How Long Does Kombucha Actually Last After Opening?

Kombucha is a form of fermented tea made by combining tea and sugar with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, or SCOBY. The SCOBY and fermentation process give kombucha its signature fizz and sweet and sour flavor, as well as nutrients like vitamin B and amino acids. Like most foodstuffs (aside from honey, which practically never spoils), kombucha has a limited shelf life once it's been opened. So, how long does it last?

Since it's fermented, kombucha can last a long time – with proper storage, it can stick around for months. However, once it's opened and exposed to air (as well as bacteria from our mouths), that gets cut down by a lot. Store-bought kombucha lasts about one to two weeks after opening, while homemade lasts just five to seven days. It won't necessarily turn bad immediately after, but that's the timeframe for maximum taste and freshness.

Despite all the acidity and signature SCOBY culture, kombucha can spoil if it's been too long or the conditions are right. You'll know your kombucha has gone bad if it turns an odd color (especially if that's not uniform), if it grows mold, or if it has a foul smell or taste. If you've had fresh kombucha before, you know what it's supposed to taste like. Surprisingly enough, seeing something floating in the bottle doesn't necessarily mean it's gone off. Kombucha naturally has yeast floating inside, which you can generally distinguish from spoilage by color. If what you see is pink or greenish, it's likely mold or unwelcome bacteria.

There are ways to make kombucha last longer if you find that yours spoils too quickly. First off, never leave it out of the fridge. If it's left out, it can continue to ferment and essentially turn into vinegar. Meanwhile, different shelves in the fridge are colder than others, so they're better for different foods. Kombucha will stay its best on the middle shelf (or if your fridge only has two, the lower shelf), as it's colder. Storage-wise, treat it like you would dairy.

Once you bring it home from the store, put your kombucha in the fridge immediately. The FDA recommends storing cold goods in your refrigerator within at least two hours of buying them, or even sooner in warm weather. Here's a good shopping tip: pick up your cold items like kombucha last, as this minimizes the time they're out of refrigeration.

On a similar note, don't take your kombucha out of the fridge or open it until you're ready to drink it. Store it in a resealable container, and don't drink directly from the bottle to avoid introducing your own mouth bacteria to the kombucha. Pour it into a glass instead. If you find that big bottles spoil too fast, get multiple smaller containers instead, though this can create more waste from the extra packaging.