Simple Kombucha Sangria
[I made this simple and healthy kombucha sangria for Earth Fare!]
In college I loved mixing red wine with Sprite for a very UN-sophisticated cocktail of sorts. This Kombucha sangria is a huge step up from that, but it’s still super simple to put together. π
First things first, what’s kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea, typically made from black tea or green tea and sweetened with sugar.
During the fermentation process, this interesting little thing called a kombucha scoby (symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria) consumes the sugar and increases the amount of friendly, gut-healthy bacteria. AKA probiotics!
Kombucha is a non-alcoholic drink (with only trace amounts of alcohol) that is sparkly, refreshing, and so good for our gut health!
It’s often fermented a second time with added fruit juice, ginger, or herbs.
Kombucha has a unique taste (that I love!) and while you can easily find it at the grocery store, you can also make kombucha at home. (I might share that process in a future post.)
How to make Kombucha Sangria
In my opinion, adding kombucha to your favorite cocktail is a no-brainer. I’ve done it before with:
- these kombucha spritzers
- this mango kombucha fizz , and
- this bubbly pomegranate lemonade
This past summer my friend Jessica mentioned kombucha sangria and I immediately knew I had to make it for the holiday season!
This healthy cocktail is a great option to have on hand when you’re entertaining because your guests can self serve, and it’s pretty to look at. π
All you have to do is add some fruit (I used chopped apple, sliced orange, cranberries, and pomegranate) to a medium or large pitcher along with some fresh squeezed orange juice and a bottle and a half of red wine.
The wine and fruit need some time to “marinate” in the fridge – at least 2 hours and up to 24. This helps the flavors develop.
(note – don’t spend a fortune on the wine for this sangria. An affordable merlot or malbec work great π)
When you’re ready to serve your kombucha sangria, you just need to stir in your favorite bottled (or homemade) kombucha. (Health-Ade kombucha in Pink Lady flavor or GT Kombucha in Trilogy flavor work well here.)
Kombucha Sangria Variations
- If you prefer, you can swap the red wine for white wine or even rosΓ©, which will give you a sweeter, lighter tasting sangria.
- If you prefer a lighter sangria, add more kombucha to the pitcher or top individual glasses off with extra kombucha and/or sparkling water.
- I added cranberries to make this sangria gorgeously festive. They really don’t add any flavor, so if you prefer, leave them out!
So what do you think? A festive cocktail with added health benefits?
Yes please!
Ingredients
- 1.5 bottles of red wine (750 ML bottle - Merlot or Malbec work well)
- 1 bottle of kombucha (GT Trilogy or Health Aid Pink Lady Apple work well)
- 1-2 apples
- 3 oranges
- Β½ cup pomegranate arils
- Β½ cup cranberries (optional)
- Sparkling water to top (optional)
Instructions
- Core and chop apples into small cubes. Add to a glass pitcher.
- Slice one orange into thin slices and add to the pitcher with the apples. Squeeze the juice from the other two oranges into the pitcher.
- Add pomegranate arils and optional cranberries.
- Top fruit with wine and stir to combine. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24.
- When youβre ready to serve the sangria, add the bottle of chilled kombucha and stir to combine.
- For a lighter, bubblier sangria, top glasses with a splash of additional kombucha or sparkling water.
4 responses to “Simple Kombucha Sangria”
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I gotta admit I love a wine topped with lemonade, and I always whisper it to the waiter because it is so embarrassing! I like the twist with Kombucha.
haha that sounds good! Much better than the Sprite at least π
This should have a cooling effect for the next hot summer. Thanks for your recipe, Allyson!
Hope you love it!