Preparation, Quality Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Kombucha Beverage at Different Fermentation Temperatures

Sea buckthorn is a unique resource with high nutritional value. The objective of this study was to develop a novel kombucha beverage from sea buckthorn juice by means of inoculation with kombucha (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, SCOBY). The study investigated and compared the differences in physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory evaluation during fermentation at different temperatures with those of traditional cultured green tea kombucha. The findings demonstrated that there were significant variations in physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory evaluation among the sea buckthorn kombuchas produced at different temperatures. Among these, the sea buckthorn kombucha produced by fermentation at 28 °C exhibited the strongest antioxidant properties and the most favorable sensory evaluation. Furthermore, changes in the active substances were observed at different temperatures, and correlation analysis revealed that the antioxidant activity of Kombucha tea was correlated with the content of total phenols and total flavonoids. Consequently, the utilization of sea buckthorn juice in the production of kombucha beverages holds considerable promise.