Store-bought, unopened: 1 to 2 months past the best-by date, as long as it stays cold. Opened bottle? You’ve got about 7 to 10 days to finish it before it starts to taste more like vinegar than a treat.
Home-brewed: 2 to 4 weeks is the sweet spot. After that, it’s a roll of the dice. Always check for mold and give it a sniff test—your nose knows.
And if you ever forget your bottle in the car on a hot day? Do not drink it. The heat reactivates fermentation super fast, and you might end up with a geyser in your kitchen or (worse) some unwelcome bacteria. It’s just not worth the risk.
Life is short. Don’t stress over your fizzy tea drink. Trust your senses, enjoy the probiotics, and remember: a little sour is fine, but a little fuzzy is a hard pass. Cheers to you and your fridge full of happy, bubbly experiments.
