Kombucha Brands Ranked Worst To Best

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Kombucha is a trendy health drink that has boomed in popularity with its reputation for providing gut health benefits and general wellness. The fermented tea drink is full of bubbly probiotics that some people claim can help a range of ailments, from gastrointestinal issues to blood pressure. However, any avid kombucha drinker will be quick to tell you that no two brands taste exactly the same, even if they propose to be a rendition of the same flavor profile. It's part of the process of fermentation — it's hard for anyone to perfect, from a home brewer to a professional. 

The range of probiotic-fueled drinks on the market has exploded in recent years. There are also different expressions of kombucha to accommodate different dietary restrictions and lifestyles, from zero sugar to alcoholic options. Even in the category of regular kombucha, there's an overwhelming amount of options. 

We decided to do some digging into how some of the most popular kombucha brands stack up against one another. Here's a list of 15 popular kombucha brands, ranked from worst to best, to help you narrow down your decision next time you're looking to try something new in the drink aisle. 

Bear's Fruit is an organic fair-trade kombucha brand from Brooklyn, New York, that isn't a bad drink by any means, but it's far from the best kombucha on the market. Similarly to Forage's lineup, Bear's Fruit has a limited selection for customers to choose from. The kombucha comes in four flavors — ginger lemon rosemary, strawberry jalapeño, pineapple mint, and blueberry lavender. The brand also makes four different flavors of sparkling water with probiotics that expand its offerings a bit, but the lineup is as slim as the cans. 

Some customer reviews also remark on the high price tag of Bear's Fruit cans in addition to the lack of flavorings inside the drinks. "It should have more blueberry. The can is much smaller than others for the price. It tastes good but for the price, there are others that are natural and [with] more flavor," one Amazon user wrote in a review of Bear's Fruit kombucha. 

Brew Dr. is a bit more of a tea-forward kombucha than some others on the list, which was the company's approach when it was started in 2006. One of the major draws to the Brew Dr. organic drinks is its extensive lineup of flavors. Whether you want something herbal, like the Clear Mind kombucha made with rosemary, mint, and sage, or a fruity delight like the raspberry llmeade, the options run the gamut. 

Despite the brand's flavor lineup and focus on the environmental impacts on its products. the drink's taste isn't always a hit. Some kombucha customers claim the flavor is lacking — bottles advertised as spicy have little to no kick at all. Other customers have remarked that some flavor mashups are unbalanced, thus making the taste suffer. "I've tried a few different Kombucha brands but this one has got to be the worst," one Influenster user wrote in a review. "The flavors are very 'dull' and generic, and they all taste the same to me." 

To be fair, Culture Pop is not technically kombucha, so we couldn't justify putting it any higher on the list. It is, however, an organic probiotic soda that boasts similar benefits to kombucha without a vinegary taste. Culture Pop uses real fruit juices, spices, and herbs in its recipes. Those ingredients are key to all the flavor elements in every can, especially the sweetness as Culture Pop doesn't add any sugar besides what's present in the juices. 

Culture Pop has a solid flavor lineup that includes about seven core options, with notable flavor profiles like strawberry rhubarb or ginger, lemon, and turmeric. Some customers have complained that Culture Pop's packaging could be improved, as some people who ordered drink delivery received a few bent cans in the mail. Other than the logistical aspects, the taste is as solid as can be. "Great refreshing bevie that is low in sugar and good for your belly. Most of the flavors were a fav," one review on Culture Pop's website reads. 

Pilot Kombucha made its way to shelves from its base in Brooklyn, New York, in 2015 and has been soaring across the U.S. ever since. It's another women-owned kombucha brand that is named to honor of the founder's family history in aviation and to showcase the ingenuity of the brand. Pilot's flavor lineup includes options you likely won't find from another kombucha company. A few of the more adventurous flavors are turmeric aloe and celery juniper, but there are also fruity cans like pomegranate rose and blueberry lemongrass. 

As with any drink brand with more eccentric flavors, they aren't a hit for everyone. Some customers warn to stay away from flavors like grapefruit mint, while others in the line fare much better in the flavor department. But those with a palate for drinks with depth will appreciate Pilot's craftsmanship, especially as the kombucha brand makes everything in small batches.

Remember the tepache we mentioned before? Well, it's so close to kombucha that we felt it was worthy enough to include De La Calle's products on the list. Tepache is an ancient Mexican beverage that is commonly made out of fermented pineapples rather than cane sugar. The possibilities for flavor combinations are endless, but a funky pineapple is at the core of every can. 

De La Calle has helped to introduce the U.S. to tepache in a major way with its canned drinks. The flavors are authentically delicious, with options like watermelon jalapeño, ginger manzana, chamoy, and tamarind citrus. The flavors can be hit or miss depending on your palate, but most of them are a well-balanced execution of sweet, savory, and often spicy. "One of the best sparkling beverages," one Thingtesting review of the brand reads. "De La Calle offers such a unique flavor profile and the fermented drink isn't too strong for those who are not big kombucha fans." 

GT's Living Foods has been a major presence in the kombucha space since 1995. Despite growing to mainstream success with its Synergy kombucha, the folks at the company still craft each batch in a 5-gallon jar so there is no compromising on quality. GT's also does things differently by adding kiwi juice to its raw kombucha to up the probiotic content even more. 

GT's Synergy kombucha lineup is long and includes more than two dozen options for customers to choose from, which is one of the major draws. A few fan-favorite bottles are the Trilogy, Guava Goddess, and Gingerberry drinks. "It literally is the best brand I've had so far. And I've tried countless kinds and flavors," one Influenster user wrote in a review of the brand. The only downside is that some customers have criticized the flavors for being too sweet, which other people say is a draw to the healthy soda alternative. 

KeVita kombucha just narrowly misses the mark for the No. 1 spot in our ranking for the sole reason being that our top pick has better packaging. Both brands are equally delicious, offer a large variety for customers, and are always expanding their drink lines. KeVita is a women-owned brand born in 2008 that has grown beyond kombucha to include a line of different drinks like herbal spritzers, apple cider vinegar tonics, sparkling probiotic drinks, and more. 

KeVita has seven flavors of its plain kombucha that include unique mashups like lavender melon and pineapple peach. The other probiotic drinks that don't necessarily classify as kombucha are offered in alternative flavors, thus making the line feel more expansive. A few favorite flavors are ginger and tart cherry, which are anchors in the lineup. "I love this brand of kombucha, this flavor is great, gingery and refreshing," one Influenster user wrote in a review. "I purchased several flavors and have never had a bad one."