STORAGE
GUIDANCE
Refrigerate GINGER SENCHA 250ml on receipt and ensure you have enough fridge space before ordering. Refrigerate all varieties where space allows.
GO Kombucha is a holistic living tea that faithfully replicates an Ancient Chinese recipe. As such our kombucha requires special care when storing and opening compared, say, to a canned “kombucha” variant that has had its beneficial microbes removed or been pasteurised for mass production and supermarket shelf stability.
At GO Kombucha we’ve honed and finessed our brewing process over 22 years to ensure a stable balance of yeasts and bacteria. And because we don’t add fruit sugars before bottling most of our tea flavours can be stored out of the fridge if kept cool (below 14C) and sealed in their insulated card cases.
Following this guidance and being sure to always chill bottles before serving will ensure you’ll enjoy our authentic kombucha at its very best!
How to ‘burp’ bottles
Caution: being a live product the contents of each bottle will vary in terms of pressure. Please unscrew gently keeping hand over cap until pressure is released.
Learning how to ‘burp’ a bottle is especially helpful when choosing authentic, 100% raw kombucha. For over 22 years we’ve only bottled in glass because it’s the best and safest option for transiting live low pH drinks to the end consumer. Like our kombucha itself glass contains only 4 key natural ingredients and there is zero risk of leeching any chemical residues, microplastics or alluminium into our tea brewed with naturally purified water drawn from our on site spring well.
Authentic, small batch kombucha is naturally effervescent. Because we don’t filter the yeasts or pasteurise, the level of natural carbonation varies from batch to batch compared to stabilised, standardised mass-produced supermarket “kombucha” in cans. Therefore we advise customers to always open each bottle slowly; if fizz immediately fills the neck space when slowly opening the cap, close quickly and ‘burp’ bottle by repeating the process several times, or till fizz recedes.
GREEN SENCHA & RED PU-ERH 750ml
Refrigerate Green Sencha and Red-Pu-erh on receipt to ensure no onward fermentation occurs and to maintain alcohol at <0.5% (defined as non-alcoholic and the point at which it was bottled, then chilled before reaching you). If storing out of the fridge, particularly during warmer months, the trace level of alcohol may creep into the low-alcoholic region (0.5-1.2%, which is below the level of intoxication for most people not sensitive to alcohol). Always store bottles upright in their insulated sealed card case and in a cool, dry place away from light and heat sources. Always chill each bottle before serving.
If the storage area is 10C>, over a few weeks a progression of the fermentation occurring inside the bottle will take place as the remaining sugars are slowly consumed, yielding a less sweet and more tart taste. Over several weeks, particularly in the summer, the taste may become more beery and slightly alcoholic compared to refrigerating which maintains stability, taste and alcohol at around 0.5% for many months.
Overriding a stuck 750ml neck sleeve cap
If not stored in the fridge, outward CO2 pressure on the neck sleeve cap caused by any onward fermentation may force the cap seals to release slightly to allow excess CO2 gas to escape; a safety feature that prevents the glass bottle itself exploding. This can cause the neck sleeve cap to “jump” the thread making the cap tricky to break away from the neck sleeve. If so, grip the neck sleeve firmly while twisting the cap quickly to separate.
If the cap detaches from the neck sleeve and rotates without removing from the bottle due to falling out of synch with the thread, grip bottle firmly and remove the cap with pliers and seal the opening air tight with cling film or tin foil to maintain fizz and crispness.
CHINA WHITE, YUNNAN GOLD & DARJEELING 250ml
If you have room to refrigerate China White, Yunnan Gold and Darjeeling Black alongside Ginger Sencha this will stabilise the contents, ensure no forward fermentation and maintain alcohol at <0.5% (defined as non-alcoholic and the point at which it was bottled then chilled before reaching you). If you store out of the fridge the trace level of alcohol may creep into the low-alcoholic region (0.5-1.2%, below the level of intoxication for most people not sensitive to alcohol). Always store bottles upright in their insulated sealed card case and in a cool, dry place away from light and heat sources. Always chill each bottle before serving.
If not stored in the fridge, outward CO2 pressure on the neck sleeve cap caused by any onward fermentation may force the cap to expand, break its seal and harmlessly “pop”, particularly during warmer summer months. Check the cap seals every few days for any sign of outward bulging, and ‘burp’ ro release excess CO2 and immediately screw cap tightly and refrigerate.
GO Kombucha is 100% raw and live which is why it has to be treated with care. Following our guidance will ensure that our uniquely authentic kombucha that honours the heritage and legacy of a tradition that began in Ancient China over 2200 years ago will, in turn, take good care of you — as well as being the most refreshing and thirst-quenching taste experience bar none!
For frequently asked questions, click here
Any questions of your own? Please email sales@gokomucha.co.uk