10 Best Fermented Drinks to Try

If your drinks fridge is still full of fizzy sugar bombs or limp alcohol-free stand-ins, it is time to raise your standards. The best fermented drinks to try are not niche wellness props or punishing health-shop staples. They are bold, layered, properly refreshing drinks with character - and in many cases, they happen to bring gut-friendly benefits too.

Fermentation changes flavour in ways standard soft drinks simply cannot match. It brings sharpness, funk, depth, dryness, gentle acidity and that alive, crafted quality you notice straight away. Not every fermented drink is right for every person or every moment, though. Some are light and easy. Some are acquired tastes. Some lean more into gut health, while others are all about complexity and ritual. That is exactly why this category is worth exploring.

What makes fermented drinks worth drinking?

A good fermented drink does more than tick a health box. It should taste like somebody actually cared when they made it. That means real ingredients, balanced acidity, no cloying finish and enough nuance to hold your attention beyond the first sip.

For people drinking less alcohol, fermented drinks can fill a gap that water, cola and standard lemonade never will. They bring structure, bite and a grown-up flavour profile. For people focused on digestion, some options may also support gut health, depending on the drink, the live cultures and how it has been made. But taste comes first. Always.

10 best fermented drinks to try if you want more from your glass

1. Kombucha

If there is one fermented drink leading the charge, it is kombucha. Made by fermenting tea with a SCOBY, kombucha can be bright, tart, dry, fruity, floral or savoury depending on the brew. The best versions have a clean, crisp finish and real complexity, not vinegar aggression dressed up as wellness.

It is also one of the easiest entry points for people cutting back on alcohol. Served chilled in a decent glass, it has enough edge and ritual to feel satisfying. Flavour matters here. Ginger, raspberry, yuzu, hops, cherry and smoky tea-led styles can all feel completely different.

2. Water kefir

Water kefir deserves more attention than it gets. It is lighter than milk kefir, often fruitier than kombucha and usually very approachable for people who want something refreshing without too much acidity. It is made by fermenting sugar water with kefir grains, often with fruit added for a second fermentation.

Done well, it is crisp, gently sparkling and easy to drink at any time of day. Done badly, it can taste flat or overly sweet. That is the trade-off with water kefir - it needs balance. But when a producer gets it right, it is one of the most drinkable fermented options around.

3. Milk kefir

This is the one for people who care less about sparkle and more about substance. Milk kefir is creamy, tangy and packed with character. It sits somewhere between a drinkable yoghurt and a cultured dairy drink, but the better examples are cleaner and more elegant than that description suggests.

It is not for everyone, especially if you do not enjoy cultured dairy flavours. But if your goal is a fermented drink with a strong gut-health reputation, milk kefir is a serious contender. It works well at breakfast, after exercise or as part of a more functional daily routine.

4. Jun

Jun is sometimes described as kombucha's lighter, more delicate cousin. It is usually brewed with green tea and honey rather than black tea and sugar, giving it a softer profile with floral notes and a smoother edge.

If you have tried kombucha and found it a bit too sharp, jun may be the better fit. It tends to feel more elegant and less aggressive, though that depends on the maker. It is also a good example of why fermented drinks are not one-note health products. There is real range here.

5. Kvass

Kvass is not trying to be cute, and that is part of the appeal. Traditionally made from fermented rye bread, it has an earthy, malty, slightly sour profile that sits miles away from mainstream soft drinks. Some versions are sweeter and easier going, while others lean darker and more savoury.

This is one of the best fermented drinks to try if you like craft beer flavour but do not want alcohol. It has that bready depth and rustic character that can make standard alcohol-free drinks seem painfully bland. It is a bit niche in the UK, yes, but absolutely worth seeking out.

6. Tepache

Tepache is made from fermented pineapple, often with spices added, and it tastes like summer with a bit of attitude. Expect juicy fruit, natural acidity and a touch of funk rather than polished sweetness.

It is a brilliant option if you want something playful but not childish. The pineapple gives it instant appeal, while the fermentation keeps it from becoming one-dimensional. Tepache can vary wildly depending on how it is produced, so quality matters. A good one is vibrant and fresh. A bad one tastes like overripe fruit left in the wrong place.

7. Switchel

Switchel sits in that interesting space between heritage drink and modern functional refreshment. Traditionally made with water, ginger, vinegar and a sweetener, it is not always fermented in every version, but fermented takes on switchel are where things get more interesting.

If you like sharp, fiery drinks with a proper ginger kick, this is one to explore. It can work well as a pick-me-up in the afternoon or as a non-alcoholic alternative with food. The vinegar element means it is not exactly a crowd-pleaser, but that is fine. Not every great drink needs to be built for the middle ground.

8. Ginger beer made the traditional way

Not all ginger beer is fermented. A lot of what is sold as ginger beer is really just a sweet soft drink with branding. The traditional stuff is different. Fermented ginger beer has heat, fizz and a drier finish, with the ginger doing more than just shouting at your tongue.

For anyone bored of sugary mixers, this is a serious upgrade. It works brilliantly on its own, with food or as part of a grown-up booze-free serve. Check how it is made, because the label does not always tell the full story.

9. Fermented beet kvass

This one is unapologetically earthy. Beet kvass is made by fermenting beetroot in salted water, creating a savoury, tangy drink that is more functional than thirst-quenching for most people. It is definitely an acquired taste.

So why include it? Because the best fermented drinks to try should not all play safe. Beet kvass has a committed following for good reason. If you are interested in traditional fermentation, savoury drinks or broadening your palate beyond fruit-led options, it is worth a go.

10. Drinking yoghurt and cultured lassi

This category often gets overlooked because it feels too familiar, but cultured yoghurt drinks and lassi absolutely belong in the fermented conversation. Traditional versions can offer tang, richness and genuine refreshment, especially when they are not overloaded with sugar.

Salted lassi in particular is massively underrated in the UK. It is cooling, savoury and far more interesting than most people expect. Sweet mango versions have their place too, but if you want fermentation to shine rather than hide, less sugar usually means more character.

How to choose the best fermented drinks to try

Start with what you already like. If you are into tea, kombucha or jun makes sense. If you want something light and fruity, water kefir or tepache is a smart first move. If creamy cultured flavours do not put you off, milk kefir and drinking yoghurt give you more body and a different kind of satisfaction.

Then think about why you are drinking it. If you are replacing alcohol, dryness and complexity matter more than probiotic claims. If you are focused on gut health, live cultures and low-intervention production become more relevant. If you just want your fridge to be less boring, follow flavour first and build from there.

It also depends on your tolerance for acidity, funk and unfamiliar textures. Some people love that live, sour edge straight away. Others need a gentler route in. There is no prize for forcing yourself through a bottle of something you do not enjoy.

A quick word on gut health and hype

Fermented drinks are exciting, but they are not magic. Some contain live cultures, some do not, and not every bottle on the shelf will do the same thing. Pasteurisation, sugar levels, ingredients and brewing methods all affect the final product.

That does not mean the category is overhyped. It means you should be picky. Look for drinks made by people who care about flavour, process and integrity, not just slapping wellness language on a label. At Functional Drinks Club, that curation matters because supermarket boring has already had enough shelf space.

The best place to start is simple: pick one drink that sounds genuinely delicious, chill it properly, pour it into a glass and pay attention. Fermented drinks are not a punishment for cutting back. Done right, they are the upgrade.