My Honest Review Of Kombucha: REAL Kombucha

Kombucha has a golden reputation in the health industry world, but as someone who has been invested in my health for almost 6 years, kombucha has been a beverage I’ve never really explored… until now.

What is kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea made from green or black tea (or sometimes both), sugar, yeast and bacteria (the good kind, don’t worry). It has a very small amount of alcohol (roughly 0.5% which is left from the yeast fermentation) and a tiny amount of remaining sugars.

How is kombucha brewed?

Really easily actually. To make kombucha, you simply add your SCOBY culture (symboltic culture of bacteria and yeast) to a pot of warm sweetened tea and leave it for a couple of weeks to ferment. The secret to a great tasting kombucha however, is the attention to detail at every stage of the process.

Why drink kombucha?

Now, this is where my curiosities come in. I think it’s no secret that kombucha is known for its health benefits, especially when it comes to gut health. Foods that go through a natural fermentation process gain probiotic properties, which have been known to bring benefits like improved digestion, decreased inflammation and a happier gut microbiome. And as someone who is currently working hard to support my gut health, kombucha seems like a no brainer to try.

So when REAL Kombucha reached out to me a few weeks ago to try their kombuchas as a non-alcoholic sparkling wine option, I was really intrigued to finally get to know this beverage a little more.

REAL Kombucha

So let me introduce you to REAL Kombucha. Born in 2016, REAL founder, David Begg, made his first brew while on the hunt for a great non-alcoholic wine to pair with great food after he gave up drinking. But unlike other kombucha’s on the market, REAL Kombucha was made to be different.

You see, REAL Kombucha is only ever made with tea, sugar and kombucha culture. Nothing else is added. No flavourings, no colourings, nada. It’s simply been left in its pure, natural state. Which for me, was music to my ears. It’s an ongoing joke with my family that I drink nothing but water, but with a very sensitive stomach and no desire for alcoholic drinks, I often find it really difficult to enjoy a beverage that makes me feel good, leave me bloat free and tastes great. That was until I had my first sip of REAL Kombucha…

My honest review of REAL Kombucha

As I write this with a fizzling class of REAL Kombucha’s Royal Flush beside me, I’m almost finding it hard to put into words just how magical this stuff is. If I’m completely honest, I didn’t have high hopes for this drink. Believe me when I say I’m a really fussy drinker. It’s really rare that I ever creep out of my comfort zone of “just a water, please”, but this has surprised me. It’s elegant, it’s light, it’s fruity and it has a lovely long finish that just sits on your tongue asking for more. I also really like the slightly vinegary taste that lingers behind, it gives it a lovely deep, yet refreshing undertone.

But the thing that strikes me most, is just how pure this drink is. It really does have just 3 ingredients and despite its fruity taste, there’s no added sugar at the end process. The sugar that is included in the fermentation stage is mostly consumed in the brewing process, so you’re practically left with a full-flavoured drink that is healthy, refreshing, good for your gut and also makes for a great non-alcoholic wine alternative. Or, if you love it that much just like me, a great drink to be enjoyed whenever!

I was also impressed by the presentation of the drink. Each REAL Kombucha drink is nicely presented in a glass bottle with beautiful labelling. I think this is a lovely touch if you’re especially interested in buying it as a non-alcoholic wine. I mean, it must look the part, right?

With famous restaurants like The Pig stocking this drink and the BBC raving about the brilliance of REAL Kombucha, it really isn’t hard to understand why. In an industry where sugar is lurking everywhere and the pressure to drink alcohol at every social event still exists, REAL Kombucha is a genuine alternative that takes care of your gut, tastes as good as it looks and really can be enjoyed as a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.

So if you haven’t guessed it already, REAL Kombucha gets a big thumbs up from me (and Doug). Not just because it tastes delicious, but because it’s healthy too.

If you’re interested in finding out more about REAL Kombucha, or would simply love to head straight to their online checkout, you can do so here.

Have you ever tried kombucha before? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Please note: this is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

Hannah x