Kombucha Cocktails

BY LAUREN V. ALLEN

Sparkling sips and effervescent bubbles that put us on cloud nine are the best ingredients in a night’s worth of cocktails. But waking up with brain fog and dragging feet is a habit our health-focused millennial generation is changing (like destroying the single-use plastic industry, divorce and paper napkins, among other things). 

These magical kombucha-based cocktails keep both your cocktail and health needs at bay during holiday soirees and leave you feeling, well, really good the next morning. Made with antioxidant rich fruits and spices (hello, turmeric!) these spirited drinks are more like health tonics served up in fancy glassware.

If you can’t find the combination listed in the recipe, use your favorite kombucha—the natural piquancy of any kombucha would complement the fruity palate of these recipes. As a bonus, your local fermented brew of choice would would make these non-alcoholic cocktails extra special.

Piña Canela Passionfruit

2 oz pineapple juice
½ tsp fresh ground cinnamon
2 oz pineapple passionfruit kombucha
2 tsp fresh passionfruit or 1 tsp passionfruit puree, if available
Cinnamon stick for garnish

In a measuring glass over ice, stir pineapple juice and cinnamon (and passionfruit puree if using) together. Pour through a fine mesh strainer to break up any bits of passion fruit puree, if using, and cinnamon. Pour into glass and top with kombucha. If using fresh passionfruit, add to the cocktail, after pouring. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Hibiscus Ginger Lime Spritzer

2 oz iced hibiscus tea
1 tsp agave
½ oz fresh lime juice
2 oz hibiscus ginger kombucha
Dried lime wheel or fresh lime wheel for garnish

In a measuring glass over ice, stir together iced hibiscus tea, lime and agave. Pour into glass and top with kombucha. Garnish with dried lime wheel for a deeper flavor or a fresh lime wheel for brightness.

Turmeric Tonic

¼ tsp turmeric powder
1 oz agave
1 tbsp lime, juiced
2 oz ginger kombucha
Top with sparkling or seltzer water
Thick orange zest for garnish

Mix turmeric powder, agave and lime juice until well incorporated. Add kombucha. Top with soda water until it bubbles to the rim. Once it settles, top with more soda water. Squeeze oils of orange zest on rim and garnish.

Guava Paloma

2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
3 oz  guava kombucha
1 oz agave
1 tbsp grapefruit zest
¼ cup sugar
Top with sparkling or seltzer water
Zesty sugar blend for rim
Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Combine zest off ½ grapefruit with sugar, mix well to incorporate and express grapefruit oils. Coat rim of glass in zesty sugar. In glass, combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave and kombucha. Stir to combine. Add ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.