The 17 Best Probiotic Drinks We're Sipping On In 2023
You probably know that kombucha is good for gut health and digestion, but when it comes to the why, the answer is pretty simple: probiotics. These bacteria help maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which supports gastrointestinal health and function.* Plus, a healthy gut can then enhance everything from skin health to mood and more.
But kombucha is only one of the many types of probiotic drinks you can enjoy. There are a number of beverages that, through some type of fermentation or another method, contain probiotics. We took a look at the options available and rounded up our favorites. Read on to find your new favorite gut supporting tonic.
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The best kombuchas.
Kombucha is the original legend of probiotic drinks, in many ways. Made by combining tea (and sometimes other flavors) with certain strains of bacteria or yeast, then fermenting it, some producers also add bonus probiotic strains after fermentation. It's fizzy, slightly sweet, and definitely a bit funky—but once you get hooked, there's no going back. It's also not super difficult to make yourself—you'll want to consult experts and make sure you know what you're doing before getting started.
SYNERGY Trilogy
This brand is one you very well might find everywhere from the aisles of Whole Foods to your local corner shop—it's that popular. Their trilogy flavor has raspberry, lemon, and ginger combined into a fresh, tart, refreshing kombucha.
Buy it here.
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Rowdy Mermaid Rowdy Belly
I first tried Rowdy Mermaid kombucha because I was seduced by the sleek packaging in my local coffee shop, but I've since become totally obsessed. This flavor, in particular, is special because it features fenugreek, fennel, ginger, and turmeric—all Ayurvedic spices that can aid digestion.
Buy it here.
Pilot Grapefruit Mint
mbg's Brooklyn, New York, neighbor Pilot Kombucha is a female-run business with a former chef at the helm, who started brewing kombucha to aid her digestion after decadent meals. The fresh flavors of grapefruit and mint in this option are refreshing and delicious.
Buy it here.
The best yogurt drinks.
You probably know that yogurt can be a great source of probiotics, so it's no surprise that yogurt drinks would have probiotics, too. If you've gotten this far in this article and are thinking...hang on, I think I'd rather eat my probiotics: here's our list of our favorite plant-based yogurts to try.
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Siggi's Plant-Based Probiotic Drinkable Yogurt
If plant-based is your priority, you may have rejoiced when Icelandic yogurt brand Siggi's hit shelves with plant-based options (I know I did). This specifically branded probiotic coconut drink has pea protein, too.
Buy it here.
Chobani Probiotic Drink Raspberry Acai
If plant-based isn't as much your priority, this Chobani drinkable yogurt is perfect. The slightly more grown-up flavor of raspberry açai stops it from feeling too much like a lunchbox item, and it specifically touts "multi-benefit probiotics" for immune, digestive, and gut health support.
Buy it here.
The best kefirs.
True kefir is made similarly to yogurt, and the final product is also comparable though it's more liquidy and meant for sipping. These days, you'll find many products labeled kefir, though, that aren't milky—like aqua kefirs or water-based kefirs—which are a good option for a dairy-free take.
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Lifeway Kefir Grassfed Organic Plain
This organic kefir is also labeled grass-fed, meaning the cows the dairy comes from are raised with strict standards for quality of life. It's made with whole-fat milk and has no added sugar.
Buy it here.
Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Lemon Cayenne
This sparkling beverage is made with water kefir culture, giving it a light and refreshing consistency. With lemon and cayenne, the flavor is punchy and sweet at the same time.
Buy it here.
Green Valley Lactose-Free Kefir
If it's just lactose that's the concern, rather than dairy in general, this organic kefir is the perfect option. The plain flavor has no added sugars and is even a great choice for baking projects.
Buy it here.
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The best probiotic shots.
If you're looking for something a bit quicker to get your daily dose of probiotics (and for some reason a probiotic supplement doesn't fit the bill), turn to these probiotic shots. In just a few fluid ounces, get a dose of probiotics and some other ingredients with benefits, too.
Sunny Culture Turmeric Ginger Probiotic Shot
In addition to the probiotics, this shot has inflammation-fighting benefits thanks to turmeric, ginger, and black pepper (which is necessary for our body to absorb the benefits of turmeric).
Buy it here.
SoGood SoYou Digestion Shot
For a fruitier take on the probiotic shot, this targeted shot for digestion pairs cantaloupe juice with ginger juice, clementine juice, and apple cider vinegar along with the obligatory probiotics.
Buy it here.
Pressed Probiotic Shot
If you've tried Pressed juices before, you may not be surprised to find the people slinging some of our favorite green juices have a killer probiotic shot, too. This one has apple, red cabbage, lemon, ginger, and of course: probiotic cultures.
Buy it here.
The best probiotic sodas & juices.
If you're wondering how probiotic sodas and juices are different from, well, everything else on this list, the key is in how it's made. Where kombucha and kefir involve fermentation, sometimes makers just add probiotic strains to sodas and juices—and we get to reap the benefits.
Culture Pop Grapefruit Soda
Another one I tried for the first time in a local coffee shop, the punchy grapefruit (plus a little ginger) flavor of this soda would be a delight even if I wasn't already excited about the fact that it contains probiotics.
Buy it here.
Suja Wild Probiotic
This option is borderline juice, but because of the slightly sparkling zing, it may also be considered a soda. However you choose to classify it, the lemon, cayenne, and maqui berry (similar to blackberry) flavoring is not one to be skipped.
Buy it here.
Humm Probiotic Seltzer Raspberry Lime
If you, like much of our editorial team, are obsessed with sparkling water: Good news! The team at Humm, who also make kombucha, have launched a probiotic seltzer and even added some vitamin B12, C, and D for good measure.
Buy it here.
The best prebiotic drinks.
While this list focuses on probiotic drinks, the world of prebiotic sodas has blown up lately—so we'd be remiss to ignore it. Prebiotics are, essentially, a type of fiber that nourish the probiotics that our gut needs to stay healthy.
Health Ade Pop Strawberry Vanilla
Health-Ade's new pop comes in a few flavors, but this strawberry vanilla is a favorite of ours. The drinks have prebiotics, antioxidants, and acids like acetic, lactic, gluconic, and glucaronic acid, which support natural detoxification.
Buy it here.
Olipop Ginger Lemon Sparkling Tonic
Ginger and lemon are already digestion support sweethearts, but this sparkling tonic from Olipop has plenty of other ingredients to be excited about: nopal cactus, calendula flower, marshmallow root, and slippery elm bark—to name a few.
Buy it here.
Poppi Strawberry Lemon
This prebiotic soda tastes like a summery strawberry lemonade and has only seven ingredients including apple cider vinegar and strawberry and lemon juice.
Buy it here.
The takeaway.
If you're looking to add more probiotics to your daily routine, consider a probiotic drink. They're easy (and delicious) to sip on during the day and can be a seamless addition to your routine.
And if you're looking for a more targeted venture, consider taking a high-quality probiotic supplement with strain transparency and potency in mind. mindbodygreen's probiotic+ contains four probiotic strains, specifically designed to ease bloating, aid digestion, support a healthy weight, and elevate your gut microbiome.* And for more product recommendations, check out one of our probiotic roundups.
Eliza Sullivan is an SEO Editor at mindbodygreen, where she writes about food, recipes, and nutrition—among other things. She received a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in english literature with honors from Boston University, and she has previously written for Boston Magazine, TheTaste.ie, and SUITCASE magazine.