Halal Encyclopedia

Tea has long been considered a medicinal and herbal mixture in China to treat various ailments. Over time, tea began to be used as a beverage by brewing it and mixing it with other ingredients, such as herbs or fruits. The habit of drinking tea spread, and it has become a popular trend today.

Kangpu TeaIt is considered a healthy alternative. What is kombucha and is it safe for Muslims?

according toUNDIP Nutritional ScienceAccording to sources, kombucha originated in East Asia and began to spread through Russia to Germany in the early 20th century. The drink is in high demand among many groups because it is believed to have many health benefits.

Kombucha is one of the fermented beverage products made between symbiotic bacteria and fungi, which has functional properties. Usually, fermentation is done by a process calledSymbiotic culture of bacteria and yeastKombucha Culture (SCOBY)FermentationThe SCOBY itself is made of acetic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria andOsmophilic yeastSymbiotically formed, they are incorporated into cellulose tissue.

Making kombucha is relatively simple as it requires minimal equipment and materials that are readily available.Camellia leavesIt's made by adding sugar to a layer of cellulose (black, green, or oolong tea). A SCOBY (Steamed Carrot) is then inoculated at room temperature. The SCOBY's acetic acid bacteria and yeast ferment the beverage and characterize it. Some studies report that previously fermented tea can serve as a starter to initiate the subsequent fermentation process.

Unlike other teas, kombucha has a unique taste and aroma that is sour, sweet, and lightly carbonated, much like apple cider. This tea contains various minerals, vitamins, and organic acids—usingAcetobacter xylylsand several yeasts (e.g.yeastMother bacteria,Brettanomycesandzygosaccharomycesmother) symbiotic kombucha culture.

Kombucha has a higher nutritional value than regular tea. Microbial activity during the fermentation process produces a variety of health-promoting compounds, including organic acids (glucuronic acid, acetic acid, etc.), essential amino acids, folic acid, enzymes, antibiotics, and phenolic compounds (higher phenolic compound production indicates higher antioxidant activity). Furthermore, kombucha contains higher levels of organic vitamins and amino acids than regular tea.

Its diverse ingredients undoubtedly offer significant benefits for overall health. Some of these ingredients possess antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and probiotic properties, promoting bowel health, smoother bowel movements, and improved intestinal flora. Kombucha can also lower blood pressure, increase immunity, lower cholesterol, prevent cardiovascular disease, stimulate the immune system, and reduce inflammation. Kombucha has also been shown to improve digestion, treat anal swelling, prevent cancer, and treat constipation and headaches.  

What is Islam's ruling on kombucha?

Kombucha, made primarily from vegetables, is listed as non-critical (positive). Even so, there are still critical points for kombucha's halal status. What are those?

It has been thoroughly discussed before that Kombucha is a fermented beverage and therefore during this process it produces a byproduct in the form of alcohol to a certain extent. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contributes to this fermentation result.。 During the fermentation process,Yeast brewing yeastThe mother produces alcohol anaerobically, which meansBrewing yeastThe sugars in the culture medium used by the mother are then converted into alcohol.

Many believe that the fermentation process is a key factor in halal products, as it should produce a byproduct in the form of alcohol. However, not all fermentations produce alcohol. The average alcohol content of kombucha is less than 0.5%.

In the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) Fatwa No. 10 of 2018 on food and beverage products containing alcohol/ethanol, it states that fermented beverage products with an alcohol/ethanol content of less than 0.5% are legally halal, as long as the process does not use haram ingredients and is medically harmless.

Even so, there is a key halal point to note about kombucha. Heryani, S.Si., M.TPn, laboratory manager and auditor at the Indonesian Ulama Food, Drug and Cosmetics Evaluation Institute (LPPOM MUI), explains:existThe culture medium used to grow bacteria and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation is one of them.

“It can be made using microbial culture media. The key point of the microbial culture media is the nitrogen source of nutrients for bacterial growth, which can come from ingredients such as meat extract, peptone hydrolyzed meat, etc. The meat that needs to be traced comes from halal animals or haram animals slaughtered according to Islamic law,” said Hryani.

Another key ingredient is sugar, which can be made using activated carbon from animal bones. During the manufacturing process, sugar is sometimes supplemented with ion exchange resins. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the resins do not use gelatin from unclean animals. Another equally important factor is the use of spices.，It contains ingredients derived from animal and vegetable fats.