What is Kombucha?
Simply put, kombucha is a fermented tea. It is an ancient Chinese drink that has been around for over 2,000 years dating back to 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty, originally known as, “The Tea of Immortality”.
What is in Kombucha?
Kombucha is made from a high quality brewed tea, sugar, and “SCOBY” (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast). The fermentation process naturally gives this drink a bit of carbonation and it does naturally have very small amounts of alcohol in it.
As the Kombucha culture digests the sugar it produces a range of organic acids like glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, malic acid and usnic acid; vitamins, particularly B vitamins and vitamin C; as well as amino acids, enzymes. And of course there are all the benefits of the probiotic microorganisms themselves. The Kombucha culture is a biochemical powerhouse in your kitchen. – Seeds of Health
The Taste
Kombucha has a vinegary sour taste, which for many of us in the US is very unpalatable at first we taste it, since we are generally sugar/sweet addicts in this country. You will get used to this taste! I hated kombucha the first time I tried it, but now I look forward to drinking it every single day. Different brands and different flavors will also very in intensity, meaning some are very sour and others are very mild. Juice can also be added to kombucha after the initial fermentation process to add flavor.
Why Drink it?
After understanding what kombucha is and how it tastes, you might be wondering why would you want to drink it? Well, kombucha is packed with a ton of health benefits, which include:
Gut Health – Kombucha acts as a symbiotic, meaning it contains a combination of prebiotics and probiotics. This equals a very happy gut!
Block the Growth of “Bad” Bacteria – Because of the low pH, this drink can actually help block harmful bacteria like those that cause E. Coli, food poisoning, salmonella, etc.
Antioxidants – These are the secret sauce to living, longer, and healthier and this drink is loaded with antioxidants.
Substitute for Cocktails – Kombucha is one of my favorite substitutes for alcoholic drinks It is bubbly and makes you feel like you are having a drink, but without all the sugar and alcohol that comes with normal cocktails.
Where to Buy it?
Kombucha has become extremely popular and can be found just about anywhere! Try out different brands and different flavors, it may take a few tries before you find one that you really love.
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