What are the live cultures in Remedy Kombucha?

November 18, 2025 •

2 min read

Did you know kombucha has existed for over 2,000 years, with origins traced back to ancient China where it was known as the 'Tea of Immortality'? Today, the popularity of fermented drinks, like Remedy Kombucha, has many asking what are the live cultures in Remedy Kombucha and what makes it special.,

Quick Summary

Remedy Kombucha's live cultures include specific strains of bacteria and yeast cultivated through a traditional, long-aged fermentation process. The brew is kept raw and unpasteurized to maintain its natural, potent microbial content.,

Key Points

Specific Strains: Remedy's live cultures include bacteria from Acetobacter and Gluconobacter species, and yeast from the Saccharomyces genus.
SCOBY Power: The fermentation is powered by a unique SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) that is a descendant of the founders' original culture.
Long-Aged Brew: The traditional 30-day fermentation process ensures a high concentration of live, healthy cultures and the complete conversion of sugar.
Raw and Unpasteurised: Unlike some brands, Remedy is not pasteurised, preserving the beneficial microorganisms developed during fermentation.
Naturally Shelf-Stable: Because all the sugar is fermented out, Remedy Kombucha does not need refrigeration to prevent refermentation, making it naturally shelf-stable.
Gut Health Focus: The live cultures contribute to a diverse gut flora and support overall gut health by preventing the growth of bad bacteria.

The Anatomy of Remedy's Live Cultures

At the heart of every bottle of Remedy Kombucha lies a unique, symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, lovingly known as the SCOBY. This powerful culture is responsible for the intricate fermentation process that creates the distinct flavour and beneficial properties of kombucha. Remedy's brewing process is steeped in tradition, and every batch uses a descendant of the same 'mother' culture that the founders, Sarah and Emmet Condon, first started with on their kitchen bench. This commitment to a heritage culture ensures a strong, healthy microbial community in every brew.

The Specific Microorganisms

Remedy's live culture is not a single organism but a dynamic community working together. The primary microorganisms involved are:

Yeast of the Saccharomyces genus: Converts sugar into alcohol.
Bacteria from Acetobacter and Gluconobacter species: Converts alcohol into organic acids like acetic and gluconic acid,.

This synergy defines Remedy's live cultures.

The Traditional Brewing Process

Remedy uses a traditional, small-batch, long-aged brewing method taking 30 days.

A Step-by-Step Breakdown:

Tea Brewing: Organic tea and sugar are combined.
SCOBY Introduction: The 'mother' culture is added.
Fermentation Period: Bacteria and yeast convert sugar to organic acids over 30 days.
Flavouring: Natural ingredients are added after fermentation.
Quality Control: Batches are tested for complete sugar fermentation and culture count (minimum 100 million live cultures per 100ml),.

Raw, Unpasteurised, and Shelf-Stable

Remedy Kombucha is raw and unpasteurised to preserve live cultures, unlike pasteurised options. The long fermentation consumes all sugar, making it naturally shelf-stable without refrigeration.

How Remedy's brewing process compares to other methods:


Feature	Remedy Kombucha	Other Commercial Kombuchas (often)
Fermentation Time	Long-aged (30 days)	Shorter fermentation
Pasteurisation	Raw and Unpasteurised	Heat-treated
Live Cultures	Naturally occurring	Often dosed or added back after pasteurisation
SCOBY	Descendant of original culture	Varies
Sugar Content	Naturally sugar-free	Often have added sugar or sweeteners
Storage	Shelf-stable	Often require refrigeration

The Gut Health Connection

Remedy's live cultures support gut health by contributing to diverse gut flora, preventing bad bug growth, and producing important metabolites.

Beyond Live Cultures: A Note on Organic Acids

The live cultures convert sugar into healthy organic acids (SCFAs). These are also produced by gut microbes and can be an energy source for good bacteria, which is why Remedy Kombucha is sugar-free. For more on the science of SCOBYs and fermentation, you can read more here: Kombucha - Wikipedia.

Conclusion

What are the live cultures in Remedy Kombucha? They are a harmonious blend of specific bacteria (Acetobacter, Gluconobacter) and yeast (Saccharomyces) resulting from a long, traditional 30-day fermentation. This process yields a high count of naturally occurring, raw, unpasteurised live cultures, differentiating it from many commercial alternatives. The outcome is a genuinely fermented, sugar-free drink rich in organic acids and live cultures that support gut health. Visible strands or sediment are natural signs of a healthy, authentic, and truly live kombucha.

Frequently Asked Questions

The SCOBY stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. It's the 'mother' culture used to ferment Remedy's sweet tea into kombucha, containing the specific bacteria and yeast strains responsible for the fermentation.

No, Remedy Kombucha does not need to be refrigerated. Because the live cultures consume all the sugar during the 30-day fermentation process, there is no risk of re-fermentation. It is shelf-stable, though best served chilled for taste.

Remedy states their kombucha contains a mighty minimum of 100 million live cultures per 100ml. The company tests every batch to ensure the cultures remain healthy throughout the product's shelf life.

Remedy Kombucha is not pasteurised because the heat treatment would kill the live cultures. By following a traditional, long-aged brewing process that eliminates all sugar, the kombucha becomes naturally shelf-stable, preserving its live cultures.

Yes, they are completely normal. The 'floaty bits' are small pieces of the live SCOBY and are a sign of a natural, healthy kombucha that is unpasteurised and full of goodness. They are perfectly safe to consume.

The live cultures can support gut health by increasing the diversity of your gut flora, preventing the growth of bad bacteria, and supplying billions of microorganisms that support important bodily functions.

Remedy's live cultures occur naturally and plentifully due to a traditional, long-aged fermentation process. Some other brands may be pasteurised (killing the cultures) or 'dosed' with cultures added after the brewing process.