February 21 – World Kombucha Day

If you are a fan of the refreshing fermented drink made with the so-called tea fungus or kombucha, do not forget to celebrate World Kombucha Day! It is celebrated annually on February 21.

Kombucha is a drink made using the so-called tea fungus or Manchurian fungus, which is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The culture is added to green or black tea with sugar, which is then left to ferment. The result is a slightly fizzy drink with a tart and somewhat sweet taste.

History of kombucha

It is believed that the drink originated in ancient China, where it was believed to have healing properties. The Chinese believed that the drink cleansed the body and filled it with energy. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was brought from China to Russia, and from there it spread to Europe. In America and the USA, kombucha has been known since at least the mid-20th century.

The first use of the word “kombucha” in the Western world dates back to 1944. In Japan, the term konbu-cha or kobu-cha refers to tea made from kelp, which is prepared by infusing dry kelp powder in hot water. However, English speakers believed that the word meant fermented tea. By the time their mistake was discovered, the erroneous term had already taken root.

Commercial production of kombucha began in the 1990s, but it took about a decade for the drink to become really popular, especially among young people and people who are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. It should be noted that many of the claimed health benefits of kombucha are unproven, but it does contain probiotic bacteria.

Interestingly, traditional kombucha (without the addition of flavorings and additional flavors) is not very popular among consumers, it accounts for only a third of the market. Most kombucha lovers prefer flavored kombucha, which has an impressive variety of flavors, such as various fruits, green vegetables, hibiscus, lavender, ginger and much more. Some brands even produce hard kombucha. It is fermented in such a way that the final product has an alcohol content of 3-7%, which is comparable to beer.

World Kombucha Day

World Kombucha Day was launched in 2020 by the non-profit trade association Kombucha Brewers International, which promotes kombucha internationally and sets standards and best practices for the industry. It is celebrated on February 21 (2/21 – date format in American style), as the first mentions of the drink date back to the Chinese Qin Dynasty, which ruled from 221 to 206 BC.

World Kombucha Day was created to promote the drink around the world and turn casual consumers into kombucha lovers, as well as to improve the overall well-being of the industry. World Kombucha Day events include free tastings, promotions, industry events for kombucha producers and enthusiasts.

World Kombucha Day should not be confused with National Kombucha Day, which is celebrated in the United States. The latter was launched by KeVita, a popular kombucha producer, and is celebrated on January 15.