Is Kombucha Halal?

The short answer

Kombucha is a fermented tea, and fermentation makes a small amount of alcohol. Whether kombucha is halal depends on how much alcohol it contains and which scholarly view you follow.

Why does kombucha contain alcohol?

Kombucha is made by adding a living culture to sweet tea. The culture is a mix of yeast and bacteria, often called a "SCOBY." The yeast eats the sugar and makes alcohol. The bacteria then turn much of that alcohol into acids, which give kombucha its sour taste.

Some alcohol is usually left over. Bottled kombucha often has between 0.5% and 3% alcohol. Raw or homemade kombucha can have more, because it keeps fermenting in the bottle.

What do scholars say about kombucha?

The main question is whether the drink can make someone drunk.

The 0.5% view. Some halal bodies, such as Indonesia's MUI in its Fatwa No. 10 of 2018, say a fermented drink with less than 0.5% alcohol is halal. They treat that amount as a tiny trace that cannot make anyone drunk.

The cautious view. Many other scholars say it is better to avoid any drink that could make a person drunk. Some also point out that a drink made by deliberate fermentation is different from food that happens to contain a natural trace of alcohol.

How can you check a bottle of kombucha?

• Read the label. Look for the alcohol content. Drinks under 0.5% fall under the permitting view.
• Look for halal certification. Certified kombucha is sold in some countries.
• Be careful with "hard" or raw kombucha. "Hard" kombucha is brewed to be an alcoholic drink, and raw kombucha can keep getting stronger. Both are doubtful at best.

What can you drink instead?

You can choose flavored iced tea that is not fermented, sodas that copy the taste of kombucha with 0.0% alcohol, or kombucha that is certified halal and low in alcohol.

Common questions

Is kombucha halal?

Scholars disagree. Kombucha usually has 0.5–3% alcohol from fermentation. Many accept certified kombucha with less than 0.5% alcohol, while stronger or uncertified kombucha is doubtful.

How much alcohol is in kombucha?

Store-bought kombucha usually has between 0.5% and 3% alcohol. The fermentation process makes it naturally.

Is there a halal kombucha?

Yes. Some countries sell halal-certified kombucha with less than 0.5% alcohol. Drinks that are not fermented avoid the question completely.

Can kombucha make you drunk?

Regular store-bought kombucha has very little alcohol, so it is unlikely to make an adult drunk. "Hard" kombucha is made to be alcoholic and can.