Best kombucha in the UK reviewed
Last updated: 09 December 2025
Here we will give a hands-on, tasted-tested review some of the UK’s best and most popular kombuchas, including ones from Lidl Solevita, Karma, Holos, Momo, Aldi Juice Company, Fix8, M&S, Equinox, Lo Bros, Pret, Remedy, Nexba, Jarr, Yugen, No. 1 Living, GT's Synergy, You + I and more.
You might also be interested in reading our article on the best probiotics in the UK if you want to add more healthy microbes to your diet.
Please note this article contains some affiliate links.
Types of kombucha
Commercial kombuchas often (but not always) fit into two categories:
Real-ingredient kombuchas: This means that if the kombucha is a raspberry flavour that real raspberries in some form (eg juice, concentrate or puree) have been used rather than just raspberry flavouring (natural or otherwise). I tend to see these as more authentic and natural, and more similar to traditional homemade kombucha. The downside is that they usually have more calories
Low-calorie kombuchas: These tend to use natural flavourings rather than real ingredients and can rely on using sweeteners for taste. I find they often have a flavour with less depth and I prefer not to consume sweeteners, whether natural or not (more on this below). However, the advantage is that these kombuchas are very low in sugar
And of course some kombuchas use a combination of real ingredients and flavourings.
Are sweeteners bad for you?
Some studies suggest that certain artificial sweeteners can change the composition and activity of gut microbes, but the evidence is mixed and we don’t yet know how important these changes are for day-to-day health.
There is less research on common natural sweeteners such as stevia and erythritol, so at the moment we don’t really know whether they have similar effects on the gut or not. Some people also report digestive side effects from these sweeteners, but again, more research is needed.
Because of this uncertainty, I prefer to limit my consumption of sweeteners where I can. That’s a personal choice rather than medical advice, and for many people using a small amount of an approved sweetener instead of a lot of sugar may still be a reasonable trade off.
Best kombucha in the UK
GT's Synergy kombucha
GT's Synergy kombucha sets a very high bar for commercial kombucha.
In contrast to many other commercial kombucha, GT's Synergy kombucha is made in a very authentic way. It undergoes a long 30-day fermentation in small 18L batches. And it is made with live cultures passed down since 1995.
As well as this, they only use real fruit juices for flavouring.
The specific ingredients are water, kombucha culture (bacteria and yeast cultures, black tea, green tea, kiwi juice, cane sugar), raspberry juice (2%), lemon juice (1.5%), cold pressed ginger juice (1.5%).
So it’s a very authentic kombucha which uses no flavourings or sweeteners.
As is common with kombucha, GT's Synergy doesn’t list which specific live cultures are present, however, on their website they claim to include a diversity of live cultures which have been passed down for decades.
They also state there are ‘9 billion living cultures’ per bottle.
It has 11 calories per 100ml which is low to moderate for a real-ingredient kombucha.
Flavour
I find the carbonation a little high to begin with and then it drops to a nice moderate level.
The aroma is quite complex with ginger showing most with a standard kombucha funky, farmhouse background.
The taste is deep and multifaceted. The kick of the ginger and the sweetness of the raspberry work very well together. And the lemon juice sourness balances the raspberry. Both the ginger and the raspberry linger on the tongue.
The acidity is moderate to high (but in balance).
In summary, the flavour is superb and makes so many commercial kombucha seem like vastly inferior products. Given the complex, balance and depth, this is one of the few kombucha that could be truly satisfying as an alcohol alternative.
Cost and availability
We bought a 473ml bottle for £5.49 from an organic food store in London.
Summary
Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: GT's Synergy kombucha sets the gold standard for commercial kombucha. It uses real ingredients, is fermented in small batches and has a brilliant and complex flavour. It is expensive though.
Pros
some organic ingredients
uses real ingredients (ie real fruit juices)
long fermented in small batches
source of various antioxidants
very good flavour with complexity, balance and depth
could be used as an alcohol alternative
contains 9 billion live cultures per bottle
2240mg of organic acids per bottle
Cons
no information on the live cultures included (but they do say they use a diversity of cultures passed down for decades)
expensive
Read our full review of GT's Synergy kombucha.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Runner up kombucha in the UK
You + I kombucha
You + I kombucha shows how good traditional, unflavoured kombucha can be.
It is organic and only uses simple, real ingredients. The specific ingredients are filtered water, cane sugar, black tea and kombucha culture. It is also fermented ‘with’ French oak. But it’s unclear whether it is fermented in French oak barrels or whether they have added some oak chips to the ferment.
This drink includes live cultures, but as is common with kombucha, they give no information on which strains are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
In terms of calories, it has 11 calories per 100ml which is on the low-to-mid end for a real-ingredient kombucha.
Flavour
The carbonation is good - it is moderately gassed and only caused a bit of burping initially.
The aroma is typical of an authentically brewed kombucha - there’s characteristics of cider, sweet white wine and a little funk.
The taste is mainly of apple juice and cider. There’s also a nice subtle background of oak which adds to the complexity. It has a moderate acidity.
In summary, the flavour is excellent and a good example of how nice and refreshing proper unflavoured kombucha can be.
Cost and availability
We bought a 330ml bottle for £3.49 from an organic food store in London.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: You + I kombucha is a simple, organic and unflavoured kombucha. It only uses real ingredients and has a lovely refreshing taste.
Pros
organic
uses real ingredients
excellent flavour
source of antioxidants
good level of carbonation
fewer calories than many other real-ingredient kombucha
Cons
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Read our full review of You + I kombucha.
Other kombucha in the UK
Yugen kombucha
Yugen kombucha is organic and contains some interesting herbal and other real ingredients.
The specific ingredients (as the label states) are: Yugen Kombucha (water, kombucha culture, sugar, infusion (tea, lemon balm, corn flower, chilli pepper)) (95%), mango purée (4%) and turmeric juice (1%).
This drink includes live cultures, but as is common with kombucha, they give no information on which strains are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
In terms of calories, it has 15 calories per 100ml which is on the mid-to-high end for a real-ingredient kombucha.
Flavour
The aroma is mainly of mango.
The taste is quite complex. The earthiness of the turmeric is most prominent, followed by the sweetness of mango and the heat of the chilli. There’s also a deep herbal background. The acidity is moderate.
In summary, the flavour is very good and has a great depth and complexity which represents the various real ingredients used.
Cost and availability
We bought a 325ml bottle for £3.99 from an organic food store in London.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Yugen kombucha is organic and uses various interesting ingredients which give it a unique and complex flavour.
Pros
organic
uses real ingredients
source of various antioxidants
very good flavour with complexity and depth
good level of carbonation
Cons
on the higher end of calories for a real-ingredient kombucha
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
a little on the expensive side
Read our full review of Yugen kombucha.
Karma kombucha
Karma kombucha is an organic, real-ingredient kombucha with a nice, complex flavour.
The ingredients listed are: kombucha (filtered water, blond cane sugar, green tea, kombucha culture), hibiscus infusion, pomegranate juice, raspberry purée, ginger juice, live cultures and carbon dioxide from fermentation.
This drink includes live cultures, but as is common with kombucha, they give no information on which strains are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
In terms of calories, it has 11 calories per 100ml which is on the low-to-mid end for a real-ingredient kombucha.
Flavour
The carbonation is on point - it is lightly gassed with fine bubbles. Unlike many other kombucha, this didn’t cause any burping.
The one aspect of the aroma which stands out is the ginger. Behind this is a general red berry background and a farmhouse character typical of kombucha.
The taste is deep and multifaceted. In order of predominance, you get ginger, pomegranate and raspberry. But if you don’t think about it too much it’s really just like ginger in front of a general red berry background, like the aroma. It has a fairly high acidity.
In summary, the flavour is very nice and refreshing - the ginger and the fruit work well together. There’s a depth to the flavour which you can only get by using real ingredients.
Cost and availability
We bought a 1L bottle for £6.95 from an organic food store in London.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Karma kombucha in an organic kombucha which uses real ingredients and this shows in a nice, deep flavour.
Pros
organic
uses real ingredients
nice and refreshing flavour
source of antioxidants
contains some vitamins and minerals (but not in huge quantities)
decent value for a premium kombucha (especially when buying a 1L bottle)
good, fine carbonation
fewer calories than many other real-ingredient kombucha
Cons
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Read our full review of Karma kombucha.
Jarr kombucha
Jarr kombucha is organic and uses various real ingredients - and also includes added fibre and vitamin C.
The specific ingredients are water, organic invert sugar syrup, organic ginger juice (2.4%), organic corn fibre (resistant dextrin), concentrated organic lemon juice (0.3%), organic green tea, organic black tea, organic ginger extract, gentian extract, organic lime extract and ascorbic acid (antioxidant).
This drink includes live cultures, but as is common with kombucha, they give no information on which strains are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
In terms of sugar, it has 18 calories per 100ml which is on the high end for a real-ingredient kombucha - but still half that of traditional soft drink.
Flavour
It is lightly carbonated and didn’t cause any burping or bloating.
The aroma is mainly of fresh ginger.
The taste is primarily of ginger, lemon and the vitamin C tablets I used to suck on as a child. In the background there’s some earthy complexity likely from the gentian extract. There’s also a fiery ginger aftertaste and it has a moderate to high acidity.
In summary, the flavour is very good and reflects the various real ingredients used.
Cost and availability
We bought a 330ml bottle for £3.39 from an organic food store in London.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Jarr kombucha is organic and contains various beneficial ingredients. The taste is complex and reflects the real ingredients used.
Pros
organic
uses real ingredients
source of various antioxidants
contains added vitamin C
contains added fibre
very nice, complex flavour
good level of carbonation
Cons
on the higher end of calories for a real-ingredient kombucha
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Read our full review of Jarr kombucha.
Holos kombucha
Holos kombucha is an organic, real-ingredient kombucha - and this particular version uses some interesting ingredients, particularly citra hops which you might find in a quality pale ale beer.
The specific ingredients are filtered water, kombucha culture, raw cane sugar, green tea, Earl Grey tea, yerba mate, rooibos and citra hops.
This drink includes live cultures, but as is common with kombucha, they give no information on which strains are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
It is fairly high in calories for a kombucha with 17 calories per 100ml. However, this is still under half what a normal a soft drink would have.
Flavour
The carbonation is quite high and did cause a fair amount of burping.
The aroma is mainly of the passionfruity citra hops.
The taste is mainly a passionfruit hop character with a lemony tang. There’s also a complex background formed by the various herbal ingredients and teas which is slightly earthy. It has a fairly high acidity.
In summary, the flavour is great. The hops are not just a gimmick - they contribute a lovely fruity flavour. The flavour is balanced and the various ingredients work well together to create an interesting, refreshing and moreish kombucha.
If you are a craft beer fan, you will love this kombucha - as should most people regardless of whether they like beer or not.
Cost and availability
We bought a 330ml bottle for £3.19 from a grocer in London.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Holos kombucha is a real-ingredient kombucha with interesting ingredients and a great taste.
Pros
organic
uses real ingredients
very nice and interesting flavour
source of antioxidants
decent value for a premium kombucha
Cons
carbonation is a little high
on the higher end of calories for a kombucha (but less than half that of non-diet soft drink)
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Read our full review of Holos kombucha.
Momo kombucha
Momo kombucha is another organic, real-ingredient kombucha.
The specific ingredients are: filtered water, kombucha culture, organic raw cane sugar, organic apple juice, organic tea and organic elderflower (0.1%).
They give no information on which strains are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
It includes apple juice which provides antioxidants and some fibre.
It is fairly high in calories for a kombucha with 19 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is nicely moderate and fine bubbled.
The aroma is mainly of apple juice and elderflower.
The taste is again a mixture of apple and elderflower - probably more appley than you were expecting for a kombucha labelled as ‘elderflower’ flavour. There’s also a fairly sharp acidity which makes it refreshing.
In summary, it’s a nice flavour but less of elderflower than I’d hoped.
Cost and availability
We bought a 330ml bottle for £3.79 from a Spar store in London.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Momo kombucha is quality organic kombucha that uses real ingredients. It has a nice flavour, but perhaps they could use more elderflower.
Pros
uses real ingredients
organic
sources of antioxidants (from the tea and apple juice)
good taste
Cons
higher in calories than other kombucha (although still half that of non-diet soft drink)
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
No. 1 Living kombucha
No. 1 Living kombucha is an organic kombucha that uses real ingredients.
It contains real ginger juice and turmeric as well as black pepper to help absorb the turmeric. And these ingredients provide real health benefits (see end of article).
Unfortunately they don’t specify what live cultures are included or the quantity of those.
It has 17 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is very light.
The aroma is mainly of ginger.
The taste is a nice, refreshing ginger with the turmeric coming through only slightly.
In summary, the real ingredients give the flavour a nice depth.
Cost and availability
I bought it for around £2 in a big Sainsburys.
Summary
4.25 stars out of 5.
A nice organic kombucha, made with real ingredients, but lacking information on the probiotics included.
Pros
organic
real ingredients with health benefits
no sweeteners
Cons
on the higher end of calories for a kombucha
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Equinox organic kombucha
Equinox kombucha is made with green tea and being organic it is all natural.
It includes no sweeteners and derives its flavour from natural flavourings and some real ingredients like elderflower, raspberry leaf, nettle leaf and rosehip.
The bacteria strain is Bacillus Subtilis and there are 3 billion of them in the can. This strain is commonly found in fermented foods and probiotic supplements.
It has 18 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
It’s light carbonation is spot on and it is very refreshing.
The aroma is mainly of raspberry.
The taste is very pleasant mostly of raspberry but with some elderflower coming through also.
Cost and availability
The 250ml bottle is available from Coop for £1.65.
Summary
4.25 stars out of 5.
A great price for a good, refreshing and organic kombucha.
Pros
great taste
organic
no sweeteners
some real ingredients (along with natural flavourings)
Cons
just one probiotic strain mentioned
on the higher end of calories for a kombucha
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Pret kombucha
Pret kombucha is organic and is uniquely made with sencha tea.
It also includes stem ginger and dried turmeric.
There is no information given on the live cultures included or the amount of them.
It has 18 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is nice and low.
The aroma is strongly of ginger with some turmeric coming through.
The taste is more strongly of tea than other kombuchas reviewed here - likely because it is made with sencha tea. There’s a mild background of ginger and the turmeric isn’t really perceptible. I would like more ginger, but the overall sweetish tea flavour is really nice ultimately.
Cost and availability
I bought it for around £3 in Pret - which is quite high for a 250ml can.
Summary
4.25 stars out of 5.
A nice sencha tea kombucha with a distinctive taste. But lacking details of the live cultures it includes.
Pros
real ingredients
organic
unique flavour
Cons
no details on live cultures or the amount of them
on the higher end for calories
a bit expensive
Fix8 kombucha
Fix8 kombucha uses both real ingredients and natural flavourings for its flavour. Thankfully, it doesn’t use sweeteners.
The ingredients are: filtered water, kombucha cultures, sencha green tea, sugar, natural flavouring, Sicilian orange extract, saffron extract, vitamin C and lactic acid bacillus.
Fix8 state that this kombucha includes ‘lactic acid bacillus’ - which very likely means the strain Bacillus coagulans which is a spore-forming probiotic that is good at reaching the gut alive. It helps balance gut flora, reduces bloating and digestive discomfort, and supports immune function.
In terms of the actual amount of this probiotic, there are 2 billion colony forming units in a 250ml can.
It also includes added vitamin C for extra health benefits.
Compared to some other real-ingredient kombucha this drink has fewer calories with 14 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is moderate and doesn’t cause any unpleasant burping.
The aroma is very strongly of orange - it makes me think more of blood orange. The aroma is so strong, likely in large part to the added flavourings, that it seems excessive and artificial - even though they use natural flavourings.
The taste is quite orangey as expected but with a bit less of the blood orange characteristics I was expecting after smelling it. And the aftertaste is a bit like the vitamin C tablets I used to suck on as a child. It has a moderate acidity.
In summary, the flavour is not bad and fairly refreshing. But the depth of flavour is lacking a bit.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 250ml can for £1.80 from Sainsburys.
Summary
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Fix8 kombucha uses some real ingredients as well as natural flavourings for its flavour. The taste is fine but it’s lacking in depth.
Pros
fortified with vitamin C
towards the cheaper end of the market
lower in calories compared to some other real-ingredient kombucha
(very likely) contains the probiotic Bacillus coagulans which is good at making it to your gut alive
flavour is refreshing…
Cons
…but the flavour lacks depth
uses some natural flavourings (which make the flavour seem a bit artificial)
Read our full review of Fix8 kombucha.
Lidl Solevita kombucha
Lidl Solevita kombucha is a great value choice.
It uses real ingredients for the berry flavours (rather than flavourings) but uses a natural sweetener.
This specific ingredients are kombucha tea (water, sugar, green tea, kombucha cultures), raspberry purée, blueberry purée, hibiscus infusion, steviol glycosides from stevia and carbon dioxide.
Unfortunately Lidl provides no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them.
Compared to some other real-ingredient kombucha this drink has fewer calories with 15 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is low and fine bubbled so it doesn’t cause any unpleasant burping.
The aroma is mostly of raspberry with a bit of kombucha farmyard funk.
The taste is again is mostly of raspberry with the blueberry showing through also. There’s a decent depth to the flavour, rather than the superficial, empty flavour you often get with flavourings. I think it is a bit sweet though. And it has a moderate acidity.
In summary, the flavour is generally good but a little on the sweet side. I think it would have tasted better without the added stevia to be honest.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 330ml bottle for £1.69 from Lidl.
Summary
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Lidl Solevita kombucha is great value and uses real berry ingredients. It is a little sweet though and could do without the natural sweetener.
Pros
great value
lower in calories compared to some other real-ingredient kombucha
uses real ingredients for the berry flavours
good flavour…
Cons
…but the flavour is a little sweet
uses a natural sweetener
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Read our full review of Lidl Solevita kombucha.
LA Brewery kombucha
LA Brewery kombucha contains green and black teas.
And it is made with real ginger and lemon juice. However, there’s no information on the form of ginger used (ie whether it is stem ginger or ginger juice) or percentage of ginger used - the ingredients list merely says ‘Ginger’. As we’ll see below, I suspect the percentage of ginger is quite low.
Unfortunately there is no information given on the live cultures it includes or the amount of them (ie colony forming units).
It has 18 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is on the higher end of good. Any higher would get into burp territory.
The aroma is subtle ginger and lemon.
The taste is nice and refreshing but the ginger and lemon flavours are quite weak. It’s like sparkling water that’s been infused with a bit of lemon and ginger. I’d definitely like more of a ginger kick.
Cost and availability
I bought it for around £3 in Leon.
Summary
3.75 stars out of 5.
A refreshing kombucha with real ingredients, but ultimately lacking flavour and details of the live cultures it includes.
Pros
real ingredients
refreshing
Cons
no details on live cultures it includes or the amount of them
lacking depth of flavour
on the higher end of calories
Lo Bros kombucha
Lo Bros kombucha is very low in calories. It contains under 3 calories per 100ml, which is 6 times less than some others reviewed here. However, the trade off for this is that it does contain the natural sweeteners erythritol and stevia.
It contains green and black teas and natural flavourings - rather than real blueberry.
Unfortunately there is no information given on the live cultures it includes or the amount of them (ie colony forming units).
The kombucha also includes a prebiotic in the form of acacia fibre - this is essentially food for the good microbes in your gut.
It also includes apple cider vinegar which has various health benefits.
Flavour
The carbonation is a little high and the burps build up a bit.
The aroma is like bubblegum, with a sort of fake fruit vibe.
The taste is nice and of blueberry. However, considering these is no real fruit ingredients (just natural flavours) there is little depth to the flavour.
Cost and availability
I bought it for around £2 in a big Sainsburys.
Summary
3.5 stars out of 5.
A low calorie kombucha with a nice enough taste which includes prebiotics and apple cider vinegar. It does include natural sweeteners though which may put off some people.
Pros
very low in calories
prebiotics
apple cider vinegar
Cons
taste is lacking depth
slightly overly carbonated
includes natural sweeteners (if that bothers you)
no information on the live cultures it includes or the amount of them
Aldi Juice Company kombucha
Aldi Juice Company kombucha is a low-calorie kombucha which uses natural sweeteners and flavourings for flavour. However, it comes at a great price.
The specific ingredients are: kombucha (carbonated water, kombucha culture, black tea, green tea, sugar), flavour enhancer (erythritol), apple cider vinegar, flavourings, sweetener (steviol glycosides from stevia) and living cultures.
As you can see there’s no actual passion fruit in this drink (eg, juice, concentrate or puree), just natural flavourings - which makes the name ‘The Juice Company’ seem rather misleading!
Unfortunately they give no information on which strains of live cultures are included or the actual amount of them (ie colony forming units).
It includes apple cider vinegar which provides some health benefits.
It is is very low in calories with only 1 calorie per 100ml.
Flavour
The carbonation is moderate and doesn’t cause any unpleasant burping.
The aroma is fairly strongly of passionfruit.
The taste is mainly of sweet passion fruit - but since the taste comes only from flavourings it lacks depth. It has a moderate acidity.
In summary, the flavour is nice enough and somewhat refreshing. But it’s a surface-level passion fruit flavour which seems a bit unnatural, not a rich flavour of passion fruit which you would get if real passion fruit was used.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 330ml bottle for £1.69 from Aldi.
Summary
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Aldi Juice Company kombucha is a low-calorie kombucha which doesn’t use real passion fruit, rather natural sweeteners and flavourings. It is cheap though and the taste is not bad.
Pros
health benefits of apple cider vinegar
cheap
very low in calories
flavour is fine enough…
Cons
…but the flavour lacks depth
relies of natural sweeteners and flavourings for flavour
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
Read our full review of Aldi Juice Company kombucha.
Remedy kombucha
Remedy is a low-calorie kombucha which contains a mixture of real ingredients and flavourings. It contains 2% ginger juice, but also natural ginger flavouring. It also contains lemon juice.
It includes the natural sweeteners erythritol and stevia which may bother some people. On the plus side, it only has 3 calories per 100ml.
It is made with green and black teas.
Unfortunately there is no information given on the live cultures it includes or the amount of them (ie colony forming units).
Flavour
The carbonation is slightly too high with burbs building up.
The aroma is a strong mix of ginger and lemon with a slight unappealing funkiness.
The taste is rather weak and underwhelming with only a little ginger and lemon coming through. It’s also not as refreshing or bright as others reviewed here.
Cost and availability
It’s a 250ml can and sells for around £2.75 from Wasabi, however is widely available.
Summary
2.5 stars out of 5.
A low-calorie kombucha with some real ingredients, but not much to write home about.
Pros
very low in calories
some real ingredients
Cons
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
weak taste
carbonation is too high
contains natural sweeteners
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Nexba kombucha
Nexba is a sugar-free, low-calorie kombucha which relies on natural flavourings and sweeteners for taste. There’s no actual apple, pear or ginger in the drink (eg juice or puree).
This kombucha has zero sugar and only 2 calories per 100ml - making it exceptionally healthy in this regard.
The other main benefit of this kombucha is the probiotics (ie live beneficial bacteria) it contains. However, there is only one strain present, bacillus coagulans.
And there are over 150 million colony forming units of this per 100ml.
Flavour
The aroma is very strongly of pear - almost too strong. It makes the drink seem artificial to be honest (even though the added flavourings are natural).
The taste is generic apple and pear - with no real depth. The ginger doesn’t really come through at all - which is not surprising as no proper ginger ingredient was used.
But the carbonation is at a good level and not too extreme like competitors can be.
Overall the taste is not bad, it’s just a bit bland, lacking depth and overly sweet. However, by the end of the bottle (over a few days), I was finding the sweetness and seemingly artificial taste quite unpleasant.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 1-litre bottle sells for £3 from Sainsbury’s.
Summary
2.5 stars out of 5.
A low-calorie kombucha which won’t set your tastebuds alight. One to choose if you’d like to prioritise zero sugar above flavour.
Pros
very low in calories
source of probiotics
Cons
just one strain of probiotics mentioned
bland flavour compared to real-ingredient kombuchas
too sweet
contains sweeteners (if that bothers you)
M&S kombucha
M&S kombucha is all natural and the flavour comes from a mixture of natural flavourings and concentrates. It doesn’t include sweeteners.
Unfortunately there is no information given on the live cultures it includes or the amount of them (ie colony forming units).
It has 18 calories per 100ml.
Flavour
The smell is nice and mainly of mango with some citrus notes.
The taste however is not good in my opinion. It has a funky taste reminiscent of a stale beer. There’s strong mango and general fruitiness in there as well, but the stale taste lingers and dominates for me.
I’ve never experienced that taste in a kombucha before. It’s like a farmhouse beer gone wrong and not the refreshing experience you’d expect from a kombucha.
The carbonation is a nice light level though.
Cost and availability
It’s a 250ml can and sells for around £2 from M&S.
Summary
2 stars out of 5.
An all-natural kombucha but with a poor taste and lacking information on the live cultures included.
Pros
all natural
good carbonation
some real fruit and vegetables in the form of concentrates
no sweeteners
Cons
no information on the live cultures included or the amount of them
poor taste
on the higher end for calories
Make your own kombucha
Want to save money? Try making it yourself at home and save a fortune!
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Factors we consider in our ratings
The factors we consider when doing a review (and the weightings of each of these) may vary depending on the product we are testing, but here are the key general factors we consider when we settle on a rating for a product.
Health benefits
We find out how the product will be good for your health and outline the benefits for you in simple language. This often involves doing research so you don’t have to. We often link to scientific studies or articles summarising scientific findings so you can dig deeper if you want to.
Things detrimental to health
We want to highlight where a product might include something bad for your health - even if it might be good for you in another way. This could include such things as pointing out certain additives it contains or high sugar levels.
How it’s made
This will vary depending on the product, but we want to see a quality process for making it and quality ingredients. For example, we want to see a kombucha traditionally fermented with lots of different microbial strains and we want to see a yoghurt made with fresh milk and not milk powders.
Price
While we expect quality products to be more expensive, they still have to be priced within reason. On the other side of things, a product which is priced very competitively will get a ratings boost based on the value it provides.
Flavour
For some products flavour won’t be a factor (eg probiotic tablets), but for others, like yoghurt or kimchi, flavour is a key aspect because these products are made to be enjoyed as well as being healthy! We will try to be as subjective as possible and describe the flavour in detail so you can get an idea of whether you would like it or not.
Your reviewer
This review was written by Travis, founder of Hello Gut Health.
A long-time gut health writer and advocate with over ten years of experience exploring the science of the microbiome and fermentation.
He combines careful research with practical testing to help readers make informed, trustworthy choices.
He has reviewed over 150 gut health products.
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