Giving kombucha to kids?

[Summer]

Hi,
I'm still new to brewing kombucha, currently on my 6th batch. I wanted to see if parents allowed their kids to drink kombucha. My 7 year old asks for it all the time and I'll give him the occasional glass. My 2 year old might get the odd sip out of mine. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks

 

[dmtaylor]

I'm no expert, but, sure, why not?! An infant might experience distress, but a 7-year-old stomach is about as robust as it gets.

 

[telebrewer]

I give it to my 8 and 10 year old, recently I believe in the stuff, haven't been sick in 2 years.

Anyone else chime in about giving it to kids.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Hi,
I'm still new to brewing kombucha, currently on my 6th batch. I wanted to see if parents allowed their kids to drink kombucha. My 7 year old asks for it all the time and I'll give him the occasional glass. My 2 year old might get the odd sip out of mine. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks

Presuming that you are in the US, I wouldn't because the drinking age is clear and unambiguous. Philosophically, allowing occasional small quantities teaches that it is food and there's no need to binge or overdue it. For the very young brain I wouldn't encourage it at all. I know we used to rub whiskey on gums of teething babies, and most of us turned out fine, but today that could be construed as "abuse". We know more about how drug use can change a growing brain now as well.

 

[BrewinBromanite]

Not a kombucha expert, advocate, or really any opinion on it really...but, my wife buys "holy kombucha" here in the US all the time. It's non-alcoholic - at least I'm 99.999% sure for this brand (perhaps not the case for all brands, or if homemade and not made to be non-alcoholic?). Anywho - is alcohol the issue, or the mix of yeast/bacteria, whatever else is in the "mother" the concern, insofar as it concerns kids ingesting it?

 

[seabass07]

The alcoholic stuff is usually like 0.5% abv. I don't care what the law is personally as far children and alcohol. It's not beer. I would not be the least bit worried about them consuming such a tiny amount of alcohol.

 

[rhoadsrage]

Most of the alcohol gets converted to vinegar I believe. The quote from NessAlla Kombucha is " Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol, between .03-.05%, which is less than fresh squeezed orange juice or a ripe bannana. Put THAT in your smoothie and ponder…"
http://nessalla.com/

 

[BrewinBromanite]

Most of the alcohol gets converted to vinegar I believe. The quote from NessAlla Kombucha is " Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol, between .03-.05%, which is less than fresh squeezed orange juice or a ripe bannana. Put THAT in your smoothie and ponder…"
http://nessalla.com/

So I'm not crazy that I pick up some fairly noticeable vinegar flavor in a few I've tried? Interestingly, my wife doesn't seem to notice the vinegar flavor at all.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Presuming that you are in the US, I wouldn't because the drinking age is clear and unambiguous.

Completely and totally untrue. The "drinking age" federally does not exist. It's set state to state as "21" as a general rule due to some complicated circumstances not worth explaining, but ultimately there are countless exceptions that vary widely between jurisdictions. A good number of states permit, perfectly legally, parents providing alcohol to their underage children in their own home. Some states go much further than that. It's actually a fairly small minority that outright prohibit underage consumption of alcohol. http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591

I wouldn't give young children homemade stuff simply due to the risk of enteric bacteria (simple disclaimer there, although it's probably fine, just parroting the official line). But storebought stuff is almost certainly going to be ok.

 

[Fedora]

Disclaimer:
I think that it's quite dangerous to advocate a new kombucha brewer giving their product to children. It would be very easy for someone unfamiliar with kombucha or fermentation in general, to make a very alcoholic kombucha.
/disclaimer


I let my ten year old son drink my booch in small quantities. He likes it. In small quantities. I'm confident that the booch I make is non alcoholic by legal standards.

I only buy commercial booch to start my own but I would have no problem letting him drink a bottle. It's regulated as non alcoholic. I doubt it has any more bacteria than an equal serving of live culture yogurt.

It's also a great way to include him in the brewing process without excluding him from enjoying the final product. He helps me brew beer and knows more about the process than most, yet he can't enjoy the fruits of our labor. We can however, make a batch of kombucha, ferment and bottle it, then crack one open a cold one when it's carbed up.

 

[WarmGas]

Kombucha is good for everyone as long as it is brewed properly. I make gallons of it every week and kids love it. The alcohol level is minimal and there is absolutely nothing wrong legally or morally about it. Orange juice also ferments in the container and produces alcohol and I have even seen children drink that.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Completely and totally untrue. The "drinking age" federally does not exist. It's set state to state as "21" as a general rule due to some complicated circumstances not worth explaining, but ultimately there are countless exceptions that vary widely between jurisdictions. A good number of states permit, perfectly legally, parents providing alcohol to their underage children in their own home. Some states go much further than that. It's actually a fairly small minority that outright prohibit underage consumption of alcohol. http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591

I wouldn't give young children homemade stuff simply due to the risk of enteric bacteria (simple disclaimer there, although it's probably fine, just parroting the official line). But storebought stuff is almost certainly going to be ok.

This. Know your states beverage laws. I can legally give my children beer and wine in my home.

 

[BrewinBromanite]

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