Keeping Kombucha Alive With Glass Bottles

Gut health popularity - the shift to wellness drinks

In contemporary wellness culture, gut health is top of the list in terms of diet. Functional drinks, meaning they serve a specific purpose with active ingredients, are more popular now than ever. Fermented drinks, such as kombucha, fit under this category. Kombucha is a tea that includes live probiotic cultures which aid gut health.

Not only that, the rise of alcohol-free beverages and fizzy drinks with health benefits, particularly amongst Generation Z, means products like kombucha are more popular than ever.

Where glass comes in

Glass bottles are commonly used by kombucha brands for several reasons.

Benefits of glass for kombucha:

• Preserve your flavour - as a result of the fermentation process, the bacteria in kombucha release acids. This acidity can break down plastic and cause contamination. Glass is inert, meaning the acid does not affect it in this way, and no contamination is caused.
• Temperature control - the fermentation process can cause high temperatures, and materials such as metal or plastic can cause damage to the live bacteria. Glass can be more stable at these temperatures.
• Sustainability - glass is reusable and recyclable.
• Transparency - if a clear glass is chosen, it can allow brewers to see the fermentation process clearly.

Overall, glass is widely used by kombucha brands to reflect authenticity and wellbeing, with its benefits for the product, the people drinking it, and the planet.

However, choosing the right glass can make a difference. You need quality glass bottles to ensure your kombucha remains high-quality too.

What makes a good kombucha bottle?

Choosing the right bottle for your kombucha could be argued as one of the most important steps in your process.

In the first fermentation, brewers can use a large, often glass, jar for the kombucha.

During this process, a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is added, which releases the acids and helps to preserve the kombucha. The yeast eats the sugar and releases CO₂.

The second fermentation is where choosing your glass bottles comes in. During this stage, the bottles are sealed tightly so the CO₂ cannot escape, causing carbonation.

Choosing the right glass bottle at this stage is crucial because: 

• The bottles need to withstand the pressure being created to avoid cracking or even shattering. This is why strong; quality glass bottles designed for this fermentation process are preferable.
• The closures need to be effective in sealing the bottles tight. Swing top bottles are often used for kombucha as they are air tight, and therefore keep the drink carbonated.

When choosing the right lid for your kombucha bottle, ensure it is airtight so none of the CO₂ leaks out. For example, twist off lids may not ensure the same level of carbonation, but this doesn't necessarily impact the flavour, so different options may work for you, depending on your desired kombucha.

If you are considering the storage of your kombucha, you may need smaller or larger sized bottles to adjust to your batch needs. We provide a range of bottles.

You can use clear bottles to see the colours of your kombucha or amber to protect the liquid against light.

Check out or range of glass kombucha bottles!

Our sister company Vigo provides production equipment which can boost production capacity and ensure your fermentation and bottling needs are met.