kombucha

[ kawm-boo-chah, kuhm-boo-chuh ]

noun

1. a mildly alcoholic fermented beverage made by adding a live culture of yeast and bacteria to sweetened tea. SCOBY.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kombucha¹

First recorded in 1900–05; probably an English misapplication or misunderstanding of Japanese kombu “seaweed” + cha “tea”

Example Sentences

While people increasingly appreciate more challenging flavors like kombucha or strong coffee, Kimmerle thinks we’d need a chef to champion it, or maybe discover some new kind of health benefit, to truly get licorice to take off.

From Eater

Sometimes these concoctions are cloudy and funky, as if to appeal to the sour beer and kombucha demographic.

From Washington Post

Sometimes funky and always low-alcohol, piquette appeals to fans of cider and kombucha.

From Washington Post

On that February day, Anderson has already jammed Marigold with cases of kombucha, spinach and apples and is hoping to squeeze in more produce from a donor who runs a nearby farm.

From Time

Just stock your fridge with something else besides beer, like seltzer or kombucha.

From Outside Online

Here they are semi-touching at a grocery store; she likes kombucha.

From The Daily Beast

Hozven first began brewing kombucha 13 years ago, when she was nursing her son.

From The Daily Beast

Having given up caffeine, she had heard that kombucha produced a light buzz.

From The Daily Beast

Its authors speculate that kombucha “may be very healthful” in combating yeast infections, thrush, and other forms of candidiasis.

From The Daily Beast

Kombucha was withdrawn from Whole Foods and other stores in the summer of 2010 due to concerns over its alcohol content.

From The Daily Beast