Winter and Christmas kombucha: flavours for the cosy months
In short
When the clocks go back, homemade kombucha turns to warmer flavours: apple and cinnamon, pear and cardamom, clementine and clove, cranberry and orange, fresh ginger and lemon, and a touch of Christmas spice. These bottles bring colour to the table from bonfire night to Twelfth Night, and make thoughtful homemade presents. Quantities and timings are in the guide and the exclusive recipes that come with your Natural Probio SCOBY.
Kombucha is not only a summer drink. In winter, its tang and sparkle feel especially welcome beside rich, slow-cooked food, and the season's fruit and spices suit it beautifully. Here are the flavours that fill our customers' fridges from November to January.
What should you bottle as the nights draw in?
Apple and cinnamon
Orchard fruit and a warm spice: rounded, comforting and a little like a sparkling cider.
Pear and ginger
Soft pear with a warming bite, lovely with sausages and jacket potatoes.
Blackberry and star anise
The last of the hedgerow fruit, deep purple, with a gentle aniseed note.
Which flavours feel like Christmas?
Clementine and clove
The scent of the fruit bowl in December, in sparkling form. A bottle that smells of Christmas.
Cranberry and orange
Bright red and sharp, a cheerful partner for the turkey and all the trimmings.
Christmas spice
Cinnamon, clove, a little nutmeg and orange peel, with all the warmth of mulled flavours.
Pomegranate and rosemary
Jewel-like and herbal, refreshing after a big lunch.
And after the festivities?
Lemon and fresh ginger
Zesty and lively, the bottle everyone reaches for once the decorations come down.
Blood orange
When blood oranges arrive, they turn kombucha a glorious sunset colour.
Forced rhubarb
The first pink stalks of the year bring a tart, bright note to grey days.
How do you serve kombucha at Christmas?
Put a couple of chilled swing-top bottles on the Christmas table, one festive and one plain, and pour into wine glasses so everyone can see the colour. A sprig of rosemary or a strip of orange peel in each glass adds to the occasion. Cranberry and orange kombucha is a natural with the turkey; plain kombucha, sharp and clean, refreshes between rich mouthfuls; ginger livens up cold cuts and pickles on Boxing Day. More pairings are on kombucha with food and as an aperitif.
Can homemade kombucha be a Christmas present?
A bottle of your own clementine kombucha with a handwritten label is a lovely thing to take to a party. And if you want to give someone the means to brew their own, a live SCOBY or the complete kit makes a present they will use all year. Our gift ideas page suggests the right product for each person. If you are ordering a gift for Christmas, allow for the delivery time shown at checkout.
Any tips for winter brewing?
In a cooler kitchen, kombucha can take a little longer to be ready than in summer, so do not worry if your jar seems slower. The guide explains how to choose a good spot and when to taste. Citrus and spice are at their best in winter, and frozen berries kept from the summer are perfect for a splash of colour.
Questions about winter flavours
Can I use whole spices?
Yes, whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise work very well in the bottle. The recipes give the right amounts.
Can I warm kombucha like mulled wine?
Kombucha is best served chilled: heating it would lose the sparkle. Spices bring the festive warmth without needing to heat it.
When should I order for Christmas?
Early enough to allow for the delivery time shown at checkout, plus a good week of brewing if you want bottles ready for the day.
Festive bottles, made at home
A live kombucha SCOBY with the guide and exclusive recipes, including our winter and Christmas flavours.
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