FAQ

What is kombucha actually?

Kombucha is a fermented, gut-healthy tea drink known in East Asia for thousands of years, but it has only become more popular in the West in the last 10 to 15 years. It is not a soft drink, but rather the result of a fermentation process using lightly sweetened black or green tea with a live culture of bacteria and yeast, also known as a SCOBY. During this process, microorganisms metabolize the sugar and produce organic acids, probiotic cultures, and natural carbon dioxide. The result is a natural alternative to sugary soft drinks that contains healthy, probiotic bacteria.

How did you choose your producers for the Kombude?

It's straightforward: We only work with producers who ferment unpasteurized and use traditional long-term fermentation – there aren't that many in Germany and Europe who really take that seriously. Furthermore, we wanted to support small businesses, and not just the "usual suspects," meaning the big brands you most often find in supermarkets. We offer a range of products. This means no mass production, no pasteurization followed by artificially added probiotics. Quality over volume – that has been our philosophy from day one.

Why do I absolutely have to keep the kombucha bottles refrigerated?

Because kombucha is a living culture, and the fermentation process doesn't completely stop even after fermentation is complete. In the refrigerator (2–7 °C), fermentation slows down considerably: the kombucha becomes much more acidic, the carbonation is retained, and the valuable probiotic cultures remain active. If you were to store the bottles at room temperature, the fermentation process would continue, the kombucha would become sour more quickly, and pressure would build up (in warmer months, this pressure can even cause bottles to burst!). Properly refrigerated, our kombuchas keep for at least 4–6 months without any loss of quality.

Why do you only sell unpasteurized kombucha?

In short: Pasteurization kills the whole party. During the heating process, fermented drinks lose almost all of their live probiotic bacteria, enzymes, and valuable nutrients – then you're basically left with nothing. What's left is "only" a slightly lower-sugar soft drink. Some large manufacturers pasteurize their bottles and then add artificial probiotics – and then advertise their products as probiotic. That's marketing, not real kombucha.

Is there a deposit on the bottles?

Yes, there is a €0.08 deposit on all our bottles – regardless of the manufacturer. Simply return the empty bottles as usual to the nearest bottle return point (in the supermarket, beverage store, etc.).

Do you accept returns?

Because kombucha is a fermented food with a shelf life, we are exempt from the 14-day return policy: Food products with a short shelf life are excluded from the standard return policy. Specifically, this means: If your bottle is damaged, spoiled, or moldy, you can report it, and we will replace it immediately. If you simply didn't like the taste, that's unfortunately at your own risk, as it's a living product that continues to ferment in your hands. However, if there is clearly a quality issue, we will investigate and find a fair solution.

Do you ship outside of Germany?

Unfortunately we currently only ship within Germany.