My first sip of kombucha was honestly more delicious than I expected. It tastes like peach tea mixed with extremely tart green apples. Kombucha has a refreshing sourness, slight sweetness and just enough fizz to tickle your nose. What exactly is this drink popping up around coffee shops and store shelves?
Kombucha: A Tangy and Tasty Tea
Kombucha is a tangy, fermented tea. According to tradition, this exotic drink originated somewhere in Japan or China. People in Asia have been drinking it on a daily basis for thousands of years.
Kombucha is made using black or green tea leaves, but it’s not prepared like any tea you’ve ever seen. After boiling the leaves with lots of sugar for several hours, a special combination of yeast and good bacteria called a SCOBY is added.
This makes the tea ferment, similar to what happens to grapes as they turn into wine. This process changes the flavor of the tea and adds certain beneficial health properties.
The Benefits of Kombucha Tea
So far, what we know for sure is that kombucha is packed with probiotics — healthy bacteria for your gut. That means that drinking kombucha tea may offer similar benefits to eating yogurt. Probiotics help to improve your digestive health, restoring your intestinal flora and taking great care of your immune system.
Also, kombucha has tons of antioxidants since it comes from green tea leaves. These natural compounds protect all of your cells and especially your heart. Antioxidants in kombucha can reduce bad cholesterol levels and help you balance your blood sugar. Some studies suggest that kombucha can reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 30%, in addition to helping your liver and kidneys. Here are a few other possible benefits:
You know how doctors and scientists can be when it comes to the health benefits of anything natural. They won’t say that something is beneficial unless they do TONS of studies to prove it 100%. In the case of kombucha, not all health professionals are convinced, though there are countless testimonials from people who drink the tea regularly.
Should You Make Kombucha Tea at Home?
If a friend of mine offered me some homemade kombucha, I probably wouldn’t accept it (unless it’s someone who has been brewing it for ages as a family tradition). Experts don’t recommend making your own kombucha because of the potential for contamination. If any bad bacteria get mixed in with the good, it can lead to stomach infections or worse.
Store-bought brands are perfectly safe, however. Of course, you may want to start slow if you have a sensitive stomach. Keep in mind that kombucha tea can have some alcohol from the fermentation process.
The Bottom Line
I’m a fan of kombucha. I think it shows a lot of promise and it tastes refreshing. You can even choose kombucha tea made with extra natural ingredients, including ginger, basil, coconut, strawberries, almonds and cherries. Of course, I check the label and choose varieties that are low in sugar.
My advice? Try kombucha for yourself. You know your body, and you can see if you feel healthier after a few months drinking this energizing, antioxidant-rich tea with a probiotic kick.
Hmmm interesting. I have researched this before and wondered how it would be and was going to try but with my help issues, I questioned it. After reading this I think I will give it a try. I appreciate the nudge.
I enjoyed reading the article on Kambucha. I began drinking it because of all the alleged probiotic benefits, taste, etc. you indicated. after agreeing to take a short stint of anti-biotics for an infection. I became addicted. I loved the spike in energy, I felt great, and was spending a lot of money keeping a great supply of Kevita and other named brands on hand. But soon something wasn’t right in my gut. Then my delightfully brilliant natural-path whom I see every two weeks for acupuncture discovered “you have a yeast infection. Yes, you, a 60+ year old male can get yeast from Kambucha.” I was devastated and offered her to pass on the un-opened cases of valuable Kambucha I’d stockpiled. She said “no, it can give others yeast so I dumped it all. Lesson learned. No more Kambucha, and yes, I still drink tea.
I am drinking Kombucha since I remember myself! I just loved it without knowing all the benefits! But when I found out how good it actually is,I love it even more!
I am 72 , Male , and have had my fair share of circulatory surgeries .
Now I am searching to improve my life-style , and cope with aging.
Type 2 Diabetic , Hyper-tension . Both conditions seem to be under control with meds.
Armature cook , trying to cope with portion control of the online recipes.
Do you have any info helpful to my situation , towards diet health.
I was introduced to kombucha from my older sister and niece, I’ve been drinking it ever since. I prefer the one made with sparkling water.
I love it! I buy it at grocery store either cranberry or hibiscus and ginger
My brother drinks the organic flavored kombucha teas. He also eats yogurt. I can’t handle either. I take a good probiotic!
I find it is much better to make your own , use the ORP water, organic tea, organic sugar and lot of saving !!!