Tea is the glue to your Kombucha. Your bacteria and yeast need the minerals found in tea to support your SCOBY during the fermentation process and produce an amazing kombucha. In this guide, we ranked and reviewed the best teas for kombucha.

If you want to get some for yourself, we have a collection of the best teas for your kombucha in tea bags, loose leaf tea, or iced tea pouches.

What is the Best Tea for Kombucha?

1. Yaupon Tea

While yaupon differs from traditional tea because it comes from the yaupon holly rather than Camellia sinesis, it can still be used to brew a delicious Kombucha. Being North America’s only native source of caffeine, this tea can be a beneficial resource in your production process. It lacks tannins, meaning you can steep it as long as you want and even reuse the leaves without your brew getting bitter, making it ideal to nurture a healthy kombucha culture.

Benefits:

• No tannins meaning no bitter taste no matter how long you brew the tea.
• With smooth caffeine (we see about 25 mg per serving), the boost is augmented by theobromine and theacrine to give a mental boost
• Mild taste makes it a preferred option for brewing Kombucha.

Try our CatSpring Yaupon tea to craft a delicious kombucha. It’s organic, non-gmo, kosher, sustainably grown, and naturally caffeinated.

2. Black Tea

Basically Green teas’ cousin, Black tea is another great option Kombucha and many people use black tea in their brews. Full of nutrients, this tea will help nourish a healthy SCOBY. Black tea tends to have a higher caffeine concentration than other types of tea. This comes in part from the variety of tea plant used for them, the style of cutting them into larger loose leaf pieces, and the tendency to steep black tea for longer and at a hotter temperature which extracts more of the caffeine into the tea. Typical black teas have approximately 50mg of caffeine per cup.

Benefits:

• Create a strong flavor because of how long it has been oxidized.
• Made using fresh ginger root which packs a punch when it comes to healing symptoms of an upset stomach.
• Can be used as a base for 4-5 batches before introducing other tea flavors including fruit flavorings.

3. Green Tea

Green tea has not undergone the oxidation process that creates black tea and oolong teas. It tends to have a lighter flavor profile and appearance due to the lack of oxidation. Usually, green tea steeps for a shorter period of time in hot water than black teas as steeping too long draws out tannins that can make the brew bitter. A normal cup typically has about 25mg of caffeine, similar to the levels found in yaupon. With a host of health benefits and flavors, this is a great option to create your favorite green tea kombuchas.

Benefits:

• Pairs well with other bases (you can start with black tea or Yaupon and then build with other green tea flavors) or other herbal infusions.

• Light flavors come from using this less oxidized tea.
• Contributes to fresher breath as green tea catechins kill bacteria common in the mouth that are responsible for bad breath.

4. Oolong Tea

In between a green and a black tea, Ooolong is a great option because you can use it all on its own or mix it with a black tea for your SCOBY mix. Grassy with a milder taste than Black tea, it's a good option for making your batches of kombucha. Oolong is traditionally lighter and sweeter than a black tea. It comes in at about 40mg of caffeine per cup, just under half a normal cup of coffee. This gives you a boost of energy without jitteriness, anxiety, or a crash later. Oolong tea leaves are usually oxidized less than black tea, but more than green tea. This gives them a flavor that can vary widely, depending on the level of oxidation. They can range from a light floral flavor to a darker mineral based flavor.

Benefits:

• Can be used on its own instead of blending like with a green but it also creates a bolder flavor profile than green tea.
• Get closer to your daily nutrition goals with the various minerals (calcium, potassium, and magnesium) found in oolong tea.

The Bottom Line

Stick to a black, green, oolong or Yaupon tea for your kombucha SCOBY. Whether you're looking to make your own homemade kombucha or wondering what brew will taste the best from the store or restaurant, you have lots of options. With a delicious base and simple ingredients, enjoy every refreshing glass!

If you want to get our best tasting tea for kombucha, check out our organic, naturally caffeinated CatSpring Yaupon tea options here.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. If you have serious health-related issues you should reach out to a medical professional. While we have studied the scientific research available, this is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.