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.
Trying to enter but there is no form on the page. This is exactly what I’m looking for.
@irishis98 Oh no, what browser are you using? I see it on my end.
The lastest Firefox browser looks like I’m not the only one having issues. the box is there to enter but there is no form @hallecottis
@irishis98 ok, let me look into it. Thanks so much!
Hi Halle,
I wanted to send an email but could not find a contact area. First, I love your book on natural cleaning! I ordered it,but did not get a confirmation so if you could check to see if it went though that would be great. Second I also have a blog called LSlivewell and I want to do a story on you. If you could write me back that would be helpful.Thanks!Lisa
Hi Lisa! What outlet did you buy my book at (Target, Amazon, My Website, B&N…)? My contact button is right above my logo on my website (It says contact). 🙂
Hi Halle! Great giveaway! But the form isn’t working. :(.
@Adrienne Whole New Mom It should work now 🙂 Thanks Adrienne!
I was able to log in and then was able to see the form, but it would not work and kept showing 0 entries earned. I tried it twice.
@Carol G Ok, I think I fixed it…could you try again?
love kombucha and thanks for doing this series to give your readers more information.
Alright, sorry about that! I think it is all fixed now! Let me know if you should have any other issues! Thanks everyone for informing me of this issue 🙂
I like kombucha but I’m a little nervous about making it at home.
@CynthiaWinter It’s the easiest thing you will ever make. I was a little hesitant at first. But now it can’t brew fast enough.
Can anyone help me? I accidentally made a batch of tea using Earl Grey. I thought it was another tea and I had put it into my jar before I reaLISED!! 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?
That’s the tea I prefer to use. I haven’t had any issues at all. I get good batches and healthy SCOBYs every time.
Well, I just tried to enter again and this time it worked. I was totally addicted to the Kombucha sold at the stores and I would buy it buy the case. Great give away! Thanks!
I love it but last time I tried it it didn’t love me….but my family wants me to start making it again – thanks!
I have never had Kombucha but I am excited to try….I see it all over the health blogs. I already make my own fermented veggies and do kvass to help keep me healthy and happy. This is a great giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity :O) :O) :O)
Always wanted a scoby
Done except for the tweet thing I didn’t understand that one, I’ll rely on the luck of the Irish and hope for the best 🙂
I have just started making kombucha and I can’t get enough of it. I love it. My batch finally got a baby scoby. Yoo hoo.
I have read so much about kombucha before, but still have not just gone ahead and got started making it.
Yum Kombucha! But so Expensive to buy on my own. I would love to win the set for me and my 2 boys 🙂
I’ve heard of it, but never knew what it was! I just love tea… does it taste like tea?
Not really. It kind of has a unique flavor that resembles ginger ale with a little ACV, but it is excellent!
Would love to try this! Thanks for entries!
Sherry
I drink tea almost every day as it is — I’ve got to try this.
I just ordered it from the site. Can’t wait to be started, I’ve been wanting to for a while!
I have to say, it doesn’t sound or look appetizing to me, but I did taste a little (store-bought) that a friend was drinking, and it wasn’t bad! I’m guessing homemade would be better? The healthiest people I know are all kombucha drinkers!
I love kombucha and would like to start making my own.
Dana Sara will have it shipped out in no time. You will be brewing right along with my post coming out.
Yayyyyyy! I’m SO excited. Your post MADE me do it.
Just started my very first batch of kombucha last Friday. Not sure it will turn out as the scoby given to me has been sitting in my fridge for a couple months (submerged in kombucha). I would love to have the kit and try again. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love Kombucha and i am excited to start making my own!
I would love to try to make my own!
I have always wanted to try to make my own kombucha. I hope I win the starter.
Thank You for this.
This is going to be amazing.Can’t wait for Thursday’s lesson.I have been wanting to make my own,but had forgotten where I had first heard about the scobies.Thank You.
I love ginger ale, so I’m gonna try it!
Love, love, love homemade Kombucha!!!
we drink kombucha in the office everyday-so yummy but it is getting expensive-DIY would be great!
I REALLY want to make my own
I would love to win. Have been trying to get a starter for a while, but it hasn’t been in the budget. Thank you for the giveaway.
Would love to win and get started making kombucha for my family!
I have heard of kombucha and would be interested in trying to make my own. Maybe I can win? 🙂
Im willing to try this too!!
Entering
I love the taste of kombucha and love the idea of having something so healthy to drink. Thanks for a chance to win!
Thank you for this post I have been looking for more info on Kombucha!
Had a Kombucha for the first time 🙂 Very refreshing
I’m looking forward to making my own kombucha!
I love trying new things and Kombucha sounds, like a great drink with amazing benefits.
Bring on the kombucha!
I love kombucha!
Love this stuff!
I got my kit today! Can’t wait to open tomorrow and get it started! 🙂
My sister has been making it – I’d love to get started.
I have been looking into making Kombucha lately. this is helpful. Thanks!
I’m brewing my third batch! Love it!
I got a scoby from a freecycler once. It was fun. I would like to do it again. I know that it is supposed to be really good for you.
Am just starting to do kombucha. This was be awesome! Great article!
Just discovered this site via Pinterest, and I love it!
@RitaChiricuzio Welcome Rita and Thanks 🙂
I tried a different Kombucha brand and this time, no moldy taste! It was quite good.
Good to hear! Sounds like you got a bad batch before 🙁
My one mistake this time was buying one for energy and drinking it at night! At least it was a Friday night!
We use a seed warming mat to help our Kombucha. Its on top of our fridge so its about 73-75 still not super warm but we keep our house about 68. Before that we had our camping cooler and put our kombucha jars in there with one jar that was filled with hot water and closed the cooler lid, refilling the jar with hot water twice a day and leaving the lid open a few hours a day.
I have a seed warming mat, great idea!!
Thanks for great info. My friend is giving a talk at our homeschool group on Thursday about kombucha.
This family LOVES kombucha!!!
ladleaimer http://t.co/OUFm24N1Kf1Kf
This is one thing I’m gearing up to try. Just haven’t made it there yet. Kind of a little intimidated, freaked out by it though, lol!
I’ve been wanting to try this, Just no money for start up.
You just answered all my questions about Kombucha…at some point I will try this.
Wow! This sounds really amazing. I would love to win one and try it. 🙂
I’ve heard about Kombucha but never really knew what it is. I’m very interested in making my own. I already do with kefir and would love to try this!
Do I keep using the same scoby over and over?
@irishis98 yes you use the same one and your new batch will create a new one with every brew.
I would love to win the starter kit!! Thanks for the chance!!
I was trying to grow a SCOBY from scratch, but I don’t think it’s working. 🙂 I’d LOVE to win a starter kit from you!
Can’t wait to attempt this again myself! My kids and I LOVE kombucha and it is ridiculously expensive! Even my two year old can say it, “I want bucha mamma!”
So what does it taste like? Do you add natural sweeteners to sweeten it?
Im liking the organic kit idea. One of my favorite brands of kombucha (Live Soda) is all organic and is only 60 calories. They keep the calories low using stevia I believe. I want to try my first batch. Hoping for something similar where its lower in calories but great tasting. I also love the fizz. I think thats the natural fermentation.
Halle,
Thanks for the great info on Kombucha. I’m a HUGE advocate for Kombucha and the health/wellness benefits it provides. On to part 2!
I have problems with anything fermented, that includes breads and any beers, wines etc… In my case it is a sensitivity to some of the by-products from the fermenting process, I even tried Kefir, with the same results. Absolutely delicious, but my system does not tolerate it well, so you are not alone.
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! 🙂
Is there a best time in the day to drink it?
I tried Kobucha for a while but the jury is still out with me. Not sure if it is healthy. It is better to take a probiotic capsule.