· By Sven Johannes Blixt
Probiotic Drinks in India: From Chaas and Kanji to Kefir, Kombucha and Cans
Short answer: a probiotic drink contains live, beneficial microorganisms. In India that covers everything from homemade chaas and kanji to packaged fermented milk drinks, kefir, kombucha, probiotic sodas and caffeinated cans. The label tells you which ones still contain live cultures: look for a named strain, a CFU count, and whether the drink was pasteurised after fermentation.
"Probiotic" is showing up on more and more drinks in India. Here's a plain-English guide to the different kinds, what each one actually contains, and how to read the label.
What makes a drink "probiotic"?
A probiotic drink contains live microorganisms, usually bacteria and sometimes yeasts. Two things decide whether a drink really qualifies:
- They have to be in there. Either they come from fermentation (as in dahi, kefir or kombucha) or they're added (as in many packaged drinks).
- They have to still be there. Heat treatment after fermentation, like pasteurisation, makes a drink shelf-stable but kills the live cultures. A fermented drink isn't automatically a probiotic drink.
Strictly, "probiotic" means specific, named strains in a counted amount. Fermented drinks like chaas, kanji and raw kombucha contain live cultures, which isn't quite the same thing, so the label matters.
If you want the difference between probiotics and prebiotics first, read Prebiotics vs Probiotics.
The kinds of probiotic drinks you'll find in India
| Drink | Base | Live cultures? | Sugar | Fridge? | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaas and lassi | Dahi | Usually, when fresh and homemade. Packaged ones vary. | Chaas: no added sugar. Sweet lassi: often a lot added. | Best kept cold | None |
| Kanji | Fermented black carrot or beetroot | Usually, when homemade and unheated | Usually none | Yes, once ready | None |
| Fermented milk drinks (small bottles) | Milk with added strains | Yes, look for a named strain | Often added | Yes | None |
| Milk kefir and water kefir | Milk, or sugar water, fermented with kefir grains | Yes, if unpasteurised | Varies | Yes | None |
| Kombucha | Fermented sweet tea | Yes, if raw or unpasteurised | Some left after fermentation | Usually | A little, from the tea |
| Probiotic sodas | Fizzy drink with added strains | Check for a named strain and count | Varies | Depends on the strain | Usually none |
| Synbiotic caffeinated cans | Probiotic + prebiotic fibre + caffeine | Check for a named strain and count | Can be zero | Depends on the strain | Yes, check mg per can |
None of these is "the best". They're different drinks for different moments. The label is what tells them apart.
India's traditional probiotic drinks
Chaas and lassi
Both start with dahi, which is made with live cultures. Fresh, homemade chaas is about as everyday as a live-culture drink gets. Packaged versions vary, so check the label for "live cultures" or a named strain, and check the sugar on sweet lassi.
Kanji
Kanji is a fermented drink, traditionally made with black carrots (or beetroot), mustard seed and water, and left to ferment for a few days. Homemade kanji contains live microbes from that fermentation. It's tangy and salty, and a winter favourite across North India.
Fermented milk drinks
These are the small bottles in the dairy fridge. They usually name the strain on the label, often a Lactobacillus. They need to stay cold, and many contain added sugar, so the nutrition table is worth a look.
Kefir and water kefir
Milk kefir is milk fermented with kefir grains, which are a mix of bacteria and yeasts. Water kefir uses the same idea with sugar water or juice instead of milk, which makes it dairy-free. Both are tangy, lightly fizzy and best kept in the fridge.
Kombucha
Kombucha is sweetened tea fermented with a culture of bacteria and yeast. Raw or unpasteurised kombucha contains live cultures. Pasteurised kombucha doesn't. Because it's made from tea, it can contain a little caffeine, and some sugar is usually left after fermentation.
Probiotic sodas and synbiotic cans
The newest kind: canned or bottled drinks with probiotics added. Some also add a prebiotic fibre, which makes them synbiotic, and some add caffeine for the middle of a workday. Because these are made rather than fermented at home, the label should tell you exactly which strain is in there and how much.
How to read a probiotic drink label
- A named strain. "Probiotic" alone is vague. Look for the organism, such as Lactobacillus or Bacillus subtilis.
- A count. Probiotics are counted in CFU (colony-forming units). A number tells you more than no number.
- Live, raw or unpasteurised. For fermented drinks, this tells you whether the cultures are still there.
- Sugar per serving. Fermented and flavoured drinks can carry a lot, or none at all.
- Storage. "Keep refrigerated" matters for many live-culture drinks. Follow it.
- Caffeine, if any. Kombucha and caffeinated cans contain some. Check the mg.
For the same idea applied to the word "gut-friendly", see Gut-Friendly Energy Drinks in India.
Where NYOD fits
NYOD is a synbiotic, caffeinated can: the synbiotic, gut-friendly productivity drink. It's made for the 3 PM slump rather than as a dairy drink or a home ferment.
| What | Per 250 ml can |
|---|---|
| Probiotic: Bacillus subtilis | About 1.05–1.07 billion CFU, depending on flavour |
| Prebiotic: inulin | A plant fibre |
| Caffeine from green coffee beans and yerba mate | 70–73 mg, depending on flavour |
| L-theanine | 93–103 mg, depending on flavour |
| Sugar and calories | Zero and zero (sweetened with sucralose) |
Bacillus subtilis is a spore-forming probiotic, and NYOD is stored in a cool, dry place and best enjoyed chilled. Full panels for each flavour are on our FAQ page. It's a drink, not a supplement or a medicine. Good for your gut, great for your day.
FAQ
What is a probiotic drink?
A drink that contains live, beneficial microorganisms, either from fermentation or added during production.
Is chaas a probiotic drink?
Fresh chaas made from dahi contains live cultures. Packaged chaas varies, so check the label for live cultures or a named strain.
Is kombucha a probiotic drink?
Raw or unpasteurised kombucha contains live cultures. Pasteurised kombucha doesn't. The label should say which.
Do all probiotic drinks need to be refrigerated?
Many live-culture drinks do, especially dairy-based ones and raw kombucha. Some drinks use spore-forming strains and are stored in a cool, dry place. Always follow the storage line on the label.
Can a probiotic drink contain caffeine?
Yes. Kombucha contains a little from the tea, and some canned drinks, NYOD included, combine probiotics with caffeine. Check the mg per serving.
Can I have a probiotic drink every day?
Probiotic drinks are foods, so think of them as part of a balanced diet. For caffeinated ones, follow the daily limit on the label: NYOD's is not more than 500 ml (two cans). If you have a health condition, ask your doctor.
Want to try NYOD? We're sold out right now, with a restock coming. Join the restock list on WhatsApp.
NYOD: Not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women and persons sensitive to caffeine. Consume not more than 500 ml per day.
