Can kids drink kombucha?

We get asked this question a lot and it’s no secret that kids love a sweet treat. Whether it’s cake, chocolate or fizzy drinks, kids + sugar = happiness (and then often meltdown). Finding the right balance is a challenge for most parents and sourcing healthy, low-sugar treats for your kids can be tricky, especially when the obvious ‘healthy’ options like fruit juice are also crammed full of sugar. Kombucha is a fruity, fizzy and fun alternative to popular sugar-laden soft drinks – and before you ask, yes, kids can drink kombucha!

Is kombucha safe for kids?

We understand the confusion some parents may have about giving their children kombucha, especially when there’s a lot of misinformation out there about its alcohol content and effects.

Kombucha is widely accepted as being safe for children but we do recommend starting off with small servings and diluting with water, especially for smaller children and toddlers. This will help to neutralise some of the natural acidity without losing the delicious flavour! Many of our staff who have little ones, recommend putting 75-100ml in a cup with a small amount of water to start. 

N.B. If your child has a weak or compromised immune system, it is best to check with your GP or healthcare professional before giving them kombucha or any other fermented food, as it does contain live bacteria.

How much sugar is in kombucha?

The NHS recommended sugar intake for children aged 4 to 6 is no more than 19g a day, and children aged 7 to 10 should not consume more than 24g per day. 

While Equinox Kombucha does contain natural sugars, it contains comparatively less of the sweet stuff than the vast majority of cupboard favourites. For example, our Original Flavour Kombucha contains just 3g of sugar per 100ml, compared to Fanta Orange, which contains 4.6g per 100ml, so it’s a great option for a low-sugar swap.

Coca cola – 10.6g per 100ml

Sprite – 8.3 g per 100ml

Fresh orange juice – 8.7g per 100ml

As well as being naturally low in sugar, our kombucha is also 100% organic, unpasteurised, raw, vegan and gluten free – win win!

Is kombucha alcoholic?

This is a common concern we hear from parents who want to know if kombucha is safe for their kids. The simple answer is that our kombucha does contain a tiny trace amount of alcohol, which is produced during the natural fermentation process, however, this is equivalent to less than 0.5% ABV. When we say a tiny amount, we really do mean tiny, so it’s perfectly suitable for your little ones to try.

It’s worth noting that alcohol content can vary from brand to brand, so always check the label before you buy. You can read more about the alcohol content of kombucha here. 

Will my kids like the taste?

Kombucha does have a very distinctive and unique taste, (which you can read more about here). However, that’s not to say that it’s not a hit with kids. Many of you have shared stories and pics of your mini booch lovers at home, which we absolutely love!

Our most popular flavours with our kiddy connoisseurs include Raspberry and Elderflower (light and fruity) and Wild Berry (sherbet-y in flavour without the bouncing-off-the-walls sugar content!). 

If your kids are kombucha curious, we’d love to know how they get on with trying it for the first time! Get in touch and tag us in your pics on social @equinoxkombucha or drop an email at info@equinoxkombucha.com. Enjoy!

Browse our range of drinks here.