KOMBUCHA: A LIVING TRADITION OF FERMENTATION
Kombucha is a fermented drink made from sweetened tea, bacteria, and yeast. At the heart of this process is a living culture called a scoby (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast), a natural community of microorganisms that transforms sweet tea into kombucha. A scoby looks like a thick, rubbery pancake floating on top of the tea (you can see it in this reel). Through fermentation, it creates a lightly sparkling drink with a delicate balance of sweetness and acidity.
Made from tea, sugar, and time, kombucha can be infused with a variety of flavors. At Quinta Filippa, we serve Sõsu Kombuchas from classics like ginger, lemon and mint to more distinctive blends such as elderflower, cherry, coffee and apple with cinnamon.
Beyond its refreshing taste, kombucha has become appreciated for its connection between fermentation, nourishment, and well-being. Rich in natural probiotics and antioxidants, it is associated with supporting digestion, gut health, and boosts immunity, while offering fewer calories and less sugar compared with many traditional soft drinks.
Although its exact origin remains uncertain, the tradition is widely linked to ancient China, where fermented tea was valued and called the "Tea of Immortality" because people believed it promoted health and longevity.
A popular story says a Korean physician named Kombu brought the drink to Japan to help Emperor Inyoko in the 5th century, giving rise to the name kombucha. However, historians consider this story uncertain. Over the centuries, it spread across Asia and into Europe, with families often kept jars of “tea fungus” or “tea mushroom” at home and shared pieces of the scoby with others, continuing the tradition from one generation to the next.
At Quinta Filippa, kombucha reflects one of our core values, slowing down, observing, and allowing nature to guide transformation. Like the land around us, fermentation teaches us that meaningful processes take time.
We are also excited to announce that we are starting to create our own Quinta Filippa kombucha in collaboration with our partners at Sõsu Kombucha.
