5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (2024)

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My favorite fruit flavored kombucha recipes using fresh fruit, frozen fruit or dried fruit – plus tips for how to get fizzy kombucha!

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (1)

That first taste was so strange. Mildly vinegary, slightly fruity and refreshingly fizzy.

We were grabbing a meal at an outdoor cafe and my sister ordered kombucha and invited me to try a sip. At first, I didn’t think I liked it, but after a few sips it started growing on me.

Little did I know, I would grow so enamored with kombucha that I would start to brew it at home on a regular basis!

Years later, we have quite the system down for brewing and bottling kombucha in our kitchen!

I’m the one who brews the tea, adds the sugar and gets everything set up for the initial fermentation with the scoby in a 2 gallon glass jar. (You’ll find my tried and true kombucha brewing process in this post – plus some rookie brewing mistakes you don’t want to make.)

When it’s time to bottle, I usually recruit my husband to help. We get out our reusable bottles and caps, a funnel and whatever fruit and sweeteners we happen to be using to flavor our kombucha.

We make a bit of a mess because we always spill a little, but it’s worth it in the end!

Read on to get recipes for all our favorite fruit flavored kombucha recipes!

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (2)

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Kombucha Recipes – How To Make Fizzy Kombucha with Secondary Fermentation

First things first – the question everyone always asks – “How do you make fizzykombucha instead of flat?”

The initial fermentation of your kombucha may create a bit of carbonation on its own. That’s because the scoby makes an airtight seal in the brewing vessel, allowing CO2 to build up underneath.

The best way to get fizz in your kombucha is through secondary fermentation. Secondary fermentation occurs when you bottle your kombucha.

Here are some tips for increasing carbonation in the bottle to get fizzy kombucha:

  • Add sugar – Yeast gobbles up sugar and the result is bubbles! Sugar can be added in the form of fruit (fresh, pureed or dried) or with a squirt of honey. (See flavoring recipes below.)
  • Fill bottles completely – Less oxygen means more room for carbon dioxide to build up.
  • Cap tightly – Don’t let those bubbles escape. If you are reusing bottles, make sure the lids are tight. Flip-top bottles are a great choice because they seal completely.
  • Leave out on counter – Warm air leads to more fizz. (Note: Exploding kombucha bottles are rare but you should check bottles after 2 to 3 days at room temperature and consider moving to the refrigerator if the carbonation level is high. This is especially true in summertime temps!)

That said, once you start brewing kombucha, you’ll find that the amount of carbonation can be hit or miss. Some bottles bring on a huge amount of fizz (best to open bottles over the sink, just in case!) and some just fizzle out.

When you do get a flat bottle of kombucha, just mix it with a little carbonated water to get your desired fizz!

RELATED: Kombucha vs. Kefir – Learn about the similarities and differences of these two fermented drinks.

5 Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes

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Over many years of brewing kombucha, we’ve tried many different recipes and flavor combinations. Home brewed kombucha is tasty on its own – but we tend to prefer it after a secondary fermentation with fruit.

Secondary fermentation can be done with fresh fruit, frozen fruit, dried fruit or fruit juice – there are so many options!

One thing I’ve realized is that flavored kombucha is not an exact science. The ingredient amounts I suggest here are just that – suggestions! Feel free to customize these recipes as you see fit and don’t worry too much about precise measurements.

There is no set rule for how long to let your kombucha sit in secondary fermentation. Typically I start tasting it after a couple days but it can last for about a month. In warm weather, I often move the bottles into the refrigerator after 2 or 3 days to make sure they don’t build up so much carbonation that they explode.

Also, most of these flavors involve leaving fruit in the bottle during secondary fermentation. You will need to use a small mesh strainer to strain out the fruit before serving.

Here are our top 5 fruit-based kombucha recipes:

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (4)1. Blueberry Gingerale

This recipe involves a tiny bit of cooking – but it’s worth it! We use frozen blueberries and fresh ginger to make a blueberry ginger syrup to add to bottles during secondary fermentation.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup frozen organic blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup water

Method: Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until blueberries are soft and mushy and a light syrup is created. Let cool completely before using. Strain out the pulp so you have the liquid only. Makes 1/2 cup of syrup which is perfect for a 1 liter bottle of kombucha.

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (5)2. Strawberry Lemonade

I’m amazed at how the delicate flavor of strawberries comes through the acidic kombucha – but it does! Lemonade is a perfect complement to the strawberries to make a nice light flavor for summer!

Ingredients:

  • Fresh organic strawberries
  • Lemonade (I like Simply Lemonade)

Method: Cut up 2 to 3 strawberries into chunks. Add strawberries and 1/2 cup lemonade to a 16 oz bottle.

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (6)3. Cherry Candied Ginger

Cherry is another classic kombucha flavor and it’s especially great combined with spicy candied ginger.

Ingredients:

Method: Add a layer of cherries to bottle (1/2 to 1 inch), plus a few chunks of candied ginger.

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (7)4. Mango Puree

If you are a mango fan, you will love this simple mango kombucha made with pureed mango.

Ingredients:

  • Frozen organic mangos
  • Honey (optional)

Method: Defrost mangos and puree in a blender until smooth. Add 1/4 cup mango puree to a 16 oz bottle. Add a squirt of honey if desired.

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (8)5. Cranberry Fizz

Last but not least, this is our favorite kombucha flavor, hand’s down! And it’s the easiest one of all! We tend to use sweetened cranberries because the sugar helps to make the kombucha fizzier. You can add honey if you want but it’s not necessary. We just love the mellow but rich flavor that comes from the craisins!

Ingredients:

  • Dried cranberries (craisins), sweetened and preferably organic
  • Honey (optional)

Method: Use enough dried cranberries to cover the bottom of the bottle – 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Add a squirt of honey directly to the bottle.

If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing you’ve gotten beyond that initial – What is this strange drink? phase of kombucha. If you are ready to try brewing your own homemade kombucha, I hope you’ll try one of these recipes!

What are your favorite homemade kombucha recipes?

5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (9)
5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (10)

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5 of The Best Fruit Flavored Kombucha Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What fruits are good to flavor kombucha with? ›

Kombucha that's already been brewed and ready to drink. Fruit juice of your liking: cherry, grape, blueberry, pomegranate, lemon, pineapple, etc. You can add pieces of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, etc.) in addition to, or instead of, fruit juice.

What are the best flavors for kombucha? ›

In this article, we'll be looking at the top eight kombucha flavours that are easy to make at home: ginger, lemon, pineapple, strawberry, peach, apple, orange and carrot. By trying out these recipes, you'll have the chance to discover exciting new flavours and health benefits.

What is the ratio of kombucha to fruit? ›

If flavoring with fresh, frozen, or dried fruit, start with 10-30% fruit and 70-90% Kombucha. If flavoring with juice, start with 10-20% juice and 80-90% Kombucha. Suppose flavoring with herbs, the variety and strength of herbs vary greatly.

What fruit puree is good for kombucha? ›

Mango makes a great pairing with kombucha because it tones down some of the tartness commonly associated with kombuchas. Brewing hard fruit kombuchas requires sugar for an extended fermentation period, and mango puree is a great addition of a fruit for fermentation of these sugars.

What can you not mix kombucha with? ›

Disulfiram (Antabuse) interacts with KOMBUCHA

Taking kombucha along with disulfiram can cause a pounding headache, vomiting, flushing, and other unpleasant reactions. Don't drink any alcohol if you are taking disulfiram.

Can I put frozen fruit in my kombucha? ›

I used fresh strawberries and peaches from the farmer's market, pureed them in my Vitamix and added the fruit to my black tea kombucha. Your kids will absolutely love to make kombucha too- note: you can also use frozen berries or any frozen or fresh fruit. Just thaw and puree thoroughly to add to your kombucha mixture.

What is the best flavor of kombucha for beginners? ›

To get started, we recommend selecting a flavor profile you typically enjoy. If you're a fan of tropical fruits, try SYNERGY Mystic Mango or SYNERGY Guava Goddess. For those who prefer more tart beverages, try SYNERGY Gingerade or SYNERGY Trilogy.

What is the healthiest kind of kombucha? ›

Here are some of the healthiest kombucha brands:
  • GT's Kombucha.
  • Health-Ade Kombucha.
  • Kevita Master Brew Kombucha.
  • Humm Kombucha.
  • Brew Dr. Kombucha.
  • Remedy Kombucha:
  • Wonder Drink Kombucha.
  • Synergy Kombucha.
Apr 26, 2023

What sugar is best for kombucha? ›

In general, if you're just starting out, I do not advise using anything other than plain white cane sugar. Your SCOBY feeds on this and needs it to do its job. So if you give it a sugar substitute or something different than its food source, you may end up starving it, harming it or weakening it over time.

Can you use canned fruit to flavor kombucha? ›

Juices from the refrigerator section (like orange juice) can often leave a weird metallic aftertaste. Store-bought frozen or canned fruit can lead to weird funkiness/aftertaste. I've had some instances of success, when some of my bottles were perfectly fizzy and tasted great, and others were flat or tasted off.

Can you drink too much homemade kombucha? ›

Kombucha has been linked to a wide array of benefits, leading some people to overconsume this beverage. Drinking too much kombucha can lead to excess sugar and calorie intake and side effects like digestive distress. It's also unpasteurized and contains small amounts of caffeine and alcohol.

How much kombucha should one person drink a day? ›

How much kombucha is OK to drink? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that drinking approximately 4 ounces (oz) of kombucha per day “may not cause adverse effects in healthy persons.” Note that most kombucha bottles sold at the store are more than 4 oz.

Can I use apple cider vinegar as a kombucha starter? ›

Yes, you absolutely can. But it's a lot of work. You need to rework the vinegar culture. The vinegar culture will ferment “kombucha”, but it won't taste very good for some generations until the bacteria change.

Can you use canned peaches for kombucha? ›

So is fruit juice. Among my favorites are frozen strawberries and raspberries, dried elderberries and incan berries, and juices of cranberry and blueberry. Flavored kombucha is also a great way to use-up the liquid from canned fruits like peaches, pears, or pineapple.

Can I use mason jars for kombucha? ›

At Pearl, we're big fans of Kombucha and love it even better when we can brew our own at home! This tasty fermented tea is typically stored in glass mason jars during the fermentation process.

Can you flavor kombucha with fruit juice? ›

To flavor: Flavor kombucha when you bottle, after initial fermentation. Once you remove the kombucha from the SCOBY you may add to it whatever you like, herbal teas, fruit or fruit juice, lemonades etc. The kombucha will begin to process and breakdown the sugar in juices and sweetened lemonades.

Is it okay to put fruit straight into kombucha second ferment? ›

Only the finished Kombucha drink is therefore used for the second fermentation. Add fresh raspberries, strawberries, cherries, elderberry blossoms or raisins and other dried fruits to the finished fermented drink. Or fill a bottle of Kombucha two-thirds full with ready-to-drink fruit juices.

Can I drink kombucha with fruit? ›

The good news is that adding fruit juice to kombucha is not only possible but also a delicious way to take your kombucha to the next level. Fruity kombucha is a great option for parties or brunch.

Can I use dried fruit to flavor kombucha? ›

It's a quick and easy way to add flavor and fruit sugar to a second fermentation of water kefir or kombucha. I grab a handful of dried blueberries or apricots and add them straight to the bottle, dicing them up quickly to fit if need be.

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