The Kombucha Series
This week I am starting a new series “Everything You Need To Know About Kombucha!”
This course will have 4 lessons.
- What is kombucha and why it is so good for you? {Part 1}
- Learn how to brew kombucha with an easy step by step tutorial. {Part 2}
- What to do with kombucha after it is done brewing & how to bottle kombucha. {Part 3}
- How to make kombucha soda and a collection of 50 kombucha recipes. {Part 4}
So let’s dive into today’s lesson, what is kombucha and why it is so good for you!
What is Kombucha
Kombucha has been consumed for thousands of years and is a fermented probiotic drink that originated from China but oftentimes is credited to be originated from Russia.
It is made from tea, sugar, a scoby and a starter from a previous batch (you will need a starter kit to start brewing kombucha).
The sugar and caffeine are used all up in the fermentation process so don’t worry, it has very little (if any) caffeine or sugar in the final product.
A SCOBY is an acronym for symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. In short, it’s beneficial bacteria and yeasts that work synergistically together to produce a certain type of ferment.
Kombucha is brewed (or fermented) over a course of 7-31 days. The final product is naturally carbonated making this a fizzy and tasty drink.
Kombucha has been known to have some amazing health benefits, let’s dive into this topic!
Why Is Kombucha So Healthy For You
Kombucha around the world is considered a healing drink and it has some amazing health benefits.
It should be noted the kombucha can not heal, it just brings your body into balance to allow your body to heal naturally!
Here is a list of healing properties from drinking kombucha.
- Probiotics – healthy bacteria
- Alkalize the body – balances internal pH
- Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
- Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
- Improve digestion – keep your system moving
- Rebuild connective tissue – helps with arthritis, gout, asthma, rheumatism
- Cancer prevention
- Alleviate constipation
- Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue
- Reduce blood pressure
- Relieve headaches & migraines
- Reduce kidney stones
- High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
- High in polyphenols
- Improve eyesight
- Heal eczema – can be applied topically to soften the skin
- Prevent artheriosclerosis
- Speed healing of ulcers – kills h.pylori on contact
- Help clear up candida & yeast infections
- Aid healthy cell regeneration
- Reduce gray hair
- Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating
A list provided by Kombucha Kamp.
Pretty amazing isn’t it? And it tastes amazing too!
Getting Started
If this seems like something you would like to try, you might want to look at my next post, Learn How To Brew Kombucha With An Easy Step By Step Tutorial.
If you want to jump start and get your kombucha starter kit early, you can purchase a starter kit here.
I just had my first taste tonight and I bought my baby SCOBY!
I’m so excited to brew my own. Thanks so much for the information. Who knew it was so healthy? I’m checking out the rest of your series now.
Thanks so much!
I am drinking an Organic Raw Kombucha Gingerade right now. It is soooooo good. I have high blood pressure, cholesterol, hypothyroidism and I’m a diabetic. I have a very very low metabolism. I use all of my energy just to get out of bed and dressed for work. When I come home my 6 year old says Mommies tired again, she doesn’t want to do anything with me. I feel so bad at that remark. I’m hoping and praying this works for me. I am going to keep paying $3.00 a day for a 16 oz bottle until I see a definite change then I will buy a starter kit. It isn’t showing me on this page how to win one, it’s only showing testimonials or people having trouble registering to win.
You might be vitamin D deficient… Low iron too possibly. Start taking a magnesium supplement also or look into magnesium deficiency. There is also topical magnesium which is said to be absorbed better by the body than taking orally. I hope you start feeling better 🙁
Can’t wait to get started! woohoo!!!
Would love to try to make! Here’s hoping.
I would be lost if I couldn’t have my Kombucha fix every day. If you like any type of vinegar, especially apple cider, you’ll just love this liquid drink. In fact, if I hadn’t been told it would taste like vinegar and was blindfolded and given a taste, that is exactly what I would have guessed it to be. Has to be the most delicious vinegar I’ve ever had and I love vinegar. I don’t drink it as a drink, though I could. I love tomatoes, so I have one every day, cut up, with 2 Tbls.of extra virgin olive oil, few shakes of Tumeric and black pepper (don’t forget the pepper) crushed garlic clove and a spoon of honey. Mix all together with a quarter to a half cup of Kombucha. I could add other seasonings but these are my favorite. Best “dressing” in the world! I’m sure it would be a hit on any kind of salad. I use it in my potato salad as well as a regular garden salad. Hmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it and haven’t had my fix today so I’m heading to the kitchen to make my favorite combination right now. And yes, I made it from scratch, from a baby Scoby months ago but it is now pretty full grown and will soon have to start another. The time it takes is worth the wait…
Can’t find the form. Help!
What form are you talking about?
I drink kombucha everyday. I have made it but it never gets fizzy. So I’d like to try it again and some of the flavors that you mentioned in your email.
Are you doing a second ferment on it?
Love making Kombucha….so tasty. Also, made a ginger bug and added to the finished kombucha.
it look like shit and probably tastes like shit too ..
What a pleasant attitude Donna!
Wow, Donna
Is this safe to drink everyday sounds like it helps everything!
Can anyone help me? I accidentally made a batch of tea using Earl Grey. I thought it was plain black tea before I had put it into my brew jar, then I realized!!! It looks AND SMELLS OKAY AFTER 3 DAYS and is growing another Scoby…. but then I read that I shouldn’t have used Earl Grey because of the oil content. Will it damage the Scoby?? And is it drinkable at all?
Suzanne, it sounds like everything is thriving. I would proceed on and on your next batch return to regular black tea.
Thank you Halle. I did that and used organic black tea and my Kombucha is delicious!!
Another question…. I want to give my son a SCOBY!
He lives 9 hours away by car.
I am doing a trip next week..what is the best way to carry it??
I’ve currently got it in a zip-lock plastic bag with a cup of starter tea..There are a few small air bubbles and I have kept it unrefrigerated! I’m a bit worried this is not the right way to do it??
Help!
Cheers
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
The way you have it now will carry just fine. Just make sure to let your son know to only use 1/2 cup of the starter, not 1 cup. Happy sharing! 🙂