World Kombucha Day Date in the current year: February 21, 2024

Kombucha is a drink made using the so-called tea fungus, tea mushroom or Manchurian mushroom, which is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The culture is added to sugared green or black tea which is then left to ferment. The result is a lightly effervescent drink with a tart and slightly sweet taste.

The drink is believed to have originated in ancient China, where it was thought to have healing properties. The Chinese believed that the beverage cleansed the body and filled it with energy. It was brought to Russia from China in the early 20th century and spread to Europe from there.

Kombucha has been known in the United States since at least the mid-20th century. The first use of the word kombucha in the Western world dates back to 1944. In Japan, the term konbu-cha or kobu-cha refers to kelp tea made by infusing julienned kelp or dried kelp powder in hot water. English speakers, however, thought that the word meant fermented tea. By the time their mistake was discovered, the erroneous term had already caught on.

The commercial production of kombucha in the United States began in the late 1990s, but it took about a decade for the drink to become really popular, especially among young people and people who try to lead a healthy lifestyle. It should be noted that many of the claimed health benefits of kombucha are unproven, but it does contain probiotic bacteria.

Interestingly, traditional kombucha isn’t particularly popular among consumers, accounting for only a third of the market. The majority of kombucha drinkers prefer flavored kombucha that comes in an impressive variety of tastes such as various fruit, green vegetables, hibiscus, lavender, ginger, and many more. Some brands even produce hard kombucha. It is fermented in such a way that the final product has an alcohol content of 3–7%, which is comparable to beer.

World Kombucha Day was launched in 2020 by Kombucha Brewers International, a non-profit trade association that promotes kombucha internationally and sets standards and best practices for the industry. It is celebrated on February 21 (2/21) because the first mention of the beverage dates back to the Chinese Qin dynasty, which lasted from 221 to 206 BC.

World Kombucha Day was created to promote the drink across the world and to convert occasional consumers to kombucha lovers, as well as to boost the overall well-being of the industry. World Kombucha Day events include free tastings, “buy one, get one free” promotions, industry events for kombucha brewers, and more. The holiday is promoted on social media with the hashtags #worldkombuchaday and #kombuchaday.

World Kombucha Day should not be confused with National Booch Day, also known as National Kombucha Day, that is celebrated in the United States. The latter was launched by KeVita, a popular kombucha producer, and is celebrated on January 15.