Freshly fermented kefir and kombucha await at these breweries and stores in Singapore.
Jumping on the health bandwagon? On top of your body-loving salads, detox juices and heart-pumping workouts, add probiotic drinks in the mix to give your gut a boost. We’re not talking about gimmicky, sugary concoctions that do the exact opposite – make you bloat. Instead, try kombucha and kefir – they’re available in stores across Singapore. Chances are, you’ve seen those words paired with marketing phrases like “elixir of life” and “gut-friendly” online. But before you judge a book by its cover – or in this case, the bottle – the fermented duo has been around the block for centuries.
Kombucha is essentially tea fermented with sugar and “scoby” (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), resulting in a tart, slightly fizzy beverage. Meanwhile, kefir is a milk-based drink made with kefir grains (think of it as yogurt on steroids). Vegans can also enjoy the latter as there’s a dairy-free version made with water kefir grains. While their origins date so far back that they’re hazy, the benefits are pretty evident. Both are known to be good for your digestive system, immunity and heart, so you can say goodbye to stomach bloat and constipation.
Where to buy kombucha and kefir in Singapore
1. Fizzicle
Founder Melissa Mak knows a thing or two when it comes to fermented food. She first created the Facebook group SG Fermented Foods as her passion project in 2015 and later furthered her passion by starting her own brewery, Fizzicle.
Her brews are a little special: Endearingly called junboocha, her version is sweetened with raw honey instead – perfect for those who think sugar is the devil. Get your daily dose of probiotics in flavours like the wonderfully potent ginger, Earl Grey and Trigona honey (for an immunity boost), or the caffeine-free Calmboocha, which is mixed with rose, cinnamon and lavender. Other drinks to try include salted lemonade kombucha and dairy-free water kefir concoctions.
Fizzicle, available online
2. The Good Kombucha
Live the good life with this locally-based brewery that uses fruits and quality ingredients in its small batch probiotic drinks. Opt for the taster pack to try all the flavours you want – pineapple and osmanthus, goji and chrysanthemum, mixed berries and mint, pineapple orange, and loads more. You can also get a subscription bundle or try individual bottles to find the perfect drink for you.
The Good Kombucha, available online
3. Curate
Brought to you by a trio who are passionate about living a healthy lifestyle with snacks and drinks chock full of the good stuff, Curate offers a selection of nuts, dried fruits and kombucha. For a mood booster, the fizzy kombucha drinks are a great source of probiotics. Try the original, osmanthus oolong, blueberry or passion fruit – or get ’em all in a pack to share!
Curate, available online
4. Craft & Culture
This Singaporean brewery founded by two lovely ladies knows what’s up. With over 20 years of experience in fermentation, medical research and microbiology, Zhiwei and Winnie found their love for fermented drinks during a business trip in America. After some experimentation, the rest is history.
Now, the brand offers the whole shebang: milk kefir, kombucha, fermentation workshops and even probiotic skincare! If you’re looking to give it a shot, get the kefir and kombucha sampler pack. Some of our fave flavours include lychee black tea kombucha, as well as strawberry, blueberry and mango kefir. We love how they’re constantly putting out seasonal concoctions, too.
Craft & Culture, available online
5. Probiotics Kitchen
This one leans more toward the DIY side. Founded by two sisters in Singapore, the shop provides probiotic starter cultures for kombucha, jun kombucha, milk kefir and water kefir. You can also get starter kits that come with everything you need to brew your own drinks at home. But if you’re not much of a whiz in the kitchen, get the immunity bundle to try the milk and water kefir for sips filled with nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants.
Probiotics Kitchen, available online
6. Wild Boocha
There’s a saying: quality over quantity. But this brand does both by offering 300ml and three-litre artisanal kombuchas that are chock-full of vitamin B, probiotics and enzymes. On the fizzier side, flavours come in interesting combinations like yuzu lavender, jasmine hibiscus and strawberry mint. Plus, the Harmony Adaptogenic kombucha contains a trio of ayurvedic herbs – tulsi, amla powder and ashwagandha powder – to help boost energy and minimise stress.
Try the limited edition specials or nab yourself the subscription kit to get bottles delivered to your door each month.
Wild Boocha, available online
7. Teapulse
What’s the tea? We’re here to tell you to ditch your usual sticky, saccharine bubble tea afternoon pick-me-up and try something healthier at this CBD tea bar. Veering away from typical kombucha flavours, the casual joint offers unique choices like lemongrass, French rose, peppermint and mulberry.
Not ready to dive into the probiotics pool? Go for something familiar – the lemonade here is lacto-fermented, so you’ll still get all the good stuff with a citrusy zing. Try the probiotics drink in flavours such as honey lemonade and yuzu lemonade for a pick-me-up.
Teapulse, available online and at #01-04, Royal Group Building, 3 Phillip Street. Singapore 048693
8. Yocha
It all started when founder Amanda went in search of a cure for her eczema and sinusitis, which led her to a pot of kombucha – figuratively, of course. After loading up on self-brewed kombuchas, she never looked back. And just like any other good folk, she wanted to share the goodness with everyone. Fast forward to present day, where the brand features flavourful brews such as strawberry and mint, hibiscus and pineapple, passion fruit, and Earl Grey lavender. They’re oh-so-refreshing!
Yocha, available online
9. Kombynation
With a solid background in biological sciences and a passion for kombucha, the folks behind Kombynation love to combine fermented tea with superfruits. The result? A delish, healthy concoction, of course! If you want to kill two birds with one stone, try the antioxidant-rich Berried Peaches to boost your skin’s glow, or the Chiananas, which is packed with vitamin C and Omega 3, for when you’re feeling under the weather.
Kombynation, available online
Sip on the best kombucha and kefir drinks in Singapore for a healthier gut!
