Good Culture Society kombucha review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Good Culture Society kombucha. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of this kombucha. Good Culture Society kombucha is an Aldi own-brand kombucha available in Australian Aldi stores.
For this review we have taste-tested the mixed berry version.
Ingredients of Good Culture Society kombucha
Good Culture Society kombucha is a very low-calorie kombucha which largely relies on natural flavourings and sweeteners for taste.
A word on sweeteners
Regular readers will know that I don’t love sweeteners - whether they are natural or artificial. This is because artificial sweeteners have been shown to negatively affect gut microbe composition - and so it could be that natural sweeteners also have a negative affect on your gut. There are other potential side effects of these natural sweeteners, but more research is needed.
In any case, I’d prefer to avoid sweeteners altogether to be on the safe side. This is a personal choice though and essentially a trade off between some sugar (which is not good) and natural sweeteners (which may or may not be shown to be unhealthy in future).
Read more about the current research done on stevia and erythritol - the two most common natural sweeteners.
The ingredients of this kombucha are: Organic Raw Kombucha (96%) [Carbonated Water, Wild Kombucha Culture (Saccharomyces spp., Acetobacter spp., Gluconobacter spp.), Black Tea, Green Tea], Organic Sweeteners (968, 960), Organic Hibiscus Tea (Hibiscus Petals, Water), Organic Lemon Juice, Natural Flavours (Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Caramel, Lemongrass).
As you can see, there are some real ingredients like lemon juice and hibiscus tea but also various natural flavourings.
The organic sweeteners included are stevia and erythritol.
Benefits of Good Culture Society kombucha
This kombucha comes with various health benefits - which may be different to what you might expect.
Live cultures
This kombucha contains various live cultures but there might be less 'probiotics’ than you might expect. In simple terms, probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits, especially for the gut, when consumed in adequate amounts.
The live cultures in this kombucha come from three genera:
Saccharomyces spp. - this is a genus of yeast. Some species in this genus are considered probiotic, but most are not.
Acetobacter spp. - this is a genus of bacteria which produces acetic acid and is not typically considered probiotic. It is the main bacteria in vinegar
Gluconobacter spp. - this is a genus of bacteria which produces gluconic acid and is not typically considered probiotic either
So while there may be no actual probiotics in this drink, acetic acid and gluconic acid do indirectly contribute to gut health by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria - mainly by lowering pH levels in the gut.
In terms of the amount of these cultures, there are 40 million colony forming units per 100ml.
Postbiotics
In very simple terms, postbiotics are essentially beneficial things microorganisms produce during fermentation. These include healthy short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Low in calories
This kombucha has only 2 calories per 100ml - making it very healthy by this measure.
Green tea
Green tea contains polyphenols which are strong antioxidants.
Studies have shown green tea may also:
increase the amount of calories you burn
improve cholesterol levels
help control blood sugar levels
Read more about the evidence-based benefits of green tea and kombucha.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice contains vitamin C and flavonoids which are antioxidants. Lemon juice can also improve digestive health and help in weight control.
Hibiscus tea
Hibiscus tea contains polyphenols and anthocyanins which antioxidants. These help fight free radicals and may reduce inflammation.
Appearance
This kombucha has a pale pink/purple hue.
Flavour
The aroma is strongly of indistinct mixed berry. It doesn’t come across as too artificial or ‘fake’ though.
The taste is a general berry fruitiness which is hard to describe in specific terms. It has a moderate acidity and thankfully it isn’t too sweet - which I was expecting. The flavour doesn’t have much depth, but it is approachable and refreshing.
The drink has a fine carbonation (as opposed to large bubbles in soda water) but the level is still too high in my opinion.
Cost of Good Culture Society kombucha
You can buy a 4-pack in Aldi in Australia for $6.20 - which is really great value for the lower end of the kombucha market.
Summary
3.5 stars out of 5.
A great value, low-calorie kombucha with a refreshing taste. It isn’t a premium kombucha, but if you are looking for a budget option this compares well to other supermarket kombuchas - especially on price.
Pros
very low calories
great value
rich in antioxidants
Cons
contains sweeteners (if that bothers you)
largely relies of natural flavourings for taste
no (or few) actual probiotics
Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut enthusiast and passionate kombucha maker!
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