15 Best Hard Kombuchas That Can Be Delivered Straight to Your Door

When temperatures rise and the sun shines brighter, there’s no better unwind than a glass of something cold, refreshing and oh-so-yummy. And if you’re in the mood for a drink that’s healthyish plus takes the edge off of your go, go, go lifestyle, meet your new favorite summertime sip: hard kombucha. It’s exactly what it sounds like — the higher in alcohol version of regular kombucha, a fermented tea that’s known for harboring gut-friendly probiotics.

“Kombucha is brewed in green or black tea, which brings to the table a host of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that boost immunity and aid in digestion,” says Christa Brown, MS, RDN, a New Jersey-based dietitian. “Hard kombucha undergoes a few more weeks of fermentation, which raises the alcohol content to be closer to the ABV of beer,” — usually between 4% and 7%, on average. There’s not enough research to determine whether or not the probiotic content is affected by the heightened alcohol content, Brown says, but not all of the good-for-you benefits are lost because the vitamins and antioxidants remain intact. Hard kombucha also tends to be lower in sugar than mixed drinks because much of it disappears during the fermentation process, and also lower in calories and carbs, if you’re someone who monitors those.

But just because it has better-for-you qualities doesn’t mean you can guzzle down hard kombuchas to your wellness-oriented heart’s content. It’s still an alcoholic beverage, which means you’ll want to drink it in moderation like you would wine, beer or liquor to avoid raising your risk for the harmful outcomes that excessive alcohol use can lead to — heart problems, organ damage, dependency and even some cancers. However, “hard kombucha is still better than drinking sugary cocktails or beers, which don’t have any nutrients, and hard kombucha won’t trigger the same type of inflammatory response that alcoholic beverages with a higher sugar and alcohol content do,” says Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, a senior dietitian at UCLA medical center, assistant professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and author of the new book Recipe for Survival.

When you do enjoy a can or two, look for hard kombucha brands with zero or less than 5% of your daily value of added sugar, Brown adds. And, since most kombucha flavors tend to be fruit-forward, it's the perfect excuse to pour that can into a pretty glass, then drop in some fresh fruit for extra goodness.

Ready for a taste test? We tracked down some of the best hard kombucha brands out there.