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. 😉
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. 😍
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 👍)
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 rosé, 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
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- ½ 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 you’re 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.
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 🙂
This should have a cooling effect for the next hot summer. Thanks for your recipe, Allyson!
Hope you love it!