What is Kombucha and what are its health benefits?

Kombucha drink is a probiotic (pro bio = in favor of life), ehich is made by fermenting tea and sugar with Kombucha culture. It tastes something between sparkling apple cider and champagne, depending on the time of fermentation adn the tea used to prepare Kombucha drink.

Kombucha has shown to have antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. It has shown to protect against stress and to improve liver function. Other benefits include improvements in energy levels, metabolic disorders, allergies, cancer, digestive problems, candidiasis, hypertension, HIV, chronic fatigue and arthritis. It can also be used externally (topic use) for skin problems and conditions.


Which Tea to use to make Kombucha Tea?

Kombucha requires tea to ferment and it has to be real tea from Camellia sinensis plant. You can make Kombucha tea with Black tea, Wulong or Oolong tea, Green Tea (especially Japanese Sencha) or White tea.

How to make your own Kombucha Drink

Preparation of Kombucha Tea is quite easy and will not take much of your time. You will need to get Kombucha mushroom culture from someone you know or buy it from a health food store. This is how to brew:

  • Boil three quarts of purified water.
  • When the water starts boiling, Add 1 cup white sugar. Boil for another 5 minutes.
  • Let the water cool down a bit.
  • Add about four tea bags of tea or proportional quantity of loose tea.
  • Steep for about 15 minutes (can be more) and let it cool.
  • Pour cooled tea into a glass container (one gallon size).
  • Place Kombucha culture with the smooth, shiny surface up.
  • Add one cup of fermented Kombucha Tea from a previous batch (or substitute 1/4 cup distilled vinegar).
  • Place a clean cloth over the jar and secure it with a rubber band to keep dust, mould, spores and vinegar flies out of the fermenting tea.
  • Let it sit undisturbed in a well aired, darkened place away from direct sunlight for 6 - 15 days.
  • When the tea is brewed to your taste, remove the two cultures.
  • Gently separate and place the cultures in a glass bowl, covered with plastic wrap or a plastic container and refrigerate. You can keep them refrigerated for about six months.
  • Pour the fermented tea through a coffee filter and bottle it into a glass bottle.