Frequently Asked Questions
All About Our Kombucha
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What is kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea that is brewed using water, tea, sugar and a kombucha culture of bacteria and yeast. During the fermentation process the yeast transforms the sugar into alcohol and then the bacteria changes the alcohol to acetic acids. This leaves the brewed tea low in residual sugar (depending on fermentation time) with a distinct tart flavour and slight natural fizziness.
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What is a SCOBY?
SCOBY is an acronym for Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria & Yeast or otherwise known as the kombucha culture. together they work to transform sweet tea into kombucha.
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What tea do you use?
We use different teas and blends of teas for our different flavours. All teas used are ethically sourced and originate from Japan, China, India and Africa. For example, our Classic Green is a blend of Japanese Sencha and Oolong tea, our India Black is a blend of Darjeeling, Assam and Ceylon teas and Pink Lemonade is from Nile Hibiscus tea.
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How much sugar is in your kombucha?
As kombucha contains a living culture, we use sugar for the ferment. The brew is fermented for an average of two to three weeks and then bottled. Our flavoured kombucha being Pink Lemonade and Ginger has the addition of fruit peel or fresh ginger juice. We do not add additional sugar (sucrose) to any of our kombucha.
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I am sensitive to caffeine, does your kombucha have caffeine?
For the most part yes, as we use a blend of Sencha and Oolong green tea in our flavoured kombucha. Our Original flavour is made with Ceylon tea. We do however also sometimes stock a Earl Grey Rooibos tea kombucha which naturally has no caffeine but will have trace amounts from the starter culture used to brew the kombucha. The amount of caffeine in kombucha is actually much lower than you'd get in a normal cup of tea so we would recommend drinking a small amount of kombucha to gauge if you might be sensitive to it or not.
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Where do you source your ingredients?
All our ingredients are sourced locally for the most part. We engage with local companies that supply tea, roots and herbs.
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What is kombucha good for?
Every batch of kombucha is different and certainly different brands will have different kombucha cultures but there are a number of properties that every batch of kombucha is likely to have:
1) At least one beneficial yeast, 2) Acetobacter - beneficial bacteria, 3) Gluconic acid which is a pH regulator, and 4) Acetic acid which is an anti-microbial acid that also stabilises blood sugar levels. Most batches of kombucha will contain a pain reliever, an anti-arthritic compound, an anti-spasmodic compound, a liver protective compound and several antibacterial compounds but the levels and blend of these compounds differ from batch to batch.
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Is kombucha alcoholic?
Through the process of fermentation, yes, our kombucha and generally all other kombucha brands has some alcohol but it is very small amounts usually between <0.5 to around 1%. As a comparison, beer contains around 4 to 5% alcohol.
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Why do I need to refrigerate the kombucha I have bought?
Whilst our kombucha will not likely go bad, it will continue to change as it is an unpasteurised living tea and will tend to sour over time if left in warm conditions. Also we find that it tastes and feels better on the palate when refrigerated. Not to worry if you have forgotten about your kombucha and it has gone too sour, you can always add it to salad dressing and still get all the benefits of a kombucha whilst you tuck into your salad!
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What are the Flavour Profiles under your product descriptions?
The flavour profiles are an aid to help you understand what sort of taste you may experience from the kombucha. It does not describe any additives to the beverage.
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Charity
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What charities do you support?
Our ongoing support is to two charities - Mind and McMillan Cancer Support. We will also make donations to other charities or fundraisers that support environmental causes.
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Sustainability & Environment
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What are you doing to address sustainability and the environment?
With all our products we aim to reduce our carbon footprint by: 1) offering products i.e. bottles, growlers and packaging that can be reused and refilled. 2) We only use loose leaf tea which is composted. 3) We bulk order ingredients like bottles, tea and sugar to reduce the number of times we get deliveries. 4) We offer a discounted price on bottle refills, however this is only available at weekend markets.
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Can I recycle the bottles?
Our bottles are made of recyclable glass and can therefore be recycled. We also collect our bottles for washing, sterilising and re-use.
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Orders & Shipping
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I have just placed an order, when will I receive it?
Depending on stock availability and lead time, usually orders are despatched within 3 working days of payment clearing. You will be notified when an order is ready for despatch and when it is on its way.
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Subscription Club
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I am a member of the Subscription Club, how can I get a refill?
If you are based in the London Boroughs listed in the Club homepage, you will automatically get your refill on a Friday either weekly or monthly depending on what type of subscription you are on.
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How do I cancel my subscription to the Subscription Club?
Please email us in the first instance giving us at least 1 week's notice of your cancellation and the date that you wish your last delivery to be made. We will then cancel your payments going forward and stop your refills. In your email please make sure you quote your full name so we can find you on the system. If you have given us the correct notice but payment has already been made, we will issue a refund.
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I am going on holiday, how do I suspend my subscription?
Please email us giving us at least 1 week's notice of your leave and your intended return and reinstatement of your subscription. We will suspend your delivery for the period. If you intend to be away longer please let us know so we can adjust your account accordingly. You will not be charged whilst your subscription is suspended. You can suspend your account for free as many times as you wish in a year.
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Wholesale
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Do you offer kombucha on tap solutions?
Yes we do. Please email us with your interest and we will send you all the necessary information. We have a number of options ranging from kegerators, mini kegs for parties, and keg only services. Lead times and delivery is dependant on which service you choose.
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I own a business and have tried your products, how to I get in touch with you to become a stockist?
We are looking for small to medium sized establishments to stock our products. Please contact us on info@kombuchashack.com and let us know who you are. We look forward to hearing from you!
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General Questions
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How do I unsubscribe from receiving your emails?
If you have received an email from us, scroll to the bottom until you see the small print. Click on the unsubscribe option and you will be taken to a confirmation page. Click unsubscribe and you will no longer receive our emails. Please note that you may miss out on any great deals or discounts, news of any new products and updates on any events.
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Which stores can I find your products?
We currently stock our products at small local outlets, cafes and bistros and we are working on more. In the meantime you can find us at a market in and around London, shop online or contact us directly. Please contact us to find out where our kombucha is currently stocked.
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Have any other questions? Please contact us and we will endeavour to answer your query as soon as possible.
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