KOMBUCHA 101
Why Kombucha?
Sparkling, alive and brewed right here in Colorado Springs.
What Is Kombucha?
Tea, a living culture and time.
Kombucha is tea fermented by a living culture of bacteria and yeast, called a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Sweet tea goes in. As it slowly ferments, the culture feeds on the sugar and turns the tea tart, tangy and naturally fizzy.
At Springs Culture we start with organic green and black tea, ferment it slowly in small batches, then infuse it with whole, hand-cut fruit, herbs and botanicals. Nothing is pasteurized, so every glass is still alive.
Six Reasons to Make the Switch
Raw, real and brewed down the street.
All the Flavor, None of the Buzz
A grown-up, non-alcoholic drink with real complexity. Order it at the bar, bring it to the party, keep it in the fridge for Dry January and every other month too.
Raw and Alive
Never pasteurized, heat-treated or force-carbonated. Our kombucha stays raw, with live cultures and organic acids in every pour.
Real Fruit, Real Tea
Organic tea and whole, hand-cut fruit. No concentrates, no syrups, no artificial flavors. Ever.
Naturally Fizzy
The bubbles come from fermentation. Lively on the tongue, clean on the finish, nothing like a can of soda.
A Flavor for Every Mood
Seven chakra brews, four OGs and rotating seasonals. Berry, tropical, floral, minty, spicy. Find your favorite, then find your next one.
Made in the Springs
Small batches brewed in Colorado Springs and voted Best of the Springs six years running. Every glass supports a local brewery and the bars and shops that pour it.
Meet the Chakra Collection and the OGs.
Kombucha vs. the Usual Suspects
Same fizz, better story.
| What is in the glass | Springs Culture | Soda | Beer & Wine | Flavored Seltzer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol-free | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Fermented from real tea | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Flavored with whole fruit | ✓ | Rarely | Varies | Rarely |
| Naturally carbonated | ✓ | – | Varies | – |
| Brewed in Colorado Springs | ✓ | Rarely | Some | Rarely |
How We Brew It
Slow, small and raw.
Steep
Organic green and black tea, weighed for every batch.
Ferment
The SCOBY goes to work, slowly, in small batches.
Infuse
Whole, hand-cut fruit, herbs and botanicals go in.
Pour
Bottled and kegged raw, then kept cold until it reaches you.
Brewed With Purpose
From survival kit to Colorado Springs staple.
Janie Otero has been brewing kombucha since the 1990s. After surviving peritoneal mesothelioma, she went back to her jars with a new purpose, and those jars became Springs Culture.
Kombucha FAQ
The questions we hear at the tap.
Does kombucha have alcohol?
Fermentation naturally makes trace amounts of alcohol in any kombucha. Springs Culture Kombucha is brewed and sold as a non-alcoholic drink.
Is there caffeine in kombucha?
Some. It is brewed from real green and black tea, so a little of the tea's caffeine carries through.
What does kombucha taste like?
Tart, lightly sweet and fizzy, somewhere between a sparkling juice and a dry cider, plus whatever fruit and botanicals went in. Ours run from berry and tropical to floral, minty and spicy.
Is your kombucha raw and unpasteurized?
Yes. We never pasteurize, heat-treat or force-carbonate it. It is brewed with organic tea and whole fruit and stays raw, with live cultures, from the fermenter to your glass.
What are the floaty bits in the bottle?
Strands of the living culture. They are normal in raw, unpasteurized kombucha. Give the bottle a gentle tilt before you pour.
Does kombucha need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Raw kombucha is alive, so keep it refrigerated to keep the flavor and the fizz where they belong. The eSHOT wellness shot is the exception: no refrigeration necessary.
Where can I get Springs Culture?
On tap at bars, restaurants and cafés, and in bottles at shops around Colorado Springs. See our tap partners and retail partners.
Can my business carry it?
Yes. We supply kegs for taps and bottles for coolers. Apply to become a partner.
THIRSTY YET?
Ready for Your First Pour?
Find Springs Culture on tap and on shelves all over Colorado Springs.