Chemical composition and biological activity of novel types of kombucha beverages with yarrow

•Kombucha successfully fermented sweetened yarrow infusions.•Kombucha effectively metabolized sugared yarrow SWE.•Chemical and sensory analysis indicated superiority of SWE over infusions.•Cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities were higher for products on infusions.•Kombucha SWE beverages had better antioxidant potential. Kombucha beverages were produced by fermentation of new types of substrates – yarrow infusions and yarrow subcritical water extracts (SWE). Fermentation process parameters (pH, total acidity and yield of biomass), chemical composition (organic acids, total phenols and flavonoids and vitamin C content) and sensory analysis indicated that SWE were more suitable substrates for successful fermentation. Products obtained on infusions had more pronounced anticancer and antimicrobial properties whereas beverages produced on SWE had higher antioxidant potential.