KeVita is one of the most popular commercial kombucha brands. Being a market leader, many enthusiasts ask—is KeVita Kombucha good for you? The truth is complex: KeVita Kombucha does contain probiotics, but not the naturally-occurring ones expected from a traditional batch of booch.
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Is KeVita Actually Kombucha?
It depends who you ask. Naturally occurring probiotics and live bacteria are a big part of what makes kombucha, kombucha. Once the rumor got out about KeVita’s pasteurization process, many home brewers debated the label of this drink.
A lawsuit was filed against KeVita for falsely advertising their products in 2017. Emma Brenner, the plaintiff in this case, argued that consumers were misled into believing that the probiotics were a result of the natural brewing process of the drink, not as added afterward. She further argued that Master Brew should be remarketed as “kombucha-flavored tea” instead of “kombucha” to correct the misinformation.
Until this day, KeVita kombucha stands by its brewing and pasteurization methods but has since re-labeled some of its misleading products. The Master Brew Kombucha, launched in 2014, seems to be real-deal kombucha, albeit pasteurized, sweet, and highly caffeinated.
If you want to try authentic kombucha instead of a probiotic-infused drink like KeVita, it’s best to brew your own or look for raw, unpasteurized brands.
Is KeVita a Health Drink?
Being a fermented tea, KeVita is loaded with health benefits. However, it’s not as rich in probiotics as other kombuchas. KeVita kombucha undergoes a pasteurization process to extend its shelf life. This process simultaneously kills off the beneficial bacteria and live probiotics in raw, unpasteurized kombucha.
To replace the naturally occurring probiotics of traditionally brewed kombucha, KeVita adds artificial probiotic supplements to their drinks after pasteurization. The problem for KeVita lies in this method since the number of probiotics added is not as plentiful, healthy, or diverse as the probiotics you get after brewing kombucha the traditional way.
What Does KeVita Taste Like?
KeVita’s most popular flavors include grapefruit, tart cherry, ginger, lavender melon, and pineapple peach.
When compared to other leading kombucha brands, KeVita’s kombucha is far sweeter. While the sweet tooths among us would enjoy this sensation, it does mean that the brand strays from the traditional kombucha formula—something closely adhered to by other grocery-store kombucha brands.
KeVita’s brewing process remains a trade secret, so we’re not sure what’s happening behind the scenes when it comes to the manufacturing process of this product. One could assume they are not fermenting the tea as long as other brands, or perhaps they add more sweetener during the second ferment.
Next time you shop, compare KeVita’s nutritional label with other brands. Its sugar content is 30% higher than Health-Ade and 45% higher than GT.
What Are the Health Benefits of KeVita?
While not a perfect drink, KeVita Master Brew kombucha tea has probiotics, antioxidants, and acids that deliver potent health benefits. As with most fermented tea drinks, the health benefits of this fermented drink are quite notable. They include:
- Improved digestive health
- Boosted immune system
- Reduced high blood pressure
- Mitigated cancer risk
- Potential weight loss
- Elimination of bad bacteria in your GI tract
What Are the Disadvantages of KeVita?
The pasteurization and altered brewing method give KeVita kombucha a few disadvantages when compared to similar products. Those disadvantages include:
Increased Caffeine Content
KeVita drinks have 68 mg of caffeine per 15 fl oz bottle, extracted from an additive called green coffee bean extract. While this gives you an energy boost, this caffeine content is not a natural byproduct of kombucha’s brewing process. Other leading probiotic beverage brands, like Humm or Brew Dr, only contain around 15 mg of caffeine per 15-ounce bottle.
Higher Sugar Content
Furthermore, KeVita kombucha has approximately 16 mg of sugar per serving, depending on the flavor. This is relatively high, considering that other kombucha brands have a lesser sugar content due to the sugar being used as fuel in the fermentation process.
Fewer Probiotics
Lastly, KeVita’s probiotic content is far less than raw kombucha. If you want to reap the full benefits of drinking kombucha, you’re much better off brewing your own green or black tea kombucha.
How Much KeVita Should You Drink Per Day?
You can drink up to one bottle of KeVita daily to reap the health benefits without compromising your health.
You may drink the beverage from morning to late afternoon, but the best time would be between meals to cleanse the digestive system. I do not suggest drinking KeVita at night since it contains caffeine and sugar, which may disrupt your sleep cycle.
To tread on the safe side, take only a few sips of KeVita before downing an entire bottle. See how your body reacts, and adjust your consumption.
Can You Drink KeVita While Pregnant?
Professionals do not encourage people to drink KeVita when pregnant or nursing.
KeVita (and other kombucha brands) contain small traces of alcohol. While the ABV level is standardized at a measly 0.5%, it’s best to avoid drinking it regardless to avoid any potential ramifications of alcohol ingestion on an unborn child. In addition, KeVita contains caffeine, which could cause unwanted side effects in pregnant women. Studies suggest that consuming caffeine daily can increase the chance of pregnancy loss by 3%.
Contact a medical professional or nutritionist to assess your situation for further clarification.