Kombucha, cold brew, fresh juice, lemonade, and more — Tennessee's cottage food rules cover a wide range of homemade beverages.
The Tennessee Food Freedom Act permits home sellers to produce and sell a broad range of non-alcoholic beverages under the cottage food exemption. The statute explicitly includes juices, carbonated drinks, and fermented beverages in the list of allowed products — as long as they remain non-alcoholic.
Whether a beverage is classified as shelf-stable or perishable (TCS) determines your available sales channels. Shelf-stable beverages can be sold online, shipped within Tennessee, and placed in retail stores. Perishable beverages that require refrigeration are limited to in-person sales only — the same rule that applies to all TCS products. See the Prepared Meals & TCS Foods page for a full breakdown of those restrictions.
Kombucha is allowed under the TFFA as a fermented, non-alcoholic beverage. The critical requirement is that the alcohol content must remain below the threshold that would classify it as an alcoholic beverage. Under federal TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) rules, beverages containing 0.5% ABV or more are classified as alcoholic and require federal licensing. To sell kombucha as a cottage food product, your batch must consistently stay below 0.5% ABV. Fermentation naturally produces trace alcohol, so managing fermentation time, temperature, and sugar levels is essential. Shelf-stable kombucha can be sold through all channels; refrigerated kombucha is TCS and limited to in-person sales.
Cold brew coffee concentrate and ready-to-drink cold brew are permitted. If your cold brew is shelf-stable (concentrated, with low water activity and no dairy), it can be sold through all channels including online and retail stores. Cold brew with added dairy, cream, or perishable flavorings becomes a TCS product and must be sold in person only. Cold brew without dairy, stored at room temperature in sealed containers, is generally considered non-TCS and shelf-stable.
Juices are explicitly listed as an allowed product under the TFFA. However, fresh-squeezed juice that requires refrigeration is a TCS product and may only be sold in person. Shelf-stable juices — those that have been heat-processed (pasteurized) or preserved with sufficient acid — can be sold through all channels. Note that the FDA's Juice HACCP regulation (21 CFR Part 120) requires a 5-log pathogen reduction for commercially sold juice, though cottage food producers selling directly to consumers within Tennessee may fall outside this federal requirement. Including a warning statement about unpasteurized juice is a recommended best practice.
Lemonade, flavored lemonades, agua fresca, horchata, and similar specialty drinks are allowed. As with all beverages, the key question is shelf stability. If your lemonade requires refrigeration (most fresh lemonades do), it's TCS and in-person only. Shelf-stable versions — for example, bottled lemonade concentrate with sufficient acid and sugar — could qualify for broader sales channels. Carbonated specialty drinks are also permitted.
Dry tea leaves and herbal blends are shelf-stable dry goods — fully open with no restrictions on sales channels. Ready-to-drink bottled teas follow the same TCS vs. shelf-stable logic: if refrigeration is needed, in-person sales only; if shelf-stable, all channels are available. Tea concentrates and syrups designed to be mixed by the customer are generally shelf-stable.
Homemade sodas, sparkling waters with natural flavoring, and other carbonated beverages are allowed under the TFFA. These are generally shelf-stable when properly sealed, making them eligible for all sales channels including online and retail. Natural sodas using fruit syrups, herbs, and carbonation have become a growing category at Tennessee farmers markets.
Vinegar-based shrubs and drinking vinegar concentrates are high-acid, shelf-stable products that fit squarely within the TFFA's allowed categories. They can be sold through all channels. These artisanal products have seen strong growth in Tennessee's craft beverage market.
Homemade oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and similar plant-based beverages are not explicitly prohibited. However, these products are perishable (TCS) — they require refrigeration and must be sold in person only. Shelf life is typically short, making them best suited for farmers market or pre-order/pickup models.
The Tennessee Food Freedom Act explicitly prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages under the cottage food exemption. This includes beer, wine, spirits, hard cider, hard seltzer, mead, and any beverage with an alcohol content at or above 0.5% ABV.
If you're interested in producing alcoholic beverages in Tennessee, you'll need separate state licensing — a brewery license, winery license, or distillery license issued by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). These are entirely separate regulatory pathways from the cottage food rules and involve their own facility, inspection, and tax requirements.
This alcohol prohibition also extends to baked goods and confections containing alcohol — rum cakes, bourbon truffles, and wine-infused sauces are all off-limits under the TFFA.
The TFFA doesn't prescribe specific bottle types or packaging methods, but your beverages must meet all standard labeling requirements — and proper packaging is critical for both safety and customer confidence. Here are best practices for home beverage producers:
All bottles, jars, and caps should be food-grade and designed for the type of beverage you're producing. Glass bottles with airtight seals are the standard for shelf-stable beverages.
If bottling carbonated drinks or kombucha, use pressure-rated bottles designed for carbonation. Standard glass jars can shatter under carbonation pressure. Flip-top (Grolsch-style) or crown-capped bottles are good options.
While not legally required for cottage food, shrink-wrap bands or tamper-evident caps build customer trust — especially for beverages sold at retail stores or shipped within Tennessee.
Your Tennessee-compliant label must be applied to the bottle or attached container. All required elements — name, address, ingredients, net volume, disclaimer — must be legible and visible. See the Label Requirements page.
Tennessee requires net weight/quantity in both Imperial and metric units. For beverages, list fluid ounces and milliliters (e.g., "12 fl oz / 355 mL").
If selling refrigerated beverages at markets, use insulated coolers with ice packs. Keep products at 41°F or below from production through point of sale.
Online beverage sales: If you sell shelf-stable beverages online, your labeling information must appear where the products are listed — on your product page, listing, or menu. Customers should see your name, address, ingredients, and the required disclaimer before purchasing.
Enter your beverage type and ingredients to check compliance with Tennessee's cottage food rules.
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