Sage is an earthy herb found in various autumn-inspired dishes. Besides its renown as a spice rack staple, it's also an excellent addition to kombucha—especially when fermented alongside blackberries. Blackberry sage kombucha is a unique mix with plenty of health benefits.
Blackberry sage kombucha is a flavorful mixture featuring the best of the autumn harvest. The succulent, tart-sweet flavor of the blackberries and the earthiness of sage is elevated in this kombucha recipe.
Table of Contents
Blackberry Sage Kombucha
Total Time: 4 days
Yield: 16 Servings 1x
Description
This elegantly tart kombucha is best with fresh blackberries. If you only have access to frozen, allow them to thaw for a couple of hours beforehand.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups blackberries
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage leaves, sliced thinly
- 14 cups green tea kombucha
Instructions
- Mash the blackberries using a spoon until their juices are all extracted.
- Add the blackberry mixture, sage, and kombucha to a 1-gallon glass container.
- Secure the vessel with a clean cloth and rubber band. Leave to ferment for 2 days at 72°F.
- Strain the mixture using a strainer, removing the pulp of the blackberries and sage residue.
- Pour the mixture into bottles. Leave a 1-inch headspace and tightly cap them afterward.
- Leave the bottle at room temperature in a warm storage area for 2 days.
- Place the bottles in a fridge for at least 6 hours and enjoy at your leisure.
Notes
You can use oolong or black tea as an alternative to green tea.
If you don’t have fresh sage, use 2 tsp dried sage.
Add 1/3 cup of cane sugar during the second fermentation to sweeten the drink.
Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to bring some summertime freshness to the drink.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Fermenting Time: 96 hours
What Does Blackberry Sage Kombucha Taste Like?
Blackberry sage kombucha tastes like the perfect fall medley— tart, sweet, and earthy.
Upon the first sip, you’ll be met with tartness from the blackberries and a pleasantly sweet aftertaste. The sage is also subtly present, providing the booch its distinct earthy flavor.
While the blackberry provides a tartness by itself, the kombucha’s tartness is also ever-present, giving the drink its signature, effervescent profile.
What Are the Health Benefits of Blackberry Sage Kombucha?
If you’ve been brewing for quite some time, you’re probably well aware of kombucha’s inherent health properties, from its ability to cleanse the digestive system to its immunity-boosting effects. It has a high concentration of live culture, probiotics, and beneficial acids.
But don’t believe that it stops there for this specific drink! Adding blackberry and sage elevates this drink’s nutritional profile to new heights.
Blackberries:
- Are good for brain function
- Are high in vitamins A, C, and K
- Are a good fiber source
- Have anti-cancer properties
- Improve digestion
- Reduce heart disease risk
Sage leaves:
- Are good for oral health
- Lower blood sugar
- Reduce cholesterol levels
- Improve skin health
How Much Caffeine Is In Blackberry Sage Kombucha?
8 oz of blackberry sage kombucha has about 10 mg of caffeine. If you switch out the tea base, the caffeine content changes slightly. However, the small amount of caffeine in kombucha is not enough to interrupt most adults’ sleep.
How Many Calories Are In Blackberry Sage Kombucha?
With no added sugars, blackberry sage kombucha has roughly 37 calories per 8-ounce serving. Most calories come from the kombucha, and just a few come from the fresh blackberries.
Should You Make This Recipe with Young, Sweet Kombucha or Older, Sour Kombucha?
I recommend using a sweeter kombucha variant, but the decision is yours! I find that the sweetness of young kombucha mellows out the inherent tartness of the blackberry, giving the drink a more well-balanced flavor profile.
Using an older and more sour kombucha for this recipe also works, especially if you add sweetener. This allows the SCOBY and live bacteria to feast on more nutritious sugars, granting the kombucha a heightened effervescence.