Jarr kombucha review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Jarr kombucha. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of this organic kombucha.
For this review we have taste-tested the ginger lemon version.
This kombucha is mainly available in organic food stores in the UK.
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.
Ingredients of Jarr kombucha
Jarr kombucha is organic and uses various real ingredients.
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).
Resistant dextrin is a soluble dietary fibre made by heat- and enzyme-treating starch so it resists digestion in the small intestine. It adds smoothness without sugar and reaches the large intestine largely intact, where it can be fermented by gut bacteria.
Gentian root has traditionally been used in bitters and digestive tonics, but in kombucha the benefit is mostly flavour. Bitterness can stimulate the perception of freshness and complexity, so brands often use gentian to create a more sophisticated flavour profile.
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.
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.
Benefits of Jarr kombucha
This drink contains the typical features of kombucha, including live cultures, organic acids and antioxidant compounds from the tea ingredients.
Live cultures
Live cultures in kombucha come from a mixed community of bacteria and yeasts which work together during fermentation. This community is held within a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) which is a cellulose layer that forms on top of the brew.
Each kombucha will vary, but Gluconobacter, Acetobacter and Zygosaccharomyces are the core organisms found in most fermentations. These groups ferment the sugars and produce the acids which give kombucha its tang.
As is common with kombucha, Jarr kombucha doesn’t list which specific live cultures are present or the number of them (ie colony forming units).
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are compounds produced by live cultures during fermentation. In kombucha, these include organic acids and small amounts of short-chain fatty acids that contribute to the drink’s acidity and flavour.
Fibre
The resistant dextrin in this kombucha adds a small amount of soluble fibre which can help support regularity. Because it reaches the large intestine intact, it can be fermented by gut bacteria, but the effects are milder and less predictable than established prebiotics like inulin.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help protect cells from everyday oxidative stress which, over time, can reduce the normal wear that cells experience as part of daily living.
This kombucha contains many ingredients which naturally contain antioxidant compounds:
Ginger juice – contains gingerols and shogaols
Green tea – contains catechins
Black tea – contains theaflavins and thearubigins
Ginger extract – concentrated source of gingerol-related compounds
Lime extract and concentrated lemon juice – contain vitamin C and citrus flavonoids
Vitamin C
Jarr also contains added ascorbic acid (vitamin C) which, as well as being an antioxidant, also:
supports normal immune function and helps your body maintain its natural defences
contributes to normal collagen formation, which is important for skin, cartilage, bone and blood vessels
supports normal energy metabolism and helps reduce tiredness and fatigue
improves iron absorption from plant foods
Appearance
As the picture below shows, it has a cloudy, pale yellow appearance.
Carbonation
It is lightly carbonated and didn’t cause any burping or bloating.
Flavour
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 of Jarr kombucha
We bought a 330ml bottle for £3.39 from an organic food store in London - which is about standard for a premium kombucha in a bottle of this size.
Review 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
Now read about the best kombucha in the UK!
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 the product 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.
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.
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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