Can you drink kombucha during pregnancy? Kombucha is a fermented tea drink, and fermentation produces a little residual alcohol. Here are the key facts, so you can make an informed decision, ideally together with your doctor or midwife.

Not all kombucha is the same

Homemade: The alcohol content is hard to control and can in some cases reach 1 to around 3% vol. Without pasteurisation, the hygiene risk is also higher.

Unpasteurised from the shop: Contains live cultures, and the alcohol content can still shift slightly in the bottle.

Heat-stabilised, like BOUCHE: BOUCHE is centrifuged after fermentation and briefly heated directly after filling. The bottle contains no live cultures, and the alcohol content is consistently between 0.2 and 0.5% vol. The same applies to our PET NATs and PROXYs.

What official bodies say

According to Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), there is no scientifically established safe lower limit for alcohol during pregnancy, including small amounts from fermented drinks. In Germany, alcohol below 1.2% vol. does not have to be declared on the label. On BOUCHE it is declared anyway.

Listeria is also a consideration: germs like these are only reliably killed by sufficient heating. That is why official bodies advise against unpasteurised foods during pregnancy, including homemade and unpasteurised kombucha.

Caffeine

Kombucha is brewed from tea and contains some caffeine. The recommended upper limit during pregnancy is 200 mg per day, from all sources combined.

Our position

BOUCHE contains between 0.2 and 0.5% vol. alcohol. Whether that works for you during pregnancy or breastfeeding is your decision, ideally after talking to your doctor or midwife. If you want to avoid alcohol completely, choose drinks labelled 0.0%. What "alcohol-free" means exactly is explained in What does alcohol-free actually mean?

FAQ

Can I drink BOUCHE during pregnancy?

BOUCHE contains between 0.2 and 0.5% vol. alcohol and no live cultures. Official bodies name no safe lower limit for alcohol during pregnancy. Decide together with your doctor or midwife.

How much alcohol is in kombucha?

Homemade kombucha can reach around 3% vol., unpasteurised shop kombucha varies slightly. BOUCHE is consistently between 0.2 and 0.5% vol.

Does this apply to PET NAT and PROXY too?

Yes. Our PET NATs and PROXYs are also between 0.2 and 0.5% vol. and contain no live cultures.