2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Kombucha is a sweet tea with fermented yeast and bacteria. It has a Japanese name, roots in ancient China, and a special homage and cult in the United States.
Most people consider Kombucha a delicious drink, but many of them think it is absolutely disgusting. Followers of the Kombucha movement praise the positive effects of the drink on their bodies and love its taste, but if you pay attention to its appearance, this drink remains a disgusting first impression on people who have not tried it.
For those of you who do not know what it is, it is good to learn more about the origin, health benefits and mysterious life cycle that encompasses the wonderful drink.
What is Kombucha?
Kombucha is made by adding yeast to a mixture of tea and sugar and left to ferment for seven to fourteen days. Bacteria and yeast-like fungi grow and develop in the form of a pink jelly-like pancake, also called the mother, which uses tea and sugar for food. Smaller organisms, called babies, are detached from the mother and are often given or sold to other people who want to start growing and producing Kombucha. The resulting drink is naturally carbonated with hints of yeast and vinegar. Its taste is definitely not pleasant for everyone.
The rise of the Kombucha culture
Before 1960, Kombucha was relatively unheard of in the United States. It enjoyed popularity among health chefs in the second half of the 20th century, but was halted in the U. S. market in 1995 when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published a report linking Kombucha consumption to a woman's illness. who drank a home-made version and suffered from metabolic acidosis (acid accumulation in the body).
But this living drink does not stay dead for long. Widespread health food mania began in 2003, when many people were looking for the drink as an alternative to sweets and a way to increase their intake of probiotics.
Today there are several companies that produce Kombucha worldwide. There are even Kombucha bars that have opened in places such as Norfolk, Virginia, Portland, Oregon and San Francisco.
According to a study and report by the American marketing research firm, Kombucha's sales from June 2013 to June 2014 were worth $ 127 million.
The potential health benefits of Kombucha
Although there have been several official studies on the impact of the drink on our health, fans ardently claim that drinking Kombucha daily is excellent for liver function, improving colon health, and boosting the immune system.
• Liver function: An animal study published in the journal Microbiology and Biotechnology in 2009 showed that Kombucha's glucuronic acid binds to toxins that cause liver damage and removes them from the body;
• Intestinal health: Low in caffeine and sugar and high in vitamins and minerals, Kombucha also contains beneficial bacteria (such as those found in yogurt) that are considered good for digestive health;
• Immunity: The growth of beneficial bacteria such as those found in Kombucha can help keep the gut healthy and give a strong boost to metabolism;
• Antioxidants: In addition to the probiotic benefits, an antioxidant known as D-sugar-1,4-lactone (DSL) is formed in Kombucha as a result of the fermentation process. DSL can reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and prevent depression.
How is Kombucha prepared?
You don't have to be a professional chef or chemist to make Kombucha. Enthusiastic home brewers say that the preparation in their own kitchen provides optimal quality and taste. Here is part of the process:
You need to find baby sourdough. People usually search their circle of friends or browse online sites to see where they can find Kombucha in their area.
1. Add baby sponge in sweetened black or green tea in a large glass jar, the tea should be completely chilled. The kombucha flavor is best obtained when the tea is sweetened with refined sugar;
2. Add the liquid that comes with the baby sponge. If it does not come with at least 1/4 cup of liquid, replace it with distilled white vinegar. This will lower the pH and prevent any foreign forms or yeast from growing;
3. Cover with a sterile kitchen towel to allow air to circulate and protect the drink from insects. Store in a cool, dark place;
4. The mixture is fermented for 7 to 10 days, after which the formed sponge is removed. It is set aside for use for another tea or placed with a little liquid in the refrigerator for further use.
The drink is flavored. Other flavors can be added to it, such as fruit or ginger. Store for another two days before filling into bottles. Other infusion ideas are citrus, hot, mango, ginseng, lavender, elderberry and pomegranate.
Kombucha stays in a cool place for another three days to develop the natural carbonization process.
The drink is stored for 30 days.
Side effects of Kombucha
Kombucha itself is considered safe to drink, but there are a few important guidelines to keep in mind:
• When brewed in a home brewery or in a home kitchen, there may be non-sterile conditions that can bring unhealthy bacteria into the drink;
• Drink in moderation. Metabolic acidosis can be a side effect of excessive consumption of alcohol and alcohol;
• The CDC warns that home brewers should not store Kombucha in materials containing toxic elements that have the potential to extract them;
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not drink Kombucha for the same reason that they are not recommended to eat moldy and ripe soft cheeses.
This article is educational in nature. Consult a specialist before consumption. Before starting any culinary preparations of Kombucha, consult a person familiar with the technology and its specifics.
Recommended:
The Pepper Diet Has Become A Hit! Eat And Lose Weight
Black pepper is one of the most beloved and often used spices both at home and abroad. However, it turns out that she is one of the best friends of the weak body. Exotic and raw weight correction methods such as strict diets are not good for our body and organism.
Has Veganism Become A Fad?
Veganism has long since grown into something more than a way of life. Thanks to a number of celebrities, the "veganism" movement, which two decades ago was far from vegetarianism, has become fashionable today. Many believe that the phenomenon of vegetarianism is a fabrication of the modern world.
Roast Pork Has Become A National Dish Of Denmark
The national dish of Denmark is already known - a competition has determined that it should be roast pork with parsley sauce. 28,000 people have already voted for the national dish, and a total of 63,000 have voted in the competition. The organizers explain that these 28 thousand are equal to about 44 percent of all those who took part.
Tomatoes And Potatoes Have Become More Expensive, Salads Have Become Cheaper
There is a decrease in prices for eggs and fresh green salads after the Easter holidays, according to the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets. There are two objective reasons for this - on the one hand, most of the retail chains woke up with large unsold quantities of these products, which forced them to lower their prices so that they could sell them before their expiration date.
Why Bio- Has Become Synonymous With Real Food
Organic food in our country is already popular enough, but not so widely used, probably because of its high prices. Their "reputation" is skyrocketing and their demand is increasing significantly. The information we have from television, the Internet, radio, the press - everywhere they convince us and teach us what is harmful and what is useful.
