What is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented beverage made from black tea, sugar, and a SCOBY. A SCOBY is a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. Don’t get freaked out by the bacteria and yeast though! Our guts need extra special bacteria and yeast in order to function properly and maintain a healthy body and lucky for us kombucha is a wonderful way to get some of those probiotics. Once the tea and sugar ferment with the SCOBY, the beverage becomes carbonated and contains those probiotics plus B vitamins, enzymes, and acetic, gluconic, and lactic acid. Kombucha is a perfect option to enjoy if you are trying to nix soda because it still contains the bubbly carbonation you may crave. BONUS – it only contains 4 g of sugar per cup which is about ¼ of the sugar in your favorite soda.
Did you know?
Kombucha has been around for about 2000 years and is known as the “Immortal Health Elixir” by the Chinese. So, let’s talk about some powerful benefits to this Immortal Health Elixir!
What does it taste like?
Plain kombucha tastes slightly sweet, slightly tangy, and slightly acidic. However, there are several brands at your local grocery store that flavor kombucha with different fruits and juices to counteract the acidic taste. Just be mindful of the sugar content on the label! A lot of kombucha companies will add in unnecessary sugars. Look for brands with 4 grams per cup.
10 Reasons to Drink Kombucha
- Improves Digestion
- Immunity Boost
- Natural Detoxification and Liver Support
- Mood and Energy Enhancement
- Helps Managing Diabetes
- Arthritis Prevention
- Cancer Prevention
- Beneficial for Weight Loss
- Cholesterol Reduction
- Antibacterial Agent
Where can you buy kombucha?
Several grocery stores have begun to carry kombucha. I have seen kombucha on the shelves of Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Kroger, Meijer, Wal Mart, Aldi, and Publix.
Best Kombucha Brands:
- GT’s Kombucha
- Health Ade
- Humm Kombucha
- Kevita
- Humm
- Brew Dr.
Make Your Own! Kombucha Recipe:
- Supplies – large metal jar or bowl with a wide opening, 1 large cloth or dish towel, 1 SCOBY disk (found at health stores)
- Ingredients – 8 C water, ½ C cane sugar, 4 tea bags, 1 C pre-made kombucha
- Directions – Boil water in a large pot. Once boiling, remove from heat and add in tea bags and sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Allow tea to steep for 15 minutes. Discard tea bags and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add mixture to large jar. Drop in SCOBY and pre-made kombucha. Cover with cloth or thin towel. Keep secure with a rubber band. Allow mixture to ferment for 7-10 days.
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