in a very warm temperature for a couple of days.

How long can I keep a bottle before I drink it?

If the bottle was not opened, it can be stored for up to four months in a cold refrigerator (with temperatures not higher than 6 C. Just be careful when opening, if it sits for longer than a week.

Also, keep in mind that the pleasant sweetness might go away with time.

When the bottle was opened, we recommend drinking it up within one week.

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Drinking Kombucha.

How much Kombucha can I drink? Is there a limit?

For people who never had real Kombucha, we recommend drinking no more than a half a bottle in the first couple of days. After that, there's really no limit. Your body will tell you when to stop.

Some people can drink a few bottles during a day, some drink only one bottle, for some just a wine glass is enough.

Can I drink too much Kombucha?

That depends on many factors. If you also drink plenty of water, you will not have that feeling. If you drink 3-4 bottles, you might get the feeling that it was enough, and now you want to drink something else. The amount will also very depending on a season. On a hot summer day, you will drink more Kombucha with pleasure, than on a cold winter day.

When should I drink Kombucha?

Usually the best times are during the day. Since Kombucha activates, it might not be a good idea to have it too late into the evening, as it might influence your sleeping rhythm. For some people even a tiny amount of caffeine can stimulate them too much, so they also should avoid drinking Kombucha later in the evening.

A glass of Kombucha at least half an hour after a meal, might help you with a better digestion.

What's the best way to drink Bärbucha Kombucha?

Since our Kombucha has more resemblance to wine than to pop sodas, we recommend enjoying it in a wine glass, or Champagne. Exactly ho we serve it in our Kombucha Cafe.

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Other.

Does Kombucha go bad?

No, our Kombucha does not go bad. Usually two things can happen if Kombucha sits for two long. First, the amount of sugar will get reduced, sometimes to almost zero. And that will increase the amount of carbonation inside the bottle. So Kombucha will become dry and very bubbly. Some varieties age really well, and we've had some of our Kombucha after 2-3 years, and it was excellent.

If the bottle was opened, than the carbonation can diminish significantly, and the sugar will also reduce to a minimum. So, Kombucha can be flat and dry, after longer storage. But it will not go bad.

Is Bärbucha Kombucha Organic?

No, our Kombucha is not Organic (BIO). We were certified Organic for a few years, but we have decided that it was too restricting for us, and we have consciously gave up the certification program.

A lot of the teas that we use, are certified Organic, and so is our sugar that we use. But being Organic, especially when it comes to teas, is not a synonym of quality. Most of the high quality teas are not Organic, and the will never be. Same goes for other substances, like the Siberian wild Chaga that we use. Or even the Stinging Nettle that we pic every year, or the local honey that we use in our Jun.

Where can I get Bärbucha Kombucha?

Currently the only place where you can get our Kombucha in person is at our Kombucha Café - Café Bärbucha, in Berlin, Schöneberg.

But it is also available through our online store, linked through the button below.

We ship our Kombucha throughout Germany, and we ship it specifically on Mondays, so it reaches our customers usually on Wednesdays, Thursdays the latest.

The packages go out by Hermes, and each one of them has a tracking number.

Buy here