Question 1

Can I make a Yugen kombucha cocktail with alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Does the pope go to church? Of course you can! We believe in healthy food and fun times, so please go all out and enjoy the benefits of a kombucha cocktail. Rumor has it that kombucha actually prevents hangovers before they can occur. Just saying...

Question 2

Why does Yugen have a Nutriscore C?

Accepted Answer

The Nutri-Score is a nutrition label that converts the nutritional value of products into a simple code consisting of 5 letters, each with its own colour. The algorithm deducts points for sugar content, energy values, fat and sodium. Products receive points for fruit and vegetable content, fibers and proteins.

Yugen Kombucha doesn’t contain protein or fibers so we just receive points for the amount of fruit. But because our kombucha contains 3,8gram of sugar/100ml, we lose a lot of points, even though our sugar content is about a third of regular sodas. The Nutriscore also neglects the source of these calories, organic raw cane sugar, fruit sugars and highly processed high fructose corn syrup all receive the same judgement, even though there are obvious nutritional differences amongst them.

The Nutriscore doesn’t take into consideration that we do not use any artificial or natural sweeteners, aroma’s, extracts, preservatives, concentrates and colors. Other manufacturers are free to use as much of those without losing one point. There are also no extra points for our organic label, healthy acids and our beneficial living cultures.

The Nutriscore has received a lot of criticism since its installment. Yugen Kombucha supports the implementation of easy to understand labels to guide consumers into making healthy food choices. However, simple algorithms don’t take every aspect into consideration and can create misleading information.

Question 3

Is Yugen Kombucha safe for kids?

Accepted Answer

Drinking kombucha has many benefits for children. Kids love it, it teaches them to appreciate low-sugar foods and it takes the place of unhealthy choices such as regular soft drinks. The presence of living micro-organisms is another major benefit. It helps the good bacteria in our guts flourish and boosts the immune system, and a healthy gut makes for a healthy and happy child! Oh, and our Passion Fruit Elderflower is one of the favorites among the kids!

Despite the many benefits of Kombucha, there are two ingredients that may raise doubts when it comes to child safety.

Yugen Kombucha has an alcohol content of 0.3%. This is released during the fermentation process. All fermented products such as soy sauce, sauerkraut and kefir contain a small amount of alcohol. Because this amount is so low, there is no immediate danger. However, we do not recommend giving home-brewed kombucha to your child as the alcohol content is not regulated in home brewing. At Yugen, we conduct regular testing to keep the alcohol content at 0.3%.

The second ingredient that can raise questions is caffeine. Green and black tea based kombucha contains a small amount of caffeine, around 10mg/250ml, which is no more than a small piece (10g) of dark chocolate.

So unless your child is very sensitive or drinks large amounts of kombucha, they are unlikely to be affected by the alcohol or caffeine content. Of course, your child's diet is a family decision and your personal intuition will always be the best guide, so the decision on whether kombucha is right for your child is yours! If you would like to introduce kombucha to your children, we recommend starting with small portions and diluting the drink with water, especially for young children and toddlers. You can find more information about our ingredients here.

Question 4

Where can I buy Yugen?

Accepted Answer

You can buy our kombuchas in multiple ways:

1/ In stores (organic and conventional). Check the "Find Us" page to see the nearest points of sale.

2/ Online. You can order your favourite flavours in packages of 12 through our webshop. Our kombucha man personally delivers your order to your doorstep.

3/ In our office in Ghent (Speldenstraat 1, 9000 Ghent). You're always welcome!

Cheers!

Question 5

What does the word "Yugen" mean?

Accepted Answer

The name "Yugen" embodies our world view. It's a Japanese concept, used to express the overwhelming feeling of admiration for the beauty of the natural world. In our world today, we face a lot of challenges. We want to help people to slow down, become aware and enjoy the beautiful yet subtle details in life.

Question 6

Can I buy a scoby from Yugen Kombucha?

Accepted Answer

No, we don't sell scobies. But if you ask us nicely we might just give you one for free. Feel free to pass by at our office (Speldenstraat 1, 9000 Ghent). It won't be our big mothers. They are too big and lumpy to handle properly. But we always have some surplus small baby scobies so that you can start brewing your own kombucha.

Question 7

What is / does the Yugen Foundation?

Accepted Answer

The Yugen Foundation is all about bringing ambitious and environmentally minded people together and creating a positive change in the world. With every bottle or can sold we donate two cent to our Foundation. With these funds we want to do two things: support socially and environmentally engaged starters and promote a human centered approach on product, people and planet.

Question 8

Why should you always keep cool Yugen Kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Authentic kombucha is unpasteurized. Out of the fridge, the living microorganisms in the bottle would keep on producing CO2 and alcohol. This changes the flavour and can lead to overflowing bottles and cans when opened. Discover more here about the fermentation universe.

Question 9

Which type of water does Yugen use to brew its kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Pure water is essential for creating awesome kombucha. In Belgium we don't have fresh glacier water but we do have some amazing ground water. In the brewery we pump this ground water through reverse osmosis filters to take out any impurities. After that we add a bunch of minerals back to create our perfectly balanced pure brewing water.

Question 10

What is the lifespan of a bottle/can of Yugen Kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Although kombucha doesn't actually expire, we still put a "best before" label on our kombucha. That's because we can't guarantee it will have the same flavour, texture or alcohol content as the day it was bottled after a year goes by. So don't wait too long to drink your Apple Mint, Cherry Time or Pineapple Chili ;-)

Question 11

Why is there sediment in the bottle / can of our kombucha?

Accepted Answer

We use pure organic juice that sometimes can cause a light sediment in the bottom of the can/bottle. We choose to keep our kombucha 100% natural so we don't add any filtering or clearing agents. If you notice some sediment, just slowly flip the bottle to mix it up again. It's full of good stuff!

Question 12

Does Yugen Kombucha contain sugar?

Accepted Answer

To brew and ferment kombucha, sugar is needed. The majority of this sugar is consumed by yeast and bacteria during the fermentation. That's why kombucha is low in sugar even though you need sugar to make it. In total Yugen Kombucha contains 3,8gram of sugar per 100ml. This is about 2 to 3 times less than a tradition soda.

If you don't want to take sugar, no problem. We also have a sugar-free kombucha in our range.

Question 13

Does Yugen Kombucha contain caffeine?

Accepted Answer

The caffeine from the original tea steeping is not lost in the culturing process. Although the amount of caffeine in kombucha is fairly small, it is worth mentioning.

Let's make a comparison: our kombucha contains 79 mg per liter, while coca cola holds about 96 mg per liter). However, these amounts are three times lower than the caffeine content of coffee, with about 300 mg per liter.

Question 14

Why is it good to drink kombucha?

Accepted Answer

People drink kombucha for many reasons. Some people drink it as part of a healthy diet. Raw kombucha contains living microorganisms, healthy acids and antioxidants which can support a balanced health. Others drink it for its unique refreshing taste. Its tangy sourness combined with a light fizz make it a perfect alternative to regular sugary sodas or even alcoholic drinks.

Question 15

Is Yugen Kombucha craft brewed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is! The base of an excellent kombucha is defined by the use of premium ingredients and a superb fermentation and brewing process. All of our fermentation vessels and lager tanks are made of the highest quality stainless steel. And thanks to our years of Research & Development and collaborations with the University of Ghent, we are able to guarantee a top-level product with maximum flavour and minimum sugar and alcohol content.

Question 16

What is kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea drink from the Far East, loaded with living cultures, healthy acids and antioxidants. Kombucha is made with water, tea, sugar and a scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). The scoby eats the sugar in the sweet tea and turns it into tasty and lightly sparkling Kombucha. After that, Yugen Kombucha add a pure fruit juice and a four herb extract.

Question 17

Is Yugen available in bigger bottles?

Accepted Answer

Currently, we only have the "Orginal Kombucha - Zero Sugar" available in 750 ml bottles. Besides that, we are also looking at options to package our other flavours in larger bottles.

Question 18

What's the ratio between kombucha and juice?

Accepted Answer

Every bottle or can contains about 96% undiluted pure kombucha and 4% fresh juice. Depending on the flavour there might be a slight difference. Check the ingredient list for specific numbers. You find the different flavours here.

Question 19

Which tea does Yugen use?

Accepted Answer

Yugen uses a mix of two teas, organic Green Sencha (China) and organic Black Assam (India), to create their different flavours.

Question 20

How is Yugen supporting sustainability?

Accepted Answer

All of our ingredients are certified organic. Our packaging is up to 100% recyclable. We only use FSC-certified paper for our boxes and information leaflets. Our kombucha is 100% vegan and we don't use any artificial or "natural" flavours, extracts, sweeteners, preservatives or colorants. With every bottle and can sold we donate two cents to the Yugen Foundation. Do you want to know more about our initiatives for sustainability? Check this out!

Question 21

Why does Yugen use one-way bottles?

Accepted Answer

We do not have the infrastructure and logistics set up to collect and rinse our bottles. Besides it's still not conclusive what the most eco-friendly method is. Collecting and cleaning the bottles uses a lot of resources (fuel, water, chemicals). So out of necessity and uncertainty we currently use one-way bottles, although we try to contribute to a better planet with the Yugen Foundation.

Question 22

Are the cans of Yugen Kombucha eco-friendly?

Accepted Answer

Our ans are 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled infinitely with no loss of quality. Cans are the most recycled food and beverage containers in the world. Cans are recycled through a well-established and efficient infrastructure: after consumption they can be returned to a store shelf as a new can in just 60 days. They're stackable and have a high cubic efficiency, making them fuel-effective to transport. Cans are lightweight, unbreakable and provide superior product protection. Cans chill faster.

Question 23

Why is Yugen Kombucha more expensive than regular soft drinks?

Accepted Answer

Yugen is a premium kombucha. The production process (including fermentation) takes about one month and we only use the highest quality organic ingredients. This means real tea leaves, dried herbs & pure juice and no aromas, extracts or concentrates. By the way, the design of our bottles and cans is also way cooler, check it out!

Question 24

How can I order Yugen for my bar or restaurant?

Accepted Answer

Email us at order@yugendrinks.com and we will put you in contact with one of our local suppliers or maybe even deliver it ourselves.

Question 25

Does Yugen sponsor events?

Accepted Answer

Yugen is open to possible partnerships. Shoot us an email at info@yugendrinks.com and we'll see what we can do.

Question 26

Do you offer Yugen Kombucha in kegs for bars?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do. We offer standard 20liter key kegs. Unlike beer, our kombucha needs to be chilled so the bar needs to be equipped with keg refrigerators.

Question 27

Does Yugen organize tastings?

Accepted Answer

Yes, contact us as info@yugendrinks.com to see what is possible and to set it up. We have mobile fridges, kegerators and POS material to support the tasting event.

Question 28

Can I buy Yugen Kombucha online?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can! Just go to our shop, order what you want, and our kombucha man will drop it off at your doorstep.

Question 29

Live cultures, what are they?

Accepted Answer

We host billions of healthy microorganisms in every bottle. These beneficial bacteria and yeasts help populate the gut with healthy flora to aid in digestion.

Question 30

My bottle / can with kombucha is exploded. What happened?

Accepted Answer

Our kombucha contains live cultures and will start fermenting again if kept out of the refrigerator too long. Continued fermentation produces excessive carbon dioxide in the bottle which causes the kombucha to rapidly overflow ('explode') upon opening.

Question 31

Is Yugen Kombucha pasteurized?

Accepted Answer

No, Yugen Kombucha is 100% alive and kicking. We go through great lengths to offer our customers a living, natural drink while still assuring safety for all. Check out here more benefits of an unpasteurized kombucha.

Question 32

Why does Yugen utilise cans to package its kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Cans are awesome. They're eco-friendly because cans are the most recycled material of any packaging. They are lightweight and unbreakable, so they're convenient to carry around on an adventure. They chill fast so the drinking part starts sooner. And they provide superior product protection for the billions of living beneficial organisms in our kombucha.

Question 33

What do I have to do with my empty bottles?

Accepted Answer

You can just recycle them in the glass container at home. Or if you feel creative, you can give them a second life as a tiny flower vase, or decorative candle holder.

Question 34

Why doesn't Yugen Kombucha have any scoby in the bottles/cans?

Accepted Answer

We don't ferment our kombucha in the bottle so as long as it's kept refrigerated and no oxygen can get to the kombucha, a scoby won't be formed. Discover more here about the scoby.

Question 35

Is Yugen Kombucha vegan?

Accepted Answer

Our kombucha is 100% vegan. Only fresh, plant-based ingredients find their way in and out our brewery. Yugen does not use any culture medium based on animal gelatine.

Question 36

Is there a specific time to drink kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Every body is different. Some people prefer their kombucha in the morning, to take a fresh start of the day. Others enjoy it in the evening, as a digestive or an non-alcoholic treat after a long day. Do as you please, there is no right or wrong here.

Question 37

How does Yugen flavour its kombucha?

Accepted Answer

We brew our kombucha with real ingredients, no aromas, extracts or concentrates. This means we use real tea leaves and a wide variety of delicious dried organic herbs that we steep in hot water for at least 15 minutes. Our fresh pure juice is cold-pressed where possible (to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients) and never from concentrate. Discover here more of our kombuchas.

Question 38

Can I drink a Yugen Kombucha that has been out of the fridge for a few days/weeks?

Accepted Answer

Yugen Kombucha does not go bad out of the fridge. Kombucha contains living live cultures and will start fermenting again if kept out of the refrigerator too long. Continued fermentation produces excessive carbon dioxide in the bottle which causes the kombucha to rapidly overflow ("explode") upon opening. So be careful when opening the bottle or can!

Question 39

Is every Yugen flavour made with the same scoby?

Accepted Answer

Every Yugen flavour starts with our one and only scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Our beloved scoby ferments our organic blend of premium herbal tea. Afterwards we add fresh juices to create inspiring flavours.

Question 40

Can I use Yugen Kombucha as a starter?

Accepted Answer

Our kombucha is mixed with fresh juice and powerful herbs. That's why we can't guarantee success when you try to grow a scoby from ours. We suggest that you start with an unflavoured kombucha or just ask for an extra scoby, there are plenty to go around.

Question 41

What type of ginger does Yugen Kombucha use?

Accepted Answer

We only use the highest quality certified organic Chinese ginger which we cold-press to preserve all the beneficial nutrients and vitamins. Psst, did you try already our flavor Ginger Lemon?

Question 42

Does Yugen Kombucha contain added sugars?

Accepted Answer

Kombucha is made from a base of tea, water and sugar. Most of the sugars are consumed by probiotics during the fermentation process. After that, we add some 100% pure fruit juice that contains naturally occurring fruit sugars. In total, our kombucha contains 3,8 grammes of sugar per 100ml.

Question 43

What are the key health benefits of kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Many people drink kombucha for its naturally occurring living microorganisms, organic acids and antioxidants, which are thought to support balanced health and energy by strengthening immunity, cleansing and strengthening organs, and correcting acidic pH levels. On top of that Yugen Kombucha contains 4 powerful herbs and 100% pure juice which add essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the mix.

Question 44

I'm following a special diet. Can I drink Yugen Kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Yugen kombuchas are gluten-free, halal and vegan. Moreover, they are adapted for people following a paleo and keto diet, contain barely any calories and are low in sugar. And did we mention that all the ingredients we use are organic, sustainable and unprocessed?

Are you pregnant, following an alcohol-free diet or suffering from the Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS)? Click on the corresponding links and find out if they go hand in hand with a kombucha a day!

Question 45

Is kombucha ok for people with an irritable bowel (IBS)?

Accepted Answer

In general, kombucha is perceived as a probiotic beverage, supporting a healthy gut. The exact reason why people experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is hard to pinpoint. Every microbiome is different. What works for some might not work for others.

Kombucha contains no gluten, which is one of the main causes of IBS, but does contain some FODMAP's, which can trigger IBS in some people.

If you experience IBS we suggest to include kombucha slowly into your diet and see how your body responds.

Question 46

Is kombucha ok for people who are sensitive to acids?

Accepted Answer

Despite its physical properties of being a weak acid (~pH 3), kombucha has been shown to alkalize the body (much like lemons, which are also acidic). Our blood is slightly alkaline, around pH 7.4 (pH 7 being neutral).

The pH of gastric acid is 1,5 to 3,5 in the human stomach. The acids in kombucha can stimulate the secretion of gastic juices. Overall, these acids ensure a smoothly functioning digestive system.

If you are sensitive to acids we suggest to include kombucha slowly into your diet and see how your body responds. Discover more here about the kombuchas of Yugen.

Question 47

Is it ok for pregnant women to drink Yugen Kombucha?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, no solid answer has been decided on this topic. Here are the main points on kombucha and pregnancy:

Yugen Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol (0,3%). Most of the alcohol in kombucha is metabolized into acids, but some remnants are left in the finished product.

The caffeine from the original tea steeping is not lost in the fermenting process. Although the amount of caffeine in kombucha is fairly small, it is worth mentioning.

Intense detoxification is not recommended for pregnant women. As kombucha aids in many of the bodies detox functions, it is also a point worth considering.

Question 48

Can I drink too much kombucha?

Accepted Answer

As with most food and beverages, moderation is a good rule of thumb.  Every kombucha drinker is different. Listen to your body and drink as much as you feel like.

Question 49

What's the difference between Yugen and other brands?

Accepted Answer

Yugen kombucha is committed to give our customers the best kombucha experience there is on the market.

Thanks to our superior fermentation process, the use of premium organic ingredients, striking branding & design, and market scalability through a state-of-the-art brewing facility, we are able to deliver a top notch product for you to enjoy day in and day out.

Yugen also strives to be a 100% sustainable beverage brand. We only have one planet and we believe it's our responsibility to take good care of her, just as she takes care of us. Read more about our sustainability efforts in our blog.

Question 50

Does Yugen Kombucha contain alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol. Most of the alcohol in kombucha is metabolized into acids, but some remnants are left in the finished product (0.3%).

Question 51

Can I make a Yugen cocktail with alcohol?

Accepted Answer