Leaders Of Venice Temple Upset About Recent Raid Over Kombucha Tea

VENICE (CBSLA.com) — Leaders of a new-age spiritual community say they're outraged by a recent raid over the fermented tea Kombucha at their Venice temple.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided a charity event last Friday at the Full Circle spiritual center on Rose Avenue.

The agents confiscated two kegs of the tea, which the center's members say they consider sacred. ABC claimed the center did not have a license to sell alcohol on the premises.

Kombucha products are lightly fermented with an alcohol content that is typically less than one percent by volume, which is less potent than light beer.

The commission sent CBS2 the following statement:

"ABC is always concerned about complaints about alcohol being sold without a license. Kombucha is an alcoholic beverage in California, and an ABC license is required to sell it."

The temple received a misdemeanor citation. A court date has been set for July.