Kombucha's extensive repertoire of flavors is no surprise to avid brewers, but many people overlook the spicier side of kombucha. Case in point, chile lime kombucha. This warm and subtly spicy drink is a twist from the usual sweet and fruity notes of the more popular kombucha flavors.

This recipe uses only three ingredients, making it easy to make at home. Spicy, sweet, and acidic, chile lime kombucha boasts an array of flavors that should be on every kombucha enthusiast’s bucket list. ¡Arriba, amigos! Read on to learn how to whip up chile lime kombucha at home.

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Chile Lime Kombucha

Total Time: 3 days
Yield: 16 Servings 1x

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Description

Impress your guests with this unique blend! Chile lime kombucha is zesty, spicy, and healthy. With minimal ingredients and numerous variations, this recipe is easily adjusted to your liking.

Ingredients

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2 jalapeño peppers, stemmed and halved lengthwise
1 1⁄2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
14 1⁄2 cups black tea kombucha

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Instructions

Divide lime juice equally among serving bottles.
Remove the seeds from the jalapeno.
Chop or slice the jalapeno. Add an equal amount to each bottle.
Gently pour the black tea kombucha into the bottle, leaving about one inch of space at the top.
Ferment the bottles in a warm location (about 72°F) for 3 days.
Refrigerate the bottles for six hours. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Is jalapeno too mild for your liking? Feel free to use spicier peppers like Thai pepper or habanero instead! Additionally, adjust the number of jalapenos in the recipe based on your spice level preference.

You can use variants of oolong, white, or green tea as a substitute for black tea kombucha. Just make sure it’s raw and unflavored.

Fresh-squeezed lime juice is optimal to maintain the brew’s freshness, but you can use bottled lime juice in a pinch.

Add a bit of fruitiness by adding a dash of fresh juice upon serving. Try grapefruit, hibiscus, or cranberry.

Add a shot of tequila before serving to make this a spicy margarita kombucha.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Fermenting Time: 72 hours

What Does Chile Lime Kombucha Taste Like?

Chile lime kombucha bursts in the mouth with a bold, citrusy, and spicy flavor. The jalapenos provide a kick of warmth that’s complemented perfectly by the zestiness of the lime juice. It’s the sort of flavor you can expect to find in cocktails, only this time, it boasts a much lower ABV and is 100% gluten-free.

Furthermore, the tartness of the black tea kombucha is also evident, leaving consumers satisfied with the distinct booch flavor that’s been brewed to perfection.

Is Chile Lime Kombucha Really Spicy?

This kombucha flavor is balanced to not be overwhelmingly spicy. That said, this is a fairly subjective assessment since everyone’s tolerance for spice differs greatly.

To more precisely illustrate the comparison, here’s a Scoville scale you can use as a reference to gauge a pepper’s spiciness level:

Bell Pepper: 0 Scoville heat unit (SHU)

Cubanelle Pepper: 1,000 SHU

Jalapeno Pepper: 2,000 to 8,000 SHU

Cayenne Pepper: 30,000 to 50,000 SHU

Chili Powder: 25,000 to 100,000 SHU

Thai Pepper: 50,000 to 100,000 SHU

Habanero: 100,000 to 350,000 SHU

As you can tell, the jalapeno pepper isn’t the spiciest pepper variant you can find. However, it’s definitely not the mildest one, either.

If you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to adjust the number of jalapenos you choose to add during the second fermentation. This way, you won’t end up just sacking the entire batch due to unbearable spiciness.

Health Benefits of Chile Lime Kombucha

Kombucha has been dubbed for centuries as a potent health tonic due to its numerous benefits, particularly for gut health. However, adding chile and lime introduces a few more health perks to this already-lauded beverage.

Here are some of the health benefits you can expect from drinking chile lime kombucha tea:

High in probiotics: Kombucha beverages are full of good bacteria that can help you improve your gut health.

Good for cholesterol: Kombucha and the citrus fiber of lime juice can decrease LDL and improve HDL, which are key in improving heart health.

Improved immune system: The live cultures can ward off bad bacteria in the stomach and act as a barrier to harmful pathogens.

Rich in vitamins: Jalapenos contain capsaicin, a compound that’s rich in vitamins A, C, and potassium. Lime juice is also high in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Good for weight loss: Jalapenos and kombucha both promote weight loss.

How Much Caffeine Is in Chile Lime Kombucha?

Chile lime kombucha uses black tea kombucha, which contains the highest amount of caffeine among all the tea variants. However, after fermentation, only one-third of the caffeine remains. Chile lime kombucha contains about 10 to 15 mg of caffeine per 8-oz serving.

Most people can enjoy kombucha without being noticeably affected by the caffeine. In contrast, an 8-oz cup of black coffee can contain 80 to 100 milligrams.

Should You Make This Recipe with Young, Sweet Kombucha or Older, Sour Kombucha?

For this kombucha recipe, I prefer using older brews. The sourness of an older kombucha can tone down the spiciness of the jalapeno. Plus, the tartness of an older kombucha can also cut through the lime’s zestiness, creating a more balanced flavor with minimal carbs.

That said, if you prefer sweet drinks, use a young kombucha. Or add a 1/2 teaspoon of sweetener to the drink before serving.

Bucha Buddha’s Chile Lime Kombucha Recipe