What is kombucha tea? Does it have any health benefits?
Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Kombucha tea is a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. To make the drink, bacteria and yeast must first grow together to form a culture. The culture is added to the sugar and tea. Then the mix is allowed to ferment. The end result is a liquid that has vinegar, B vitamins and many other types of acids, including amino acids.
Supporters claim that kombucha tea helps prevent and treat health conditions, from blood pressure to cancer. There is limited data on kombucha tea. A small amount of research suggests that kombucha tea may give benefits similar to probiotic supplements. For example, some research suggests kombucha tea may support a healthy immune system and prevent constipation.
But there are few valid medical studies of kombucha tea's role in human health. And there are risks to think about.
Kombucha tea has caused stomach upset, infections and allergic reactions in some people. Kombucha tea is often made (brewed) in homes under unclean conditions. This makes it likely that bad bacteria can grow.
Also, when the tea is made with ceramic pots that have lead in them, lead poisoning happens. The acids in the tea cause lead to leak from the ceramic glaze.
In short, there isn't enough proof that kombucha tea has the health benefits that some claim. At the same time, cases of harm have been reported. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have weakened immune systems should avoid kombucha tea. Others may drink the tea if they like the taste, but only if it comes from a trusted source.
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Aug. 24, 2022
- Kombucha. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=538. Accessed July 18, 2022.
- Duyff RL. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2017.
- Villarreal-Soto SA, et al. Understanding kombucha tea fermentation: A review. Journal of Food and Science. 2018; doi:10.1111/1750-3841.14068.
- Kapp JM, et al. Kombucha: A systematic review of the empirical evidence of human health benefit. Annals of Epidemiology. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.11.001.
- Probiotics: What you need to know. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know. Accessed July 18, 2022.
- Zeratsky KM, et al. Mayo Clinic (expert opinion). July 20, 2022.
Products and Services
See also
- A very happy brain
- Alternative cancer treatments: 11 options to consider
- Candida cleanse diet
- CBD safety
- Colloidal silver supplements
- Colon cleansing
- Detox foot pads
- Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar?
- Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?
- Prickly pear cactus
- Herbal supplements and heart drugs
- Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective
- Kratom for opioid withdrawal
- Learn to reduce stress through mindful living
- Medical marijuana
- Meditation 2.0: A new way to meditate
- Mindfulness exercises
- Natural remedies for depression: Are they effective?
- Tai Chi and Cardiac Rehab
- Valerian: A safe and effective herbal sleep aid?
- Alternative psoriasis treatments
- Do zinc supplements shorten colds?
.
