Summer in South Africa calls for something cool, crisp and proudly local. While wine may steal the spotlight, a new wave of beverage makers is bubbling up with flavourful alternatives such as kombucha breweries, craft soda producers and heritage soft-drink brands reviving nostalgia with a modern twist.
Image of kombucha used for illustrative purposes/Katherine Sousa/Unsplash
Across the country, these innovators are experimenting with indigenous botanicals, local fruit and time-honoured brewing techniques to create drinks that taste like South Africa, one refreshing sip at a time.
Why go beyond wine?
There is a growing appetite for low- or no-alcohol options that still deliver flavour and personality. Kombucha offers a fermented, probiotic-rich alternative with a tangy edge, while artisanal soft drinks celebrate natural ingredients and real fruit without the syrupy sweetness of mass-market sodas.
These drinks pair perfectly with family road trips, beach picnics or lazy afternoons on the veranda. They are also ideal for travellers looking for something refreshing that everyone can enjoy.
Cape cool: Kombucha culture in the Western Cape
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Brew Kombucha, Cape Town
Based in Cape Town, Brew Kombucha has become a favourite for those seeking a healthy, sustainable drink. Using organic green and rooibos teas, the team ferments its kombucha slowly with local spring water to create crisp, balanced flavours like buchu and honeybush or African rose. Brew is also certified organic and packaged sustainably, making it a feel-good choice for conscious travellers.
Find it at select cafés in Cape Town or stock up for your next coastal drive along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Happy Culture, Stellenbosch
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Just outside Stellenbosch, Happy Culture brews small-batch kombucha using mineral-rich water, organic teas and natural botanicals. Their refreshing combinations, such as pineapple and lime, rooibos chai, or cucumber and mint, are light, zesty and perfect for summer.
Visitors to the Cape Winelands can stop by their local stockists or sample Happy Culture’s range at markets and cafés across the region. It is an ideal pitstop for travellers exploring the farm-to-table scene in Stellenbosch.
Crafting bubbles in the city
Craft Soda Co., Cape Town
Cape Town’s Craft Soda Company has turned soft drinks into an art form. Their handmade sodas are preservative-free and lightly carbonated, highlighting real fruit and herbs. Expect unique flavours like cucumber citrus, pink lemonade or a crisp heritage tonic that gives classic G&Ts a run for their money.
For city explorers, these sodas are easily accessible at delis and health cafés in the Mother City. They are a refreshing companion to a walk through the V&A Waterfront or a picnic at Green Point Park.
Pura Soda, National
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For a wider reach, Pura Soda has established itself as a South African-born brand now stocked nationwide. With less sugar and more natural flavour, Pura’s sodas, such as Seville orange or cucumber and lime, appeal to travellers seeking a quick, guilt-free refreshment on the go. You will find them in petrol stations, airports and supermarkets from Cape Town to Durban.
Joburg’s modern makers
Gauteng: Urban sips
Travellers in Gauteng can explore a variety of craft beverages. Theonista, a Cape Town-based brand, offers small-batch kombucha and natural sodas made with organic teas and indigenous botanicals. Locally brewed NuMe Kombucha features flavours like buchu, hibiscus and elderflower, while Shama Kombucha, crafted near the Loskop Valley, delights with pineapple, ginger and cayenne pepper blends. These options are available at select cafés and health-food stores across the province.
Heritage fizz: Old brands with new life
South Africa’s soft-drink story goes back more than a century, and a few legacy brands are keeping those roots alive.
Bashew’s, Cape Town
Founded in 1899, Bashew’s remains one of the country’s oldest surviving soft-drink names. Its iconic glass bottles and classic flavours such as cream soda, ginger beer and raspberry are a nostalgic reminder of school holidays and corner cafés. Travellers can find Bashew’s at supermarkets across the Western Cape, making it an easy heritage taste to pack for a picnic or road trip.
Flavour notes and pairing tips
Each of these drinks offers a sensory snapshot of South Africa:
- Kombucha: lightly fizzy and tart, it pairs beautifully with summer salads, seafood or spicy dishes.
- Craft sodas: citrus-based flavours cut through rich braai meats or pair with fresh fruit platters.
- Heritage soft drinks: best served ice-cold alongside traditional snacks like samoosas or vetkoek.
For road trippers, a cooler box filled with a mix of kombucha, craft soda and a bottle of Bashew’s or Frankie’s is the perfect summer companion.
Where to sip and stock up
- Western Cape: Find Brew Kombucha and Craft Soda Co. at Neighbourgoods Market, Oranjezicht City Farm Market and select delis.
- KwaZulu-Natal: While fewer dedicated craft soda makers are based in KZN, national brands deliver to the province. Theonista offers natural craft sodas like ginger beer and cream soda with nationwide delivery from Cape Town. Craft Soda Company ships its handcrafted sodas and syrups across South Africa, and Sodaze’s cannabis-infused sodas can be ordered online through retailers such as Café420.
- Gauteng: Look for Brew Kombucha at local markets or cafés.
- Nationwide: Pura Soda is stocked in major retailers, making it easy to find no matter where your travels take you.
Beyond refreshment, these drink makers tell a story of sustainability, wellness and cultural pride. Many source directly from small local farms, reduce plastic use and celebrate South African botanicals. Whether brewed with buchu, rooibos or mint from local growers, each sip carries a sense of place and purpose.
Next time you plan a road trip or a lazy summer afternoon, swap that bottle of wine for something fresh, local and lightly fizzy. South Africa’s craft beverage scene is proving that great taste does not need a cork, only curiosity and a thirst for the homegrown.
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