Forget the messy science project of brewing kombucha at home. The UK's supermarket shelves are now brimming with ready-made versions of this fermented tea drink, offering a sophisticated, fizzy alternative to alcohol and sugary soft drinks. But with so many brands vying for attention, which bottles deliver a sparkling success and which leave you feeling flat? We put a range of popular options to the test.
The Rise of Ready-Made Fermented Fizz
Kombucha, once a niche health drink found in specialist shops, has undergone a remarkable transformation. It's now widely available in major supermarkets, with producers crafting complex flavours designed to rival wine and cocktails. The drink is created using a scoby (a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), which ferments sweet tea. While homemade versions are cheap, they require skill; over-ferment and you get vinegar, under-manage the gas and you risk an explosive 'burping' bottle.
The commercial market solves these problems. Most tested kombuchas contain a modest 2-3g of sugar per 100ml, a fraction of the 10.6g found in typical cola. However, some brands achieve sugar-free status by using sweeteners like steviol glycosides and erythritol, pushing them into the ultra-processed category and, in our tester's view, compromising the authentic flavour.
The Taste Test Winners and Losers
Our comprehensive tasting, conducted chilled and straight from the bottle, revealed clear favourites and a few disappointments.
Holos Ginger & Hibiscus Organic Kombucha was crowned the best overall. Priced at £3.20 for 330ml at Waitrose, this five-star offering boasts a delicate sourness reminiscent of a good homemade brew. It's made with four teas and supports a social impact programme for survivors of exploitation.
For the best bargain, FIX8 Kombucha Ginger Turmeric takes the title. Available for £5.50 for a pack of four 250ml bottles at Tesco and Sainsbury's, it offers a lively, spicy fizz fortified with vitamin C, earning a solid four stars.
The top-tier 'splurge' was the extraordinary LA Brewery Sparkling English Blush Kombucha. This five-star drink, costing £10 for 750ml at Ocado, is a complex, floral blend of green tea, hops, elderflower, and fruits like peach and lychee. It's expertly carbonated to mimic sparkling wine and is B Corp-certified.
Other high scorers included the zesty Equinox Organic Sicilian Lemon Kombucha (75p/100ml at Asda) and the fresh, unfiltered Momo Organic Ginger-Lemon Kombucha (£3.90/330ml at Ocado), both also B Corp-certified.
Where Some Brands Fell Flat
Not every bottle impressed. While Nexba Kombucha Ginger and Lemon offers incredible value at £3.50 for a full litre at Tesco, its use of erythritol and steviol glycosides resulted in a less palatable, artificial taste, earning it just two stars.
Similarly, Remedy Ginger Lemon Kombucha and One Living Ginger Kombucha with Turmeric, despite being widely available and good value, were marked down for their reliance on sweeteners, which were found to taint the authentic fermented flavour.
The market proves that for those seeking a refined, low-sugar alcohol alternative, several superb supermarket kombuchas exist. You can enjoy complex, bottle-conditioned fizz without the risk of a kitchen explosion. Just check the label if you want to avoid ultra-processed sweeteners.
