A shandy is a traditional European drink that consists of beer mixed with a lemon or lime flavored beverage. It’s a refreshing drink to enjoy on a relaxing sunny day. Switch out your beer for this kombucha shandy and trade your hangover for health.
Not only does this delicious kombucha flavor taste like the real deal, but you are also reaping the benefits of the probiotics and antioxidants that kombucha contains. The fizz and hops are the perfect complement to the sweet citrus flavors.
Table of Contents
Kombucha Shandy
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Description
If you don’t tell your guests ahead of time that this mocktail is made with kombucha, they will never guess. This effervescent recipe perfectly balances bitter and sweet flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For Simple Syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 lb ginger
For the Shandy:
- 4 oz ginger simple syrup
- 4 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 cups hoppy kombucha
- 3 cups club soda
Instructions
To Prepare Simple Syrup:
- Simmer the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar has dissolved.
- While the sugar and water are simmering, peel the ginger and cut it into small pieces.
- Puree the simple syrup and ginger in a blender and strain the mixture through a wire mesh strainer. You can use the backside of a spoon to press on the ginger and extract as much liquid as possible.
To Prepare the Shandy:
- Add 2 tbsp. of ginger simple syrup and 1 oz lime juice in each glass.
- Add about 3/4 cup of kombucha to each glass.
- Top each glass off with about 3/4 cup of club soda.
- Enjoy!
Notes
If you are not a fan of ginger but still want to try this recipe, you can substitute ginger for things like hibiscus, rosemary, watermelon, or even pomegranate.
Rather than making simple syrup, you can use part hoppy kombucha and part ginger kombucha instead. Or you can also use flavored kombucha like raspberry kombucha.
If you prefer a radler, add a splash of grapefruit juice or lemonade.
Be aware that hoppy kombucha tastes most similar to an IPA. If IPAs are too strong for your liking, you may want to skip the hoppy kombucha and use a different type of flavored kombucha, though this may make it less like a shandy.
If you want to keep this drink alcoholic, you can substitute the club soda for a beer like an IPA, a Pale Ale, a Lager, or a Pilsner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
What Does a Kombucha Shandy Taste Like?
Kombucha shandy tastes like a hoppy, citrusy beverage. It has the bitter taste of an IPA mixed with a shandy’s sweet and citrusy taste. In this case, there are the added sweet and spicy flavors of the ginger simple syrup.
Does a Kombucha Shandy Have Any Health Benefits?
Kombucha contains many probiotics that aid gut health and boost the immune system. Antioxidants are also present in kombucha, which can rid the body of free radicals and perhaps aid in reducing the risk of cancer.
Ginger also has a plethora of benefits associated with its consumption, such as:
- Treating nausea
- Aiding in digestion
- Boosting the immune system
- Containing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
- It might help with weight loss
- It may help with osteoarthritis
- It may drastically lower blood sugar and reduce heart disease risk factor
Keep in mind that the ginger in this recipe is mixed with sugar, which may negate these health benefits.
How Much Caffeine Is In a Kombucha Shandy?
There are only around 8 mg of caffeine per serving, as a serving of hoppy kombucha does not contain much caffeine, to begin with. This small amount of caffeine isn’t typically enough to interrupt adults’ sleep.
What Is the Alcohol Content of a Kombucha Shandy?
Because hoppy kombucha is homebrewed, it’s challenging to know the exact alcohol content. You can expect it to have between 0.5% and 2.5% ABV per 8 ounces. The longer your brew ferments, the more sour it becomes and the less alcohol it has.
If you find a similar flavor in-store, it will likely have 0.5% ABV or less, assuming it’s not labeled as a hard kombucha. Commercial kombucha is regulated, and it must have under 0.5% ABV to be sold as a non-alcoholic beverage.