I took a poll on Instagram to see who knew about Kombucha and if they did know what it was, if they drank it. So the results showed that 63% of people knew what Kombucha was while 37% didn’t know what it was. Of the 63% who did know what Kombucha was only 11% of people drink it!! I couldn’t believe it!! In 2018 I discovered Kombucha and was really obsessed with it. Now I’ll have one bottle a week if that.
I love to start with understanding the basics of any topic.
So what is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea that consists of sugar, yeast, and probiotic bacteria. Probiotic bacterias are mostly found in dairy products which is why Greek yogurt is promoted as being very good for you. Probiotics are very good for your gut health by turning undigested carbohydrates into smaller molecules our bodies use for energy and nutrients. To make Kombucha, you use SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) that helps to turn the sweet tea into the fermented tea. Kombucha is known as a functional beverage which means it is a non-alcoholic drink containing vitamins, amino acids, and other health benefits.
There are three basic chemical processes that occur when making Kombucha. First the yeast, made of sucrose, gets broken down into glucose and fructose. Then the glucose and fructose undergo fermentation which produces the alcohol. The equation for understanding fermentation is C6H12O6 (glucose) → 2 C2H5OH (ethanol) + 2 CO2 (carbon dioxide). And lastly, the alcohol is converted into acetic acid by the bacteria.
In the process of fermentation, the pH and temperature of the solution control the rate of the entire process. Having a low pH is important because it prevents the growth of any type of bacteria that can promote spoiling in the tea. The pH is kept so low by the bacteria metabolize the sugars in the tea into lactic acid. The lactic acid and the acetic acid produced from the fermentation process keep the pH low which means acidic.
Through the fermentation process, alcohol is produced. However, the bacteria used for fermentation usually can only withstand up to 5% alcohol content. Most commercially made products have 1-2% alcohol.
The health benefits that are associated with Kombucha are crazy! The most obvious that i mentioned above is the probiotics!! Kombucha is packed with them!! They promote positive gut health!! A happy tummy is a happy life. Another awesome thing Kombucha is filled with are antioxidants! Antioxidants help fight free radicals that can damage our cells.There are studies that show that drinking Kombucha can help with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. But there are still research studies going on to find definite answer to these types of diseases and the benefits of drinking Kombucha.
I have become obsessed with the brand Kevita. I started with their probiotic drinks which are not considered Kombucha. I love the lemon ginger! It tastes like a sparkling lemonade! But i know by drinking probiotics it’s helping my stomach so its doing double duty by tasting great and helping my body! Their raspberry lemon and tart cherry master brew Kombuchas are DELICIOUS!! When Michael wanted to try one he was very nervous but I had him cut it with water (half Kombucha and half water) and he really enjoyed it! I think they taste so so good! I definitely recommend those for people who are just starting out with Kombucha.
Trader Joe’s also has their own Kombuchas that they sell in stores. They have seasonal flavors that change depending on what is available each season. I tried their fall flavor which had lots of cinnamon and ginger. I also tried their winter flavor which had apples and cranberries and it was absolutely scrumptious.
I say always try something once before writing it off!! But I really really love a good Kombucha!! I hope this was helpful in learning about something new!!
Have a great week!!
Xoxo,
Z
