Kombucha, a lightly fizzy, fermented cold tea drink, has soared in popularity in recent years in the UK, with many pre-bottled options popping up on the market.
With an ever-growing range of styles and flavours now available, kombucha has become a sought-after alternative to traditional sugary soft drinks or alcohol. Its popularity and rising demand has been fuelled by increasing interest in fermented foods and their potential gut-friendly benefits, as well as a shift towards more natural, lower-sugar drinks options to enjoy at any time of day.
Whether you are a kombucha enthusiast or a newcomer keen to try something different, there is a wealth of flavours and styles to explore. We have taste-tested over 30 varieties to bring you our best kombucha to buy, from plain options to interesting flavours (ginger, guava, pink grapefruit and more) and smart bottles that can even replace sparkling wines. For more drinks inspiration, visit our product review section, and discover over 400 round-ups, guides and mocktail recipes on our alcohol-free drinks hub.
Best kombucha to buy at a glance
- Best CBD kombucha: Hip Pop CBD kombucha, £25 (12 x 330ml)
- Best sweet kombucha: Momo raspberry hibiscus kombucha, £45 (12 x 330ml)
- Best spiced kombucha: No.1 Living Ginger kombucha, £5.25 (4 x 250ml)
- Best easy-drinking kombucha: Remedy kombucha, from £18.49 (12 x 250ml)
- Best ethical kombucha: HOLOS Citra Hops kombucha, £34.19 (12 x 330ml)
- Best passion fruit kombucha: Jarr kombucha passion fruit, £3.25 (330ml)
- Best pink grapefruit kombucha: Equinox Organic Kombucha Pink Grapefruit & Guava, £2.40 (275ml)
- Best plain kombucha: Left Field Sencha Green kombucha, £39.60 (12 x 330ml)
- Best sparkling wine alternative: Real Kombucha Dry Dragon, £10 (750ml)
- Best sour kombucha: Real Kombucha Royal Flush, £11.50 (750ml)
- Best ginger kombucha: Blighty Booch kombucha organic ginger, £45 (12 x 330ml)
- Best rosé alternative: L.A Brewery sparkling English blush, £13 (750ml)
- Best smooth kombucha: You + I Kombucha Original, £35 (12 x 330ml)
- Best champagne alternative: L.A Brewery Sparkling White Rose Kombucha, £13 (750ml)
Jump to:
What is kombucha?
To make kombucha, firstly, the tea is brewed and sweetened with sugar to help feed the fermentation process. Next, a scoby is added (an acronym that stands for ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast’) along with some starter liquid.
A permeable lid is attached and the mixture left to ferment for several days – this is the primary fermentation. When the kombucha is bottled for its secondary fermentation, flavourings can be added, including fruit, herbs, spices or other ingredients such as coffee, coconut water or rose petals.
The end result? A live, fermented drink that is effervescent, slightly sour, and can be flavoured with a huge variety of ingredients. Just like wine or beer, every kombucha recipe is unique, with the flavour profile, appearance and level of fizz depending on which ingredients and methods have been used during the brewing and fermentation process.
Best kombucha to buy 2026
Hip Pop CBD kombucha
Best CBD kombucha
Hip Pop has some of the most unique, not to mention delicious, kombucha on the market. They have flavours such as strawberry and pineapple, blueberry and ginger & apple and elderflower. We especially like their CBD Kombuchas, with flavours such as passionfruit and Guava and cherry and blackberry. These are brightly flavoured, lightly sparkling, with 15mg CBD. They are refreshing and not too sweet. We think they’d make a great non-alcoholic cocktail substitute when poured over ice.
Available from:
Drink HipPop (£25/12 x 330ml)
Amazon (£33.98/24 x 330ml)
Sainsbury’s (£5.25/4 x 330ml)
Momo raspberry hibiscus kombucha
Best sweet kombucha
We love all four flavours from Momo, but this combination of tangy raspberry and floral hibiscus is a firm favourite. It’s delightfully fruity, with only a touch of sweetness and none of that funky flavour you might expect from kombucha. Momo goes above and beyond to make the best raw, unfiltered kombucha, and we think you can taste that. Not to mention, the bottles look lovely in your fridge.
Available from:
Momo (£26.50, 6 x 330ml)
Amazon (£45, 12 x 330ml bottles)
No. 1 Living Ginger kombucha
Best spiced kombucha
You get a real stem ginger aroma with a heady base of turmeric on opening this kombucha. It has a great balance of flavours – a subtle sweetness, a tang of acidity and a gentle heat from the ginger with a peppery finish. Pale yellow and translucent, its robust fizz really adds to the warming effect with each sip. A flavour-packed treat.
Available from:
Sainsbury’s (£5.25, 4 x 250ml)
Amazon (£15.75, 12 x 250ml)
Remedy
Best easy drinking kombucha
Light and refreshing, Remedy is relatively sweet, without any of the funky taste of some kombuchas. It’s likely to be a hit with kids and, as it’s sugar- and allergen-free, with parents, too. There’s a good range of flavours to appeal to kombucha newbies, including ginger lemon, raspberry lemonade, wild berry, orange squeeze, mango passion, cherry plum and peach.
Available from:
Remedy (from £18.49/12 x 250ml)
Amazon (from £15.72/12 x 250ml)
Holland & Barrett (£7/4 x 330ml)
HOLOS Citra Hops kombucha
Best ethical kombucha
West Sussex-based HOLOS makes fantastic-tasting kombucha while doing good – in partnership with two UK charities, it employs survivors of slavery, providing training and job opportunities. We enjoyed all its flavours but found the zesty, tropical notes of the Citra Hops blend particularly bright and refreshing. A worthy recipient of three stars from the Great Taste Awards, this kombucha is an excellent substitute for beer and has a satisfyingly crisp, dry finish. HOLOS is available for purchase in M&S stores nationwide.
Available from:
Amazon (£37.99, 12 x 330ml)
JARR passion fruit kombucha
Best passion fruit kombucha
This super-funky kombucha boasts a tangy passion fruit scent which balances well with the green and oolong blends of tea. We thought it was reminiscent of a fine scrumpy cider – great bubbles and ideal to refresh and revitalise you on a hot summer’s day.
Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£3.25 x 240ml)
Equinox Pink Grapefruit & Guava kombucha
Best pink grapefruit kombucha
Bold, bright and confident, this Equinox kombucha is one for fans of strong, citrussy flavours. Brilliant pink in colour, it packs a really punchy grapefruit scent. On tasting, an enjoyable sharp and sour tang awaits beneath the fruity top notes. Vividly tropical and truly moreish.
Available from:
Waitrose (£2.40, 275ml)
Abel & Cole (£2.55, 275ml)
Left Field Sencha Green kombucha
Left Field pride themselves on their unfiltered, raw kombucha, unadulterated with juices or flavourings, and it’s easy to understand why – this green-tea-based brew is really something special. In the glass, it’s pale, effervescent and almost champagne-like in appearance. The light aroma is delicate on the nose, with hints of apple and honey. To drink, it’s clean and crisp with just the right amount of fizz. Full marks for this one and well worthy of a toast.
Available from:
Left Field (£39.60, 12 x 330ml)
Real Kombucha Dry Dragon
Deliberately targeting the discerning drinker, Real Kombucha now find themselves on the drinks menus of some of the best bars and restaurants in the UK, including The Fat Duck, L’Enclume, The Hand and Flowers and Le Manoir. Their Dry Dragon kombucha is particularly delicious – delicate, bright and sparkling, with a dry finish. Walking the tightrope between acidity and sweetness with ease, it’s a well-balanced flavour profile with lovely lemony notes. A great alternative to sparkling wine with a meal.
Available from:
Ocado (£10, 750ml)
Real Kombucha Royal Flush
This variety is brewed using first flush Darjeeling, which is hand-picked early in the spring for a delicate flavour – and it really shines in this kombucha. Pale yellow and lightly sparkling, it has a soft, peachy scent with a tangy undertone. It’s more sour than some – but not in a bad way – with a crisp, dry finish that’s altogether extremely enjoyable.
Available from:
Waitrose (£9.50, 750ml)
Blighty Booch Kombucha Organic Ginger
Best ginger kombucha
This North Wales-based brewery ferments premium quality organic whole leaf and bud tea from China in small batches to produce with a light and fruity beverage with a delicate effervescence. We love the ginger flavour especially, whose well balanced sweetness and warming, punchy flavour has earned it a coveted three stars from the Great Taste Awards.
Available from:
Blighty Booch (£45, 12 x 330ml)
L.A Brewery Sparkling English Blush
Best rosé alternative
A fragrant kombucha inspired by summer Rosé wines, L.A Brewery’s latest flavour balances floral hops with tangy rhubarb, elderflower and seasonal fruits such as strawberry and peach. Initially dry on the palate, this refreshing kombucha releases layers of soft fruitiness, ending with a touch of acidity from the rhubarb. Ideal for sipping on lazy summer afternoons or cracking open for a special occasion.
Available from:
L.A Brewery (£13, 750ml)
Ocado (£10, 750ml)
Amazon (£59, 6 x 750ml)
You + I Kombucha Original
Best smooth kombucha
Brewed in Glasgow, You + I Kombucha is currently available in four flavours – but the original was our pick of the bunch, brewed with Assam tea in oak barrels. In the glass, it’s a bright, golden colour, with a very unusual scent reminiscent of demerara sugar. Fine, delicate bubbles give a gentle burst in each sip, and stay stuck to the glass as it’s swirled – if it were a wine, you’d say it ‘has legs’. On the palate, it’s oaky and full-bodied, with an almost alcoholic kick that makes you think of dark rum. There’s very little acidic aftertaste, so if you prefer your kombucha with less ‘tang’, this might be a winner for you.
Available from:
You + I, (£35, 12 x 330ml)
L.A Brewery Sparkling White Rose kombucha
Best champagne alternative
If you are celebrating a special occasion, this champagne-inspired kombucha makes the perfect swap for a fine bottle of bubbly. Tangy assam and white monkey green tea provide a delicate base for floral infusions of organic white rose petals and wild elderflower. We enjoyed the gentle effervescence of this drink along with the fine balance of fresh citrus flavours and wildflowers on the nose, culminating in a crisp, dry finish.
Available from:
L.A Brewery (£13)
Ocado (£10, 750ml)
What are the health benefits of kombucha?
Kombucha contains probiotics, which may help balance gut bacteria and support digestion. However, the levels of probiotics can vary depending on production methods (such as how long the kombucha is fermented for) and this may mean there is not always adequate amounts of bacteria to be deemed an effective probiotic.
The fermentation process also produces antioxidants, such as polyphenols from tea, which can protect the body against oxidative damage. Additionally, kombucha contains small amounts of vitamins like B1, B6, B12, and C, which are formed during fermentation – these levels will vary in different products. Some studies suggest kombuchas components, such as acetic acid, may have anti-fungal properties and even support heart health by improving cholesterol levels.
However, while it can be a gut-friendly alternative to sugary drinks, kombucha’s benefits depend on its preparation and should be consumed as part of a balanced diet. For more information, check out our full guide to the health benefits of kombucha.
How we tested kombucha
As kombucha is a live product that continues to ferment once it’s bottled, it’s important to store it correctly to slow the fermentation process and to avoid changes in taste – so all the samples were chilled immediately on delivery.
On the testing day, all samples were served chilled and poured into wine glasses with nothing added – no ice, lemon or straws. Notes were taken on the packaging, appearance, smell, taste and fizz and a score given to each kombucha. We included 33 samples from a variety of price points and brands for this review.
We’ve since continued to update our best list with new releases and new tried and tested favourites – all tested using the same method.
Related content
How to make your own kombucha
The health benefits of kombucha
A beginner’s guide to fermented foods
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Are you a fan of kombucha? We’d love to hear your product recommendations in the comments below.
This review was last updated in January 2026. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
