La Perle Noire

La Perle Noire is an alcohol-free sparkling aperitif built on organic kombucha and chicory. The chicory is the axis of the drink: KOMBUSTACHE presents it as an emblematic ingredient of the North of France, the region where the brand's aperitifs are made. Rather than stripping alcohol from a wine or spirit, the cuvée derives its structure from tea fermented by kombucha cultures and from the roasted bitterness of chicory juice, a combination the producer characterises as a rare and sophisticated gastronomic profile.^[1]

The declared ingredients are water, organic kombucha cultures, organic sencha green tea, organic black tea, organic sugar, organic chicory juice, and CO2.^[1]

Organic Nordic Chicory Juice — Roasted Bitterness. Chicory is the key ingredient of La Perle Noire, and the juice used is organic Nordic chicory. KOMBUSTACHE describes chicory as an emblematic ingredient of the North of France. It carries the cuvée's roasted, slightly bitter notes.^[1],[2],[3]

Organic Kombucha Cultures — Fermentative Base. Organic kombucha cultures ferment the tea base that underpins the aperitif; kombucha and chicory are the two components on which the drink is built.^[1]

Organic Sencha Green Tea and Organic Black Tea — Tea Base. Two teas are declared: organic sencha green tea and organic black tea.^[1]

The aperitif is based on organic kombucha, fermented from organic sencha green tea and organic black tea with organic sugar and organic kombucha cultures. KOMBUSTACHE states that its SCOBY is cultured in sweetened black tea, away from light and impurities, floating on the surface of the liquid during fermentation to give the kombucha its fizz.^[1]

CO2 is part of the declared ingredient list, and the finished cuvée is sparkling.^[1]

Appearance. The colour is described as Armagnac.^[1]

Nose. The aromatic profile carries smoky tones, with a nose of caramel and coffee.^[1]

Palate. The heart shows prunes, figs, dried apricots and walnuts, over a base of malted barley. Roasted, slightly bitter chicory notes run through the palate.^[3]

Specifications. Classification and alcohol content as declared by KOMBUSTACHE:^[1]

• Category: alcohol-free sparkling aperitif based on organic kombucha and chicory
• Alcohol: 0%

Production. KOMBUSTACHE aperitifs are made in Hauts-de-France, and the producer states its products are made 100% in France.

Ingredients Policy. La Perle Noire is certified by ECOCERT, and every agricultural ingredient in the declared list is organic.^[1]

At the 2024 World Alcohol-Free Awards in London, La Perle Noire took a Gold medal and the Best Organic Drink trophy; KOMBUSTACHE also reports a Silver medal for the cuvée that year. The drink was a finalist for the Trophée des Terroirs in Paris in 2025 and a finalist for the TAVOLA d'Or in Courtrai in 2026.^[1],[2]

Accounts of the 2023 edition differ: the World Alcohol-Free Awards record a Commended recognition for La Perle Noire, while KOMBUSTACHE states the cuvée won a Gold medal in London that year.^[1],[4]