You’re looking through your fridge in search of something to drink, and you stumble across some bottled kombucha you bought a few months back. You’re not the type of person to waste food, but you’re not sure if the kombucha is still good. How long does kombucha last in the fridge?
How Long Does Kombucha Last in the Fridge When It’s Bottled?
In the case of traditional kombucha with live probiotic cultures, you can enjoy it safely for a long time as long as you keep it in the fridge. Some brands put the expiration date at three months, and others say six months. The most important thing is to keep it refrigerated.
Unlike many other types of tea, traditional kombucha always needs to be refrigerated, even at the store. You wouldn’t leave yoghurt out on the counter for hours, and you shouldn’t leave out kombucha, either.
What Factors Should You Consider When Refrigerating?
To avoid problems with your kombucha, consider a few different factors that affect taste and nutritional content.
Bottled or Homemade
Bottled kombucha produced by trusted manufacturers can last as long as the “drink by” date on the bottle. Technically, you can drink kombucha after that date, but the flavour and quality aren’t the same. With homemade kombucha, enjoy each batch within a few weeks to a month after bottling.
Probiotic Content
Even though refrigerated kombucha is safe to drink for many months, its probiotics don’t always last that long. For live cultures to survive, they need certain conditions, such as natural sugars. After a while, the drink goes flat, which is a sign the probiotics are gone.
Flavour
Traditional kombucha tastes best within a few weeks or months of bottling. That’s when you get that ideal combination of fizzy, sweet and sour that’s hard to resist. Eventually, kombucha starts to taste vinegary and overly acidic. The alcohol content may grow, too.
Answering the question of how long kombucha lasts in the fridge isn’t easy because there are so many varieties of kombucha. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to be safe.
What About Kombucha Powder?
Our microencapsulated kombucha powder is special. It contains healthy enzymes, antioxidants and live cultures, but they don’t activate until you add water.
That means you can store the powder form in your pantry as long as you want. It doesn’t require refrigeration. When making your kombucha, remember to use cool or room-temperature liquids to protect the probiotics.
Why Is Refrigeration Important for Traditional Kombucha?
Live kombucha is raw, or unpasteurized. By keeping it in the fridge, you slow down the fermentation process and avoid spoilage.
Once outside the fridge, kombucha ferments quickly. Too much carbonation can even cause the bottle to explode.
How long can kombucha be open in the fridge? Once you open a bottle, drink it the same day if possible.
How Long Does Kombucha Last in the Fridge When You Use Our Powder?
Instead of worrying about how long kombucha lasts in the fridge, keep around microencapsulated kombucha powder. Any time you’re in the mood for a fizzy, delicious and nutritious boost, add our Instant Kombucha to your favourite juice or cool tea and enjoy. That way, you get the full benefits of the live cultures and the amazing flavour you love.
Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/does-kombucha-refrigerated-133112430.html
https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/does-kombucha-expire
https://seattlekombucha.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions
https://risekombucha.com/blog/does-kombucha-expire-and-go-bad/
https://superfoodscompany.co.uk/blogs/news/how-is-instant-kombucha-powder-made