Competition

About

This global competition aims to create greater consumer awareness about different kombucha flavor profiles while promoting international brewing excellence and providing valuable information to the brewers about how their product will be perceived when placed on a shelf amongst other kombuchas.

“When industry professionals, consultants and experienced consumers work together to define the excellence in products from around the market, we grant the kombucha drinkers that those brands are the finest available” says Jordi Canet, World Kombucha Awards director.

A unique combination of highly qualified tasting experts and experienced kombucha drinkers, have been selected as judges to guarantee assessing the winning kombucha, and also providing all entrants with concise, accurate written feedback describing positive product attributes as well as defects noted during the competition that will help to improve the quality of their kombucha.

About

This global competition aims to create greater consumer awareness about different kombucha flavor profiles while promoting international brewing excellence and providing valuable information to the brewers about how their product will be perceived when placed on a shelf amongst other kombuchas.

“When industry professionals, consultants and experienced consumers work together to define the excellence in products from around the market, we grant the kombucha drinkers that those brands are the finest available” says Jordi Canet, World Kombucha Awards director.

A unique combination of highly qualified tasting experts and experienced kombucha drinkers, have been selected as judges to guarantee assessing the winning kombucha, and also providing all entrants with concise, accurate written feedback describing positive product attributes as well as defects noted during the competition that will help to improve the quality of their kombucha.

Awards
Philoshophy

The World Kombucha Awards (WKA) recognizes brewing excellence in the different categories but does not automatically award the top three entries in a particular category. When judges determine that a category contains three excellent examples of the category, they present gold, silver, and bronze awards for the first, second, and third place kombuchas, respectively.

The results are public, so consumers can learn which kombucha meet a high level of quality and which kombucha exemplify a certain category as interpreted by the panel of judges.

Who decides?

Judges

The WKA organizers are committed to the professionalization of the sector and the WKA taste categories shall be assessed and judged by a combination of highly qualified tasting experts, brewmasters, sommeliers and experienced kombucha drinkers. These individuals have been selected based on: (1) formal kombucha sensory training; (2) ongoing kombucha sensory experience; (3) knowledge of different types of kombucha and the brewing process. This mixed panel of judges guarantees that winning kombuchas not only have an exceptional level of quality, but also appeal to end consumers.

WKA design judging is conducted by a panel of leading design agencies and recognized trade marketing experts. Judges are looking to award for a product or range that shows originality, relevance to its market and origin, connection between the bottle or can shape and its liquid content and creativity in the shape, design and material of the bottle or can label.

Judging procedure

The submitted kombucha are judged through anonymous tasting. The judges appointed to the evaluation in the final shall decide the winners. If it is considered that the kombuchas in a specific category do not reach high quality standards, the jury reserves the right to declare the medals as non-awarded.

There shall be individual awards by category and five overall prizes for the participating brewers. The best three kombuchas in each category shall be awarded with gold, silver and bronze medal awards.

Judges may grant an award in any one or more of the three available award positions and are not obliged to grant awards in all three positions. For example, judges may recognize a kombucha as a silver or bronze award winner yet not grant a gold award. Judge tasting notes from the competition shall be mailed after the Awards Ceremony. This valuable information is provided as feedback to all entrants.

Apply as a kombucha judge

Those interested in being considered as WKA judge panel candidates should email their request to the Competition Director (info@worldkombuchaawards.com) together with their CV or résumé with an emphasis on formal kombucha sensory training and ongoing sensory experience.

Competition mode

The following chart, illustrates the competition
mode of KWA with an example of a category with 32 entries

Awards

The medal design

Kombucha is a valuable beverage made by fermenting a combination of dried tea leaves and sugar with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts, commonly called SCOBY.

The World Kombucha Awards medal design pays tribute to the main players involved in kombucha brewing, the SCOBY as main actor and the tea leaves.

The TASTE and DESIGN contest foresees a series of individual awards for kombuchas by category, and five special prizes for the participating brewers. Only the best three kombuchas in each category, or subcategory depending on the number of entries, shall be awarded with the following awards:

Gold

A world class kombucha that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.

Silver

An excellent kombucha that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma, and appearance.

Bronze

A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor defects in taste, aroma, or appearance.

Awards

The medal design

Kombucha is a valuable beverage made by fermenting a combination of dried tea leaves and sugar with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts, commonly called SCOBY.

The World Kombucha Awards medal design pays tribute to the main players involved in kombucha brewing, the SCOBY as main actor and the tea leaves.

The TASTE and DESIGN contest foresees a series of individual awards for kombuchas by category, and five special prizes for the participating brewers. Only the best three kombuchas in each category, or subcategory depending on the number of entries, shall be awarded with the following awards:

Gold

A world class kombucha that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.

Silver

An excellent kombucha that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma, and appearance.

Bronze

A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor defects in taste, aroma, or appearance.

Special Awards

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha Brewer

This prize shall be awarded the set of kombuchas presented by the same company, which have scored the most points among all the kombuchas, at the rate of 2 points for a bronze medal, 3 for a silver medal and 5 for a gold medal.

Award for World’s
Best Kombucha Rookie Brewery

This award recognizes the top newcomer in the kombucha industry, open to breweries that began commercial production after January 1, 2023. The winner is determined by the total points earned across all submitted kombuchas, with scoring as follows: 2 points per bronze medal, 3 points per silver, and 5 points per gold.

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha.

This prize will be awarded to a Kombucha from any category, which has won a Gold medal and which has obtained the highest score.

Award for the World’s
Best Organic Kombucha

This prize shall be awarded to the type of organic kombucha from any category that has obtained the highest score from the jury in comparison with all the rest.

Award for the BA Glass
Best Innovation

This prize is in recognition of the innovation involved in the creative process of kombucha making. The prize aims to motivate innovation within the sector. Each participating brewery shall choose one of the kombucha they have entered and explain its innovative approach in a text alongside the entry. In the first stage, the Steering Committee shall choose five finalists to be presented to the judges who have specific kombucha innovation knowledge and shall choose the prize winner.

Once the winners of each award have been announced, the WKA artwork shall be supplied to the winners who will have the authorization to use the WKA artwork on bottles, cans, packaging, boxes, advertisements, etc.

Special Awards

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha Brewer

This prize shall be awarded the set of kombuchas presented by the same company, which have scored the most points among all the kombuchas, at the rate of 2 points for a bronze medal, 3 for a silver medal and 5 for a gold medal.

Award for World’s
Best Kombucha Rookie Brewery

This award recognizes the top newcomer in the kombucha industry, open to breweries that began commercial production after January 1, 2023. The winner is determined by the total points earned across all submitted kombuchas, with scoring as follows: 2 points per bronze medal, 3 points per silver, and 5 points per gold.

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha.

This prize will be awarded to a Kombucha from any category, which has won a Gold medal and which has obtained the highest score.

Award for the World’s
Best Organic Kombucha

This prize shall be awarded to the type of organic kombucha from any category that has obtained the highest score from the jury in comparison with all the rest.

Award for the BA Glass
Best Innovation

This prize is in recognition of the innovation involved in the creative process of kombucha making. The prize aims to motivate innovation within the sector. Each participating brewery shall choose one of the kombucha they have entered and explain its innovative approach in a text alongside the entry. In the first stage, the Steering Committee shall choose five finalists to be presented to the judges who have specific kombucha innovation knowledge and shall choose the prize winner.

Once the winners of each award have been announced, the WKA artwork shall be supplied to the winners who will have the authorization to use the WKA artwork on bottles, cans, packaging, boxes, advertisements, etc.

Best Ginger Beer & Water Kefir

World Kombucha
Awards Ceremony

During the event, the winners of each category shall be announced, and medals shall be awarded to the top kombuchas. The 2025 World Kombucha Awards ceremony shall be held on 25st October 2025.

The ceremony is open to all brewers.

ENTER NOW

The
Categories

Introduction to the different Categories

The goals of defining taste categories are aimed at better addressing kombucha styles, keeping pace with emerging market trends and unifying the sensory characteristics.

Categories have been defined to describe general characteristics and serve as an aid for judging; they are not meant to be rigorously-applied specifications that are used to punish slightly unusual examples. We have outlined the qualities that our judges will be evaluating in each category to ascertain the winners of the World Kombucha Awards.

Competition Category & Subcategory

Each category has a well-defined description or a predominant ingredient.
Subcategory identifies the major characteristic, ingredient or taste of one type of kombucha in the same category.
Those categories that receive more than 20 kombuchas entries in the competition shall be divided into subcategories recognized in the same list and which the participants have already indicated in the registration.
Initially, the competition opens with 21 categories, plus some open categories at the discretion of the organization based on its knowledge of the sector and kombucha reality.

The
Categories

Introduction to the different Categories

The goals of defining taste categories are aimed at better addressing kombucha styles, keeping pace with emerging market trends and unifying the sensory characteristics.

Categories have been defined to describe general characteristics and serve as an aid for judging; they are not meant to be rigorously-applied specifications that are used to punish slightly unusual examples. We have outlined the qualities that our judges will be evaluating in each category to ascertain the winners of the World Kombucha Awards.

Competition Category & Subcategory

Each category has a well-defined description or a predominant ingredient.
Subcategory identifies the major characteristic, ingredient or taste of one type of kombucha in the same category.
Those categories that receive more than 20 kombuchas entries in the competition shall be divided into subcategories recognized in the same list and which the participants have already indicated in the registration.
Initially, the competition opens with 20 categories, plus some open categories at the discretion of the organization based on its knowledge of the sector and kombucha reality.

New Category

Functional

All flavours

New Category

Functional

All flavours

Best Designs

Design is a vital element for the success of any kombucha brand, and the WKA Design Awards recognize the very best can and bottle designs within the Kombucha sector. The WKA Design Awards acknowledge those that are unique, attractive, and functional. Judges may award extra points to kombucha can and bottle labels that demonstrate innovative design, or which include a label or bottle treatment to create a visual or tactile experience.

About

About

AwardsPhiloshophy

Who decides?

Judges

Judging procedure

Apply as a kombucha judge

Those interested in being considered as WKA judge panel candidates should email their request to the Competition Director (info@worldkombuchaawards.com) together with their CV or résumé with an emphasis on formal kombucha sensory training and ongoing sensory experience.

Competition mode

The following chart, illustrates the competition mode of KWA with an example of a category with 32 entries

Awards

The medal design

Gold

A world class kombucha that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.

Silver

An excellent kombucha that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma, and appearance.

Bronze

A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor defects in taste, aroma, or appearance.

Awards

The medal design

Gold

A world class kombucha that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.

Silver

An excellent kombucha that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma, and appearance.

Bronze

A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor defects in taste, aroma, or appearance.

Special Awards

Award for the World’s Best Kombucha Brewer

This prize shall be awarded the set of kombuchas presented by the same company, which have scored the most points among all the kombuchas, at the rate of 2 points for a bronze medal, 3 for a silver medal and 5 for a gold medal.

Award for World’s Best Kombucha Rookie Brewery

Award for the World’s Best Kombucha.

This prize will be awarded to a Kombucha from any category, which has won a Gold medal and which has obtained the highest score.

Award for the World’s Best Organic Kombucha

This prize shall be awarded to the type of organic kombucha from any category that has obtained the highest score from the jury in comparison with all the rest.

Award for the BA Glass Best Innovation

Once the winners of each award have been announced, the WKA artwork shall be supplied to the winners who will have the authorization to use the WKA artwork on bottles, cans, packaging, boxes, advertisements, etc.

Special Awards

Award for the World’s Best Kombucha Brewer

This prize shall be awarded the set of kombuchas presented by the same company, which have scored the most points among all the kombuchas, at the rate of 2 points for a bronze medal, 3 for a silver medal and 5 for a gold medal.

Award for World’s Best Kombucha Rookie Brewery

Award for the World’s Best Kombucha.

This prize will be awarded to a Kombucha from any category, which has won a Gold medal and which has obtained the highest score.

Award for the World’s Best Organic Kombucha

This prize shall be awarded to the type of organic kombucha from any category that has obtained the highest score from the jury in comparison with all the rest.

Award for the BA Glass Best Innovation

Once the winners of each award have been announced, the WKA artwork shall be supplied to the winners who will have the authorization to use the WKA artwork on bottles, cans, packaging, boxes, advertisements, etc.

Best Ginger Beer & Water Kefir

World Kombucha Awards Ceremony

During the event, the winners of each category shall be announced, and medals shall be awarded to the top kombuchas. The 2025 World Kombucha Awards ceremony shall be held on 25st October 2025. The ceremony is open to all brewers.

The Categories

Introduction to the different Categories

Competition Category & Subcategory

The Categories

Introduction to the different Categories

Competition Category & Subcategory

New Category

Functional

Categories

WaterKefir

GingerBeer

Original(unflavored)

SingleFruit

FruitMix

Fruit(s)with Spices

Fruit(s) with flowers

Fruit(s)with Herbs

Ginger

Spices

Hops

Coffee

Florals

Herbs

Vegetables

SignatureKombucha

HardKombucha

Jun

New Category

Functional

Categories

Awards
Philoshophy

The following chart, illustrates the competition
mode of KWA with an example of a category with 32 entries

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha Brewer

Award for World’s
Best Kombucha Rookie Brewery

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha.

Award for the World’s
Best Organic Kombucha

Award for the BA Glass
Best Innovation

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha Brewer

Award for World’s
Best Kombucha Rookie Brewery

Award for the World’s
Best Kombucha.

Award for the World’s
Best Organic Kombucha

Award for the BA Glass
Best Innovation

World Kombucha
Awards Ceremony

During the event, the winners of each category shall be announced, and medals shall be awarded to the top kombuchas. The 2025 World Kombucha Awards ceremony shall be held on 25st October 2025.

The ceremony is open to all brewers.

The
Categories

The
Categories

Water
Kefir

Ginger
Beer

Original
(unflavored)

Single
Fruit

Fruit
Mix

Fruit(s)
with Spices

Fruit(s)
with flowers

Fruit(s)
with Herbs

Signature
Kombucha

Hard
Kombucha

Water
Kefir

Ginger
Beer

Original
(unflavored)

Single
Fruit

Fruit
Mix

Fruit(s)
with Spices

Fruit(s)
with flowers

Fruit(s)
with Herbs

Signature
Kombucha

Hard
Kombucha