The Best Champagne Yeast for Kombucha: Our Top Recommendations for a Fizzy Ferment

If you’re passionate about kombucha and want to experiment with new flavors, making your own brew at home is a fantastic idea. However, it can be a challenge to get the perfect fizz that makes kombucha so delicious. Fortunately, one of the secrets to a fizzy kombucha is champagne yeast.

While there are many different types of yeast that can be used for brewing kombucha, champagne yeast offers outstanding quality and performance. It’s highly efficient in producing carbon dioxide, which is what gives kombucha its fizziness. In this article, we’ll discuss the top champagne yeast options to use in your kombucha brewing process.

#1 Lalvin EC-1118 Champagne Yeast

The Lalvin EC-1118 is one of the most popular champagne yeast strains used in brewing kombucha because of its robustness and versatility. It’s a neutral yeast strain, so it won’t affect the flavor profile of your kombucha, making it perfect for experimenting with different fruits and flavors.

One of the standout features of the Lalvin EC-1118 is its ability to ferment at low temperatures, making it a great choice if you live in a cooler climate. Additionally, it has a high alcohol tolerance, so it can ferment a relatively dry kombucha with a high alcohol content if that’s what you desire.

#2 Red Star Premier Classique Champagne Yeast

The Red Star Premier Classique Champagne Yeast is another fantastic option for those looking for the perfect fizz in their kombucha. It’s an all-purpose yeast that can be used for a wide variety of different types of wine or beer making.

The Red Star Premier Classique is a bit more flavorful than the Lalvin EC-1118, but it still won’t significantly impact the taste of your kombucha. It ferments at a slightly higher temperature than the Lalvin EC-1118, which makes it great for those living in warmer environments.

One of the benefits of this yeast strain is its versatility. It’s also a robust yeast that can handle some of the challenges of brewing kombucha, such as a low pH environment.

#3 Vintner’s Harvest SN9 Champagne Yeast

For those who want to ferment their kombucha fast and efficiently, the Vintner’s Harvest SN9 Champagne Yeast is an excellent option. It ferments quickly and produces a clean, crisp wine-like product that is perfect for kombucha brewing.

The Vintner’s Harvest SN9 yeast is also known for its ability to create a more delicate flavor profile than some other champagne yeast strains. That makes it ideal if you want to bring out the subtle notes of fruit or herbs that you’re using in your kombucha recipe.

#4 Lalvin D47 Champagne Yeast

The Lalvin D47 Champagne Yeast is a highly regarded yeast strain that is celebrated for its floral and fruity aroma. It’s somewhat similar to the Lalvin EC-1118 in terms of the fermentation temperature range and alcohol tolerance, but it offers a more pronounced aroma.

This yeast strain is also highly versatile and efficient, and it’s a favorite among many brewers that want to produce delicate, aromatic kombucha.

#5 Vintner’s Best Champagne Yeast

Finally, if you’re looking for an affordable and reliable champagne yeast strain to use in your kombucha brewing process, consider Vintner’s Best Champagne Yeast. It is among the most accessible yeast strains on the market, and it produces a stable and pleasant fermentation.

The Vintner’s Best Champagne Yeast is known for its ability to produce a full-bodied and fruity wine-like flavor that suits kombucha very well. Moreover, it ferments at a wide range of temperatures, giving you flexibility in terms of your brewing environment.

Conclusion

There are many different types of yeast strains that can be used for brewing kombucha, but the champagne yeast strains we’ve discussed in this article are among the most versatile and effective for fermenting a fizzy, high-quality brew. Whether you’re looking for a yeast strain that ferments quickly or one that produces a delicate and floral aroma, there’s an option on this list that will suit your needs.

Try experimenting with different champagne yeast strains and see which one works best for your kombucha recipe. You may find that different yeasts produce unique flavors and characteristics, which can make your kombucha truly stand out from the crowd.