kombucha
/kɒmˈbuː.tʃə/
Japanese Origin
Food & Drink
Original Word
昆布茶
Kanji (konbucha)
Entered English
1990s
First recorded usage in English
The Story Behind "kombucha"
From Japanese 'konbucha' (昆布茶), literally 'kelp tea'. The English meaning shifted to refer to a fermented tea drink that actually originated in China (called 'hóngchájùn'). Despite the name confusion, it became a global health trend.
Example Usage
"Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that's rich in probiotics."