Your Weed Kombucha Questions Answered

Written by Sipho Sam

January 22nd, 2026

You've heard about weed kombucha, seen it mentioned online, or stumbled across a bottle at a dispensary and wondered what makes it different from regular kombucha or THC sodas.

The confusion makes sense. Cannabis beverages now include everything from fermented teas with live cultures to fizzy sodas with nano-emulsified THC, and the terminology blurs together.

This article breaks down what weed kombucha actually is, how it's made, and when you might want fermented cannabis tea versus a simpler THC drink.

What Is Weed Kombucha & How It Works

Weed kombucha is fermented tea that contains both live cultures from the SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) and cannabinoids like THC or CBD.

The fermentation process is the defining feature. This isn't just cannabis extract mixed into liquid, but actual kombucha with all the organic acids, B vitamins, and beneficial bacteria that develop during the 7-14 day brewing cycle.

That distinction matters because most "cannabis drinks" you see online or in stores are non-fermented beverages that contain THC but no probiotics or fermentation byproducts.

The Fermentation Difference

Regular kombucha starts with sweetened tea, adds a SCOBY, and ferments for 7-14 days as bacteria and yeast consume sugar and produce organic acids, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of alcohol (typically under 0.5% ABV).

Weed kombucha follows this same process but incorporates cannabis during or after fermentation.

The result is a beverage that delivers both the tart, effervescent qualities of kombucha and the psychoactive or wellness effects of cannabinoids.

Non-fermented THC drinks skip this entire process. They're sodas, seltzers, or waters with nano-emulsified cannabinoids added for quick absorption.

These products offer convenience and consistent amounts but don't provide the probiotic benefits, complex flavors, or fermentation compounds that kombucha brewers value.

Why Regular Kombucha Can Feel "Buzzy"

People sometimes report feeling slightly lightheaded or energized after drinking regular kombucha and wonder if it contains THC. It doesn't.

That sensation comes from a combination of caffeine (from the tea base), B vitamins produced during fermentation, trace alcohol, and the slight acidity affecting blood sugar levels.

Regular kombucha will never cause THC intoxication because there's no cannabis involved in traditional brewing.

If you're drinking weed kombucha with THC, you'll experience actual psychoactive effects similar to edibles rather than kombucha's mild, caffeine-like lift.

How to Make Weed Kombucha: Primary & Secondary Fermentation

Making weed kombucha requires a two-stage approach to avoid killing your SCOBY while still infusing cannabinoids effectively.

The process mirrors standard kombucha brewing for the first fermentation, then adds cannabis during the second stage when the culture is removed.

Stage One: Primary Fermentation

Brew sweet tea using black, green, or oolong tea. Avoid anything with oils like Earl Grey, which can interfere with the SCOBY.

Add your established SCOBY and starter liquid (acidic kombucha from a previous batch) to the cooled tea.

Cover with a breathable cloth and let it ferment at 75-85°F for 7-10 days until it reaches your preferred level of tartness and sweetness.

Research shows that cannabis leaves added during primary fermentation can slow the process, increase pH, and reduce acetic acid production while shifting the microbial balance toward more lactic acid bacteria.

Most brewers prefer keeping primary fermentation pure, then adding cannabis during the second stage for more control.

Stage Two: Cannabis Infusion

Remove the SCOBY after primary fermentation is complete. This culture should be kept separate if you plan to reuse it, since exposure to cannabis compounds may affect future batches.

Transfer the fermented kombucha to bottles for the second fermentation, which is when you'll add carbonation through juices, ginger, or fruit, and also when you'll incorporate cannabis.

This is the stage where most brewers add their cannabis tincture, infused syrup, or water-soluble emulsion.

Bottle conditioning creates natural carbonation over 3-7 days at room temperature, then the bottles move to refrigeration to slow fermentation and preserve the fizz.

The Solubility Problem

Cannabinoids are not water-soluble, which creates the biggest technical challenge in making weed kombucha.

You cannot simply add cannabis oil or butter directly to your brew. Oils will float on top, fail to mix, and worse, suffocate your SCOBY if introduced during primary fermentation.

The solution is using alcohol-based tinctures, glycerin-based extracts, or commercial water-soluble emulsions that allow cannabinoids to distribute evenly through the liquid.

Some brewers use THC syrup made with sugar, which mixes well during the second fermentation and adds sweetness to offset kombucha's tartness.

When THCa flower is heated, it becomes more potent. This happens during smoking, vaping, or when making infusions, though for kombucha you're typically working with already-activated extracts.

Dosing & Safety 

Weed kombucha behaves like an edible rather than smoking or vaping, which means delayed onset, longer duration, and different potency calculations.

Starting Amounts & Timing

Effects typically begin 30-90 minutes after drinking, depending on your metabolism, whether you've eaten, and the specific infusion method used.

Start with a small amount. Try 2.5-5mg THC if you're new to edibles, or half a bottle if you're unsure of the potency.

The effects build gradually and can last 4-6 hours, significantly longer than smoking's 1-3 hour window.

Wait at least two hours before consuming more, since the full effects may not reveal themselves immediately and edibles timing varies between individuals.

Commercial products typically label their THC amounts per bottle, but homemade weed kombucha requires careful calculation based on how much tincture or infusion you added.

Legal Status & Where You Can Get It

The legal landscape for weed kombucha splits into three categories:

• Hemp-derived CBD kombucha available in some retail stores.
• THC kombucha sold through dispensaries in states with adult-use cannabis laws.
• Homemade versions subject to your state's home brewing and cannabis cultivation rules.

Hemp-Derived vs Dispensary Products

Mood offers millions of users hemp-derived THC, which is 100% legal and fully compliant cannabis.

You may have heard that the legality of hemp-derived THC is currently under attack, which could threaten the wellness of so many. 

Read here to learn how to join the fight and help us keep hemp cannabis accessible to all for a long time to come.

Most fermented kombucha with significant THC amounts (5mg or more per serving) is currently sold through dispensaries in states with legal cannabis markets.

Since these products exceed the strict threshold for hemp-derived THC when calculated by the fermentation substrate's dry weight.

CBD kombucha is more widely available in health food stores and online retailers because CBD derived from hemp faces fewer restrictions than THC.

Commercial THC kombucha brands like GT's Cannabliss operate in California's dispensary system, combining GT's established kombucha reputation with state-legal cannabis.

Homebrewing Considerations

Brewing regular kombucha at home is legal everywhere in the U.S., since it's just fermented tea.

Adding cannabis to your homebrew kombucha falls under your state's cannabis possession and use laws. If you can legally possess and use cannabis in your state, you can generally make weed kombucha for personal consumption.

In states without adult-use legalization, making weed kombucha at home would constitute illegal cannabis possession regardless of how it's prepared.

Even in legal states, you cannot sell homemade weed kombucha without proper licensing, as cannabis product manufacturing requires specific permits and testing protocols.

Equipment & Environment for Brewing

Weed kombucha requires the same equipment as regular kombucha brewing, plus a few considerations for cannabis infusion.

Use glass containers exclusively. Metal can react with kombucha's acidity, and plastic may harbor bacteria or leach chemicals into your brew.

A breathable cover like cheesecloth or a coffee filter allows airflow during primary fermentation while keeping contaminants out.

Maintain temperatures between 75-85°F for optimal fermentation. Too cold and the process stalls, too hot and you risk killing beneficial bacteria or promoting mold growth.

Keep your brewing vessel out of direct sunlight, which can affect flavor development and culture health.

For testing readiness, use a clean straw to sample without exposing the entire batch to air and potential contamination.

When adding cannabis during secondary fermentation, sanitize all bottles and caps to prevent introducing competing bacteria that could spoil the batch.

Cannabis leaves or flower material can slow fermentation kinetics and alter the final pH, so many brewers prefer working with clean tinctures that won't introduce additional variables.

Recipe Variations & Cannabis Addition Methods

Brewers approach cannabis infusion using several methods, each with tradeoffs in flavor, potency control, and ease of preparation.

Alcohol-based tinctures integrate smoothly during second fermentation and provide precise amount control since you know the THC content per milliliter.

Infused simple syrups made with sugar and cannabis extract add sweetness that balances kombucha's tartness while distributing cannabinoids evenly.

Water-soluble emulsions designed for beverage applications offer the cleanest integration but typically cost more than DIY tinctures.

Some brewers steep cannabis leaves directly in the hot tea before adding the SCOBY, but this approach is less predictable. The leaves affect fermentation timing and can introduce inconsistent potency.

Already-been-vaped (AVB) flower works for infusions since heat has already activated the THC, but it brings a roasted, sometimes harsh flavor that requires heavy masking with fruit or spices.

Tea base selection affects the final profile. Black tea provides robust, malty notes that stand up to cannabis flavors, while green tea offers a lighter, more delicate base that showcases terpenes.

Avoid tea blends containing oil-based flavorings during primary fermentation, as these can interfere with SCOBY health.

The Science Behind Cannabis-Kombucha Fermentation

Recent research into cannabis-infused kombucha reveals specific changes in the fermentation process when cannabis leaves are present from the start.

Studies show that cannabis addiction increases lactic acid bacteria counts while shifting yeast populations toward Dekkera species and bacterial populations toward Komagataeibacter.

The fermentation produces less ethanol and carbon dioxide compared to cannabis-free batches, resulting in a mellower drink with reduced acetic acid bite.

Volatile aromatic compounds like eugenol and benzaldehyde develop during cannabis-inclusive fermentation, contributing fruity, herbal, and clove-like notes that complement kombucha's natural tanginess.

Cannabis leaves slow the overall fermentation kinetics and result in a higher final pH compared to standard kombucha, creating a less acidic end product.

This microbial shift doesn't necessarily improve or worsen the kombucha. It creates a different flavor and texture profile that some brewers prefer for its softer acidity and complex aromatics.

For brewers adding cannabis extracts during secondary fermentation rather than using leaves in primary, these microbial effects don't occur, and the kombucha behaves more like standard second-fermentation bottles with added flavoring.

Flavor Profile & What to Expect

Weed kombucha combines the tart, slightly vinegary quality of fermented tea with cannabis's earthy, herbal notes and whatever fruits or spices you've added during second fermentation.

The effervescence comes from carbon dioxide produced during bottle conditioning, creating a fizzy mouthfeel similar to sparkling water or soda.

Cannabis flavor varies based on the infusion method. Tinctures tend to be less pronounced than flower or leaf additions, while terpene-rich extracts bring more of the strain's original character.

Fruit additions during second fermentation help mask any strong cannabis taste. Berries, citrus, ginger, and tropical fruits are popular choices.

The fermentation process mellows harsh notes and integrates flavors more cohesively than simply mixing cannabis extract into regular beverages.

If you don't enjoy kombucha's acquired taste. The sourness, slight funk, and vinegar-forward profile. Weed kombucha probably won't change your mind, since the base remains the same tart fermented tea.

For those who already love kombucha, the cannabis addition creates an interesting dimension without overwhelming the fermented character you're seeking.

Commercial Options & Pre-Made Alternatives

GT's Cannabliss represents the most prominent commercial weed kombucha, leveraging GT's decades of kombucha expertise and California's legal dispensary system.

The product includes adaptogenic mushrooms and prebiotics alongside THC and CBD, positioning it as a wellness beverage rather than purely recreational.

Smaller brands like Good Stuff Tonics and regional dispensary offerings provide fermented cannabis beverages in various flavor profiles, though availability remains limited to legal markets.

CBD kombucha from brands like Awaken is more widely accessible through health food stores and online retailers, offering the fermentation benefits without THC's psychoactive effects.

If you're looking for THC in beverage form without the fermentation complexity, Mood's drinks offer a different approach entirely.

Products like Cherry Lime Soda and Peach Mango Seltzer deliver precise THC amounts (5mg or 10mg per can) with fast-acting effects within 15-60 minutes.

These aren't fermented beverages and don't contain probiotics. They're convenient THC drinks with familiar soda or seltzer flavors that mask any cannabis taste completely.

For someone who wants the ritual of cracking open a cold beverage with predictable effects but doesn't care about fermentation benefits, Mood's variety packs eliminate the 10-14 day brewing wait and batch-to-batch variation.

The zero-calorie seltzers and low-sugar sodas provide options for those watching their intake while still enjoying a fast-acting cannabis experience.

Weed kombucha serves a specific audience. Brewers who value fermentation craft and want both probiotics and cannabinoids in the same beverage.

For everyone else, simpler options exist that deliver THC effects without requiring SCOBY maintenance, temperature monitoring, or two-week fermentation cycles.

Both approaches are valid. It depends on whether you're seeking the fermentation experience itself or want cannabis in liquid form.

Understanding the difference helps you choose products that match your actual goals rather than buying into marketing claims about what "kombucha" means when cannabis gets involved.

Check out Mood's full selection of federally compliant products to see what fits your preferences, whether that's beverages, edibles, or other formats.