The 100 names of kombucha

Kombucha has received nearly 100 different names throughout its 2,000-year history. Each culture, language, and region has named it in its own way: tea fungus, champignon de longue vie, Manchurian mushroom, Wunderpilz, tea kvass, kombutxa… In this guide, we compile the names by region, explain their origin, and clarify the most frequent questions about what kombucha is called in different languages.

Origin and 2,000 years of history

Kombucha originated in East Asia approximately 2,000 years ago. The first documented references place it in China, from where it spread to Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and much later, to Europe and North America.

Throughout this cultural journey, each language has given it its own name. The complete list is not exactly 100: the broadest compilations count between 80 and 120 designations, depending on whether orthographic variants, literal translations, and scientific names are included. Here, we group them by region to make it easier to understand.

Names of kombucha in Asia

In its continent of origin, kombucha has been called by many names depending on the dialect. The most well-known:

The term kombucha is of Japanese origin (konbu-cha, literally "kelp tea"). Interestingly, in Japan, this term was originally used for an seaweed infusion, not for the current fermented drink. The association with fermented tea became established when the drink arrived in the West via Russia.

Names in Russia and Eastern Europe

In Tsarist and Soviet Russia, kombucha was a very popular homemade drink. Russian names emphasise the fermentative component and the SCOBY:

Note: traditional Russian "kvass" is a distinct fermented drink, made with fermented rye bread. The name tea kvass is used for kombucha by analogy with the fermentative process, not because it is the same drink.

Names in German (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

Germany was one of the most important European centres for kombucha during the 20th century. The number of German names reflects its popularity as a home remedy:

Key meanings:

• Teepilz = "tea fungus" (the most common German name)
• Wunderpilz = "miracle fungus"
• Zaubertrank = "magic potion"
• Heldenpilz = "heroic fungus"
• Wundermilch = "miracle milk"
• Indischer Teepilz = "Indian tea fungus" (misnomer: kombucha is not of Indian origin)

Names in Southern Europe

In Catalan, the common name is kombutxa and it is masculine (el kombutxa, un kombutxa). In Spain, it is also common to hear it referred to as "tea fungus" or "immortality fungus", although technically the fungus is only the SCOBY that ferments it.

Names in English, French, and other Western languages

Champignon de longue vie ("fungus of long life") is the most well-known French name, associated with the properties traditionally attributed to the drink. Theebier in Dutch means "tea beer".

The 10 most curious names for kombucha

If we had to highlight the names with the most history behind them:

• Fungus of immortality (Spain): associated with the purifying properties attributed to it in the Chinese court.
• Champignon de longue vie (France): "fungus of long life".
• Manchurian elixir (Anglophone world): due to its association with Manchuria, where it became popular in the 19th century.
• Wunderpilz (Germany): "miracle fungus", very popular in the 20th century.
• Zaubertrank (Germany): "magic potion".
• Tea kvass (Russia): by analogy with rye bread kvass.
• Hai-Pao (Southern China, "sea treasure"): due to initial confusion with sea algae.
• K'un-pu-ch'a (ancient Chinese): supposedly named in honour of a sage called Kun.
• Ling-zhi (Chinese "spiritual fungus"): colloquially, due to the association with longevity and the symbolism of the Ganoderma fungus.
• Kombutxa (Catalan): the only Western language that has Catalanised the name with its own spelling (tx instead of ch).

Why so many different names?

There are three main reasons:

• Geographical journey. Kombucha has been consumed in at least 30 countries throughout its history. Each culture has given it its own name.
• Confusion about its nature. The SCOBY is not a fungus in the botanical sense, but its gelatinous appearance has led almost all cultures to call it "fungus": Teepilz, hongo del té, tea mushroom, fungus japonicus…
• Attributed properties. Many names reflect the effects associated with the drink in each culture: champignon de longue vie, Wunderpilz, Manchurian elixir, Zaubertrank, heroic mushroom…

The SCOBY exchange: an almost forgotten tradition

For centuries, kombucha was kept alive thanks to the exchange of SCOBYs between families and neighbours. The "mother" passed from hand to hand and each household made its own version. In Spain, this custom fell into oblivion during the 20th century, recovering strongly from the 2010s with the entry of commercial brands and interest in fermented foods.

Today you can make kombucha at home by getting a SCOBY from a local producer or buying it online, or opt for a commercial kombucha made with health controls.

Orthographic variants and common errors

The name kombucha is difficult to spell correctly. In Google searches, it is common to find orthographic variants and typographical errors. These are the most common ways users spell (correctly and incorrectly) the word kombucha:

Valid variants in Spanish and other languages

• kombucha
• kombutxa
• kombutcha
• combucha
• comboucha
• kombuga
• cambucha
• kambucha
• kambutxa
• kambutcha
• konbucha
• konbutxa
• kombuxa
• kombuche
• kombucia
• compucha

Most searched spelling errors on Google

These are the most common incorrect spellings that appear in searches. If you arrived here searching with any of these variants, we confirm that the correct name is kombucha:

• kobucha
• kombuca
• kompucha
• kombutchas
• combutxa
• combutcha
• kanbucha
• kombusha
• kombiucha
• conbucha
• compuxa
• kompuxa
• kombucca
• kombuchá
• kombuchä
• kombucia
• kombusha
• kombucia
• kambuche
• kambuxa
• cambutxa
• cambutcha
• jombucha
• kumbucha

How kombucha is written in different languages

• Spanish: kombucha
• Catalan: kombutxa (masculine: el kombutxa)
• English: kombucha
• French: kombucha (le kombucha)
• Italian: kombucha (il kombucha)
• German: Kombucha (with a capital K, like all nouns)
• Portuguese: kombucha
• Dutch: kombucha
• Polish: kombucza
• Russian (translit.): чайный гриб (chainyj grib) or комбуча (kombucha)
• Japanese: 紅茶キノコ (kōcha kinoko) or コンブチャ (konbucha)
• Chinese: 红茶菌 (hóngchá jūn) or 康普茶 (kāngpǔ chá)

How kombucha is searched for on Google

The most common queries related to the name and search for kombucha include variants such as: "what is kombutxa", "what is the SCOBY called", "kombucha fungus", "kombucha tea", "kombucha drink", "kombucha pronunciation", "how to say kombucha" or "difference between kombucha and kefir". In all cases, we are talking about the same drink: traditional fermented kombucha.

How is kombucha pronounced?

The correct pronunciation of kombucha according to the International Phonetic Alphabet is /kɒmˈbuːtʃə/, which in Castilian Spanish approximates to com-BÚ-cha. The accent falls on the second syllable.

In Catalan, kombutxa is pronounced /kombutʃə/, sounding com-BÚ-tcha. The Catalan "tx" sound is equivalent to the Castilian Spanish "ch".

In English, it is pronounced the same as in Spanish, maintaining the final /tʃ/ sound.

Frequently asked questions about kombucha names