Since kombucha is essentially fermented sweetened tea it’s common to wonder how much sugar is in kombucha after fermentation
Kombucha is a refreshing and delicious beverage; however, since it is made with sugar sweetened tea people often wonder how much sugar it contains.
This is especially important to understand for those with diabetes or following a ketogenic diet and are striving to limit their sugar intake and. For them drinking any beverage loaded with sugar is counterproductive to their health and diet goals.
Many variables throughout the brewing process lead to different final sugar content of kombucha. The kombucha brewing process uses sugar as a key raw ingredient and the bacteria and yeast digest the sugar as it ferments; however, some residual sugars remain. Additionally, a second fermentation with fruit or fruit juice can adds more sugar to the finished kombucha. (read about the best sugar for making kombucha here)
Here are some of the factors that control how much sugar is in the finished kombucha:
No two fermentations are the same. You could brew five different gallon jars of kombucha at the same time, each using the same sweet tea, kombucha starter liquid and ferment in the same location. Each gallon ferments at a different rate so to ensure consistent results you could measure the residual content of sugar as the fermentation progresses.
Regular homemade kombucha has about 12g of sugar per 250ml (1 cup), or 46g per liter. When compared to other beverages, homemade kombucha typically contains less sugar on a per-serving basis.
Sugar content of common drinks:
No. The sugar in kombucha provides food and energy for the yeast to consume as part of the fermentation process. Without the sugar there would be no fermentation and you would be left with slightly tart tea.
Now that you understand the sources of sugar in kombucha and the potential sugar content, let’s talk about some common methods for measuring the sugar content of your kombucha. The following methods and tools can be used to measure the sugar content of your kombucha:
Before using your refractometer you should calibrate it by placing a couple drops of water on the lens and adjusting the screw in the side wall of the refractometer so that it reads 0 on the blue line. Now you are ready to test your kombucha!
The hydrometer kit comes with a tube which you fill with kombucha. The hydrometer, which looks like a floating thermometer, is then set in the tube. It will float, depicting a reading of the sugar content level marked on the side of the hydrometer.
Helping you learn to brew kombucha, find inspiration for new kombucha flavors and use kombucha to make kombucha mocktails
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