What is Tepache? Benefits, Recipe, and More - GoodRx (2024)

Tepache is a fermented beverage that originated from Mexico. It’s one of many fermented drinks that have been around for centuries and part of traditional food practices and cultures around the world. Others include kefir (fermented dairy) and kombucha (fermented tea).

What is tepache?

Tepache is a fermented, sparkling beverage that is most commonly made from the peel and rind of pineapples. The drink, also known as "chicha,” is uncaffeinated and fermented by microorganisms naturally found in the environment and the fruit.

How is it made?

Tepache is made through the fermentation process. Fermentation is when bacteria and yeast break down food components (such as sugar) into other products (such as acids or alcohol). To make tepache, pineapple rinds are combined with raw sugar (like piloncillo), water, and cinnamon. The concoction is then set aside to ferment for a couple of days.

It can also be produced by fermentation of other fruits and vegetables, including apples, oranges, guava, and corn.

Making tepache at home, however, is risky, as fermenting drinks wrong could cause serious illness. There are some safety tips to reduce this risk, but it’s probably best to instead trust store-bought drinks that are pasteurized.

Tepache and your health

There is still very little research on the nutrition and health benefits of tepache alone. Most of the health claims surrounding tepache come from the fact that it contains probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms like bacteria and yeast that are made when a food or drink is fermented.

Probiotics are thought to have several health benefits that stem from improving your gut microbiome. Your gut microbiome is the trillions of microorganisms in your gut responsible for everything from digesting food to protecting you from disease to aiding your immune system.

An unbalanced gut microbiome may cause negative health outcomes. As you’ve probably gathered, gut health is important.

Probiotics, which are found in tepache and other fermented foods and drinks, are thought to improve gut health. There was one small study on tepache found in Mexico that aimed to discover which strains of probiotics were in the drink. Some of the strains found are linked to specific health properties.

For example, there's some evidence that L. plantarum can ease diarrhea caused by an E. coli infection. And Lactobacillus can help balance the gut, which helps with nutrient absorption. Lactobacillus may even help lower “bad” cholesterol levels. That being said, it’s unclear if the same strains or the same amounts would be found in all tepache.

Despite all its promise, researchers still have far to go in understanding just how much probiotics, especially in the levels found in fermented drinks, can help with gut health. There’s also no evidence yet that fermented drinks help with other health issues like cholesterol levels or diarrhea.

Is there alcohol in tepache?

Traditional tepache is low in alcohol content and has an alcohol by volume (ABV) on average of about .5% to 2%. The amount of alcohol in tepache varies depending on how long it is fermented and the temperate/climate where it ferments (warmer climates produce higher alcohol content).

Is tepache similar to kombucha?

Both of these drinks are made with a fermentation process — but tepache is made from fermented fruit (usually pineapple), while kombucha is made from fermented tea.

Both of these beverages have a similar type of tang and sour flavor with fizz. Kombucha is more readily available at grocery stores and specialty markets, while tepache is not as common but may be found in local Mexican grocery stores.

Are there any cons to drinking tepache?

Tepache, like many other fermented foods, has a very distinct flavor that may not be for everyone. It also contains sugars, so drinking it may put you over the American Heart Association’s recommended limits of 36 g for men and 25 g for women.

It is important to note that tepache is generally unpasteurized, meaning that it has not gone through heat treatment to destroy potentially harmful bacteria. Unpasteurized drinks have a higher chance of giving you foodborne illnesses, so approach with caution. Tepache is especially risky for and should be avoided by immunocompromised people, young children, and pregnant people.

If you’re unsure whether tepache you find at the store is pasteurized or not, check the label. If it’s not pasteurized, it should have a warning label telling you so.

Talk to your provider if you have specific health concerns or questions about tepache or other fermented drinks.