The good acid trip

Kombucha is often praised for being a living, fresh, and health-friendly drink.
At the heart of its benefits lies a family of compounds born during fermentation: organic acids.
They are not just responsible for its slightly sour character, they quietly help your body, every day.

What makes kombucha truly kombucha

Kombucha is crafted by fermenting sweet tea with a SCOBY mama, a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.
During fermentation, the SCOBY transforms sugars into natural acids, amongst other good stuff.

These acids lower the drink’s pH to around 3, a level of acidity that protects it naturally from harmful bacteria, while preserving the wealth of good microorganisms that kombucha is known for.

Which organic acids are present and what they do

Several key acids are produced during kombucha fermentation.
Each of them has a role to play.

Acetic acid

Found in vinegar as well, acetic acid in kombucha helps neutralise harmful microbes.
It also contributes to antioxidant activity, protecting cells against oxidative stress.

Lactic acid

Produced by beneficial bacteria, lactic acid improves blood flow, supports vascular health, and lowers the pH further, strengthening the drink’s natural defences.

Glucuronic acid

Considered one of the most valuable compounds in kombucha, glucuronic acid helps the liver detoxify the body by binding to toxins and facilitating their elimination.
It also supports hormone balance, improves the absorption of polyphenols (the antioxidants found in tea), boosts vitamin C production, and protects essential within the body.

Why do these acids matter

Together, these acids act as a natural shield, contributing to daily balance and well-being. They can:

• Help your body detox naturally
• Support your immune and liver health
• Fight off harmful bacteria
• Have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
• Possibly reduce the risk of certain diseases, including some types of cancer.

Far from being a simple refreshing drink, kombucha reveals itself as a functional beverage in the most natural sense of the word.

A living drink, for living better

Each bottle and can of Smile Kombucha carries this fresh philosophy: real ingredients, real benefits, crafted with care and left alive.
Organic acids are not added artificially, they are the quiet result of time, patience, and natural fermentation.

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Sources :

• Antolak, H., Piechota, D., & Kucharska, A. (2021). Kombucha Tea—A Double Power of Bioactive Compounds from Tea and Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY). Antioxidants, 10(10), 1541. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10101541
• Greenwalt, C.J., Steinkraus, K.H., Ledford, R.A. (2000). Kombucha, the Fermented Tea: Microbiology, Composition, and Claimed Health Effects. Journal of Food Protection, 63(7):976-81. 10.4315/0362-028X-63.7.976
• Kitwetcharoen, H., Phung, L. T., Klanrit, P., Thanonkeo, S., Tippayawat, P., Yamada, M., & Thanonkeo, P. (2023). Kombucha Healthy Drink—Recent Advances in Production, Chemical Composition and Health Benefits. Fermentation, 9(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9010048
• Marsh, A., Hill, C., Ross, R.P. & Cotter, P. (2014). Fermented beverages with health-promoting potential: Past and future perspectives. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 38(2). 10.1016/j.tifs.2014.05.002
• Villarreal Soto, S.A., Beaufort, S, Bouajila, J., Souchard, J-P. & Taillandier, P. (2018). Understanding Kombucha Tea Fermentation: A Review. Journal of Food Science, 83 (3), pp.580-588. 10.1111/1750-3841.14068
• Wang, Y., Ji, B., Wu, W., Wang, R., Yang, Z., Zhang, D. & Tian, W. (2013). Hepatoprotective effects of kombucha tea: identification of functional strains and quantification of functional components. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 94(1): 265-272. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6245

Disclaimer

Smile Kombucha is brewed with care, based on respect for nature and attention to scientific studies.
However, kombucha is not a medicine and should never replace medical advice or treatment.
For any health-related questions, please consult a healthcare professional.
We simply do our best to craft drinks that make people smile, from the inside out.

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