Last week I had an email from one of our valued Cridling customer's to query how Cridling kombucha should be stored. Although the label instructions are to store in the refrigerator, she had kept it in the pantry for a few weeks and the cans had begun to expand! One of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to kombucha is that it is best kept refrigerated. In this blog post, we will explore why refrigeration is so important for this drink and what happens to it when it is stored at room temperature.
Kombucha has become incredibly popular in recent years, with many people turning to this fermented tea for its numerous health benefits. It has become so popular that there is now a vast range of drinks that claim to be kombucha but in essence are not actually a kombucha. Many of these drinks are a blend of powdered ingredients and carbonated water and some have a small percentage of kombucha added to them. These drinks tend to be the ones stored on the ambient supermarket shelf with a long shelf life.
The primary reason that kombucha should be refrigerated is that it is a living drink. The fermentation process that creates kombucha also means that it contains living organisms, including yeast and bacteria. When kombucha is kept at room temperature, these organisms continue to multiply and grow, which can lead to over-fermentation and spoilage. By keeping your kombucha in the refrigerator, you can slow down this process and preserve the drink for longer.
If you think about yoghurt or kefir which also contain live organisms, you would automatically store these in a fridge or within days they would spoil, Cridling kombucha contains the highest quality live cultures and refrigeration guarantees you'll consume them in their optimum state.
One of the key bacteria in kombucha is Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), which is very beneficial to the gut. LAB can help to restore and maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, which can have a positive impact on overall health. However, LAB is also very sensitive to temperature and can degrade and die over time, especially when exposed to heat. By keeping your kombucha refrigerated, you can help to preserve the LAB and ensure that you are getting the full range of health benefits from your drink.
Cridling is produced with at least 3 month's best before date which
is far longer than any dairy product. It will comfortably see this out in refrigeration. Kept at room temperature, this date is reduced by around two thirds. Cridling is packaged in cans which means that should there ever be an exploding can incident, unlike glass bottles which would shatter, the can will expand and possibly pop open either at a seam or the ring pull.
In conclusion, while it may be tempting to leave your Cridling kombucha out on the counter or in a pantry, it is important to remember that this drink is best kept refrigerated. By doing so, you can help to preserve the living organisms in the drink and ensure that you are getting the full range of health benefits. So next time you stock up on your favourite Cridling kombucha flavour, make sure to store it in the fridge for optimal taste and nutrition. Any questions? Please comment, send me an email or connect on our socials. Until next time, Claire x
Comments