Written by totally not a Thailand hard kombucha mixologist..

Nathan Hague

Hard kombucha is a trendy and innovative drink that has been making waves in the global drinks industry in recent years. This fermented tea drink is an alcoholic twist on traditional kombucha, offering the benefits of probiotics and antioxidants – but with a boozy kick. However, in Thailand, the production and sale of hard kombucha by independent Thailand kombucha or Phuket kombucha breweries such as us here at KombuchaWOW! is not yet available due to the country’s stringent brewing laws.

Can I Buy Hard Kombucha In Thailand?

No. Thailand’s brewing laws are designed to regulate the production and sale of alcohol within the country. These laws are particularly strict, making it difficult for independent bars and restaurants to offer hard kombucha on their menu. The regulations surrounding the production of hard kombucha are even more stringent, requiring significant investment and resources for small businesses to produce this drink legally.

This is a frustration for many in the beverage industry, particularly for mixologists who want to offer kombucha made from independent Thailand kombucha breweries, as a cocktail or mixer to their customers. The restrictions on hard kombucha production mean that it is not yet widely available in Thailand at the start of 2023, making it difficult for those who want to enjoy hard kombucha to do so.

It’s also interesting to know that costs for setting up as an independent Thailand kombucha brewery can involve brewing license fees that range from around 50,000 – 100,000 Thai Baht (approximately 1,500 – 3,000 USD). Whilst this excludes most cottage kombucha producers, it also doesn’t help independent breweries as they also have additional equipment and government permits that also vary from area to area. Here on the island as an independent Phuket kombucha brewery, those costs are even higher (hey, everything in Phuket costs more than anywhere else in Thailand usually!)

OK, so that’s the bad news: No, you can’t easily get hard kombucha in Thailand. But the good news is that you can use sparkling raw kombucha such as KombuchaWOW! as the base ingredient to make cocktails at home. Ready to discover some unique and creative kombucha cocktail ideas?

Kombucha Cocktail Ideas Made With KombuchaWOW!

While hard kombucha may not yet be available in Thailand, there is still a way to enjoy the flavours of kombucha in your cocktails. KombuchaWOW! is a Phuket-based company that produces sparkling raw kombucha in a variety of flavours, including Apple Pie, Mixed Berry, Mango Passionfruit, Passionfruit Ginger, and Phuket Blue. These non-alcoholic kombucha drinks can be used to create delicious and innovative cocktails, perfect for those who want to enjoy the taste of kombucha without the alcohol.

Here are some of our favourite kombucha cocktail recipes, all of which feature KombuchaWOW! kombucha and are made with ingredients that are easy to find in Thailand. We can thank Pinky from Gallery Cafe in Phuket for these suggestions for kombucha cocktails. Her Mixologist came up with these super-delicious ideas, and if you’re ever here in Phuket – you should totally go to their NaiHarn branch for your evening meals (with cocktails, obviously!)

Please note that all measurements are in both imperial and metric.

Apple Pie Kombucha Cocktail (“Apple Pie In The Sky”)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) of Bourbon
• 4 oz (120 ml) of KombuchaWOW! Apple Pie flavour
• 1 oz (30 ml) of maple syrup
• 1 oz (30 ml) of lemon juice
• 1 oz (30 ml) of apple cider
• Dash of cinnamon
• Apple slice for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add the bourbon, KombuchaWOW! Apple Pie flavour, maple syrup, lemon juice, apple cider, and cinnamon to the shaker.
3. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with an apple slice.

Mixed Berry Kombucha Cocktail (“Berry, Berry Good”)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) of gin
• 4 oz (120 ml) of KombuchaWOW! Mixed Berry flavour
• 1 oz (30 ml) of triple sec
• 1 oz (30 ml) of lemon juice
• 1 oz (30 ml) of simple syrup
• Handful of mixed berries for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add the gin, KombuchaWOW! Mixed Berry flavor, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with a handful of mixed berries.

Mango Passionfruit Kombucha Cocktail (“Mango Tango”)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) of rum
• 4 oz (120 ml) of KombuchaWOW! Mango Passionfruit flavor
• 1 oz (30 ml) of pineapple juice
• 1 oz (30 ml) of orange juice
• 1 oz (30 ml) of passionfruit syrup
• Pineapple wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add the rum, KombuchaWOW! Mango Passionfruit flavor, pineapple juice, orange juice, and passionfruit syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake well and strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Passionfruit Ginger Kombucha Cocktail (“Ginger Snap”)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz (60 ml) of vodka
• 4 oz (120 ml) of KombuchaWOW! Passionfruit Ginger flavor
• 1 oz (30 ml) of passionfruit syrup
• 1 oz (30 ml) of lemon juice
• 1 oz (30 ml) of ginger syrup
• Passionfruit slice for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add the vodka, KombuchaWOW! Passionfruit Ginger flavor, passionfruit syrup, lemon juice, and ginger syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with a passionfruit slice.

Phuket Blue Kombucha Cocktail (“Blue Funday”)

Ingredients:

• 60ml (2 oz) gin
• 30ml (1 oz) blue curaçao
• 120ml (4 oz) KombuchaWOW! Phuket Blue kombucha
• 30ml (1 oz) fresh lemon juice
• 10ml (0.33 oz) simple syrup
• Ice cubes
• Fresh blueberries for garnish
• Thin lemon slices for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add gin, blue curaçao, KombuchaWOW! Phuket Blue kombucha, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake well until all ingredients are combined and chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice cubes.
5. Add the fresh blueberries and lemon slices as a garnish.

Each of these cocktails is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy flavours, balanced with the addition of your favourite spirits. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do (although, to be fair, I don’t drink them daily but I DO drink our regular bottles of kombucha each day – at least 1 or 2 bottles to keep my own gut health in check).

Just remember to always drink responsibly as you can eh?

Note: These measurements are approximate and can be adjusted to personal taste. All measurements are in imperial and metric.

References:

1. Thailand Alcohol Beverage Control Act, 2008. https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94775/108639/F1666734786/THA94775.pdf
2. Thailand’s Alcohol Monopoly: A Barrier to Competition and Innovation. https://www.asiainsight.com/thailands-alcohol-monopoly-barrier-competition-innovation/
3. Kombucha Cocktails: Mixology Meets Health. https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/kombucha-cocktails
4. The Rise of Hard Kombucha. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tatianaturner/2019/01/29/the-rise-of-hard-kombucha/?sh=3c764ed95f9d
5. KombuchaWOW. https://www.kombuchawow.com/