5 homegrown kombucha brands that will cool you down this summer 

On a recent trip to Goa, I discovered a slew of restaurants and cafes serving kombucha as part of their non-alcoholic drinks menu, and it led me down a rabbit hole of looking up Indian kombucha brands. While the prevalence of the fizzy, fermented drink (which has earned the moniker of being a ‘hipster’ beverage) does not come as a surprise in the sunshine state, it has become popular in other cities like Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, apart from metros.

The tea-based brew is made by fermenting green, white, or black tea along with sugar and SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) for a few weeks, and can be customised into a range of flavours. The resulting drink is pleasantly tart, sparkling, and packed with probiotics and antioxidants. 

So, this summer when you find yourself reaching for an effervescent soda, pick a bubbly kombucha instead—your gut will thank you!

Atmosphere Kombucha

Popular for appearing on season two of Shark Tank India, the Delhi-based brand was launched in 2018 by sister duo Rebekah and Ariella Blank. Their fizzy brews are inspired by the mountains, so don’t be surprised if you find Himalayan influences in the flavours. Think pink-hued wild mulberry, which is a limited edition flavour owing to the fruit’s seasonality, lavender, elderflower, and more. The sparkling drink comes in pretty packaging and serves as the perfect thirst quencher on hot days!

KoBu |The Culture Ko

The founder, Anand Makhija, stumbled upon the fizzy fermented drink on a trip to Barcelona in 2018 and knew he had to do something with it. Fast forward to a year later, he launched KoBu with just a handful of customers. Today, the brand is sold across 30 locations in Mumbai. Sip on their bestselling flavours—apple cinnamon, which tastes like a tangy, grown-up version of apple juice; mint lime that has a refreshing lemonade-like taste; and ginger lemon, which is the ideal drink if you’re a fan of ginger ale! You can also shop from their website, where you have the option to customise and build your own kombucha pack. 

Bombucha

A well-known Mumbai-based kombucha brand, Bombucha was started by husband-wife duo Nitin Gandhi and Monika Powloska. Monika first experimented with the probiotic drink in London, before moving to Mumbai and finding a lack of options, which led her to brew kombucha here. The brand is known for its artisanal offerings—all its bottles are the results of small-batch ferments. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to flavours—their range of offerings includes elderflower, apple spice, blueberry lavender, and beetroot pomegranate among others. 

Mountain Bee Kombucha

Bengaluru-based Mountain Bee specialises in craft kombucha that spotlights local produce, teas, and flowers through their flavours. It was started by self-taught brewer Honey Islam, in 2018, who discovered the drink back in 2016 during a volunteering assignment in Goa. Today, they have a select range of variants that will quickly become a part of your kombucha rotation—wild watermelon (perfect for watermelon fans!); aloha ananas, which is a pineapple-flavoured brew; ginger; vanilla; and more. Our favourite is the rosé kombucha that features rose petals, roselle flowers, and fennel seeds. Now that’s a refreshing drink!

HappyBooch

Are you on the lookout for vegan, dairy-free kombucha that is crafted by a women-run team? HappyBooch ticks off all the boxes. The Mumbai-based business was born in Shailaja Sharma’s kitchen in 2016 as a way to cure her problematic gut. The brand uses organic produce from artisanal farms and offers flavours that are sure to get you excited—Mango Bliss, Basil Lime, and Blueberry Kiss, anyone?