Health Benefits of Kombucha

No doubt you’ve heard about kombucha.  The seemingly funny sounding beverage is confusing and there is a lot of discussion on the true health benefits of kombucha.

My experience with Kombucha

First of all, yum!  The first time I tried kombucha, it was store bought.  It was expensive – around $4.00 for a 16 ounce bottle, but it was organic.  I tried it for the first time only because I had read about it previously and knew it was supposed to have health benefits, specifically for your digestive health because it contained probiotics.

I had never seen or heard of it previously but now that I had read about it, I thought I’d keep my eye out for it.  And, so I did.  I was walking around a grocery store that was known for their healthful, non-GMO items and low and behold – there it was.  A whole refrigerated section for kombucha in so many different flavors.

I can’t remember the flavor I first picked up but it was probably a berry flavored one.  I bought it and didn’t wait until I got home to drink it – I just couldn’t wait.  So, I opened the bottle up and drank it on my way home.  I took one sip and it was fizzy and refreshing.  I liked it so far.  Then, I took another sip and really liked it and I drank the whole bottle.  In truth, I loved it and I was hooked.  I couldn’t wait to have another one.

How did it make me feel?

I have heard people having adverse affects to drinking kombucha but this wasn’t my experience.  They say you should start out slow, maybe drinking 2 ounces at a time but when I bought my first kombucha and tried it, I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down.  It was like candy to a child.  I generally eat a good diet so I can only surmise that I didn’t have any problems because of that.  My stomach felt great and it seemed to give me a slight boost in energy (possibly from all the B vitamins kombucha has).

So, what are the health benefits of kombucha?

• Probiotics – I won’t go into all the technical stuff but kombucha contains lactic acid bacteria and this is why it is thought to be a good source of probiotics.
• Antioxidant – when kombucha is made from green tea, you get the antioxidant benefits from it.
• A potential source of B vitamins – this is probably why I felt a little bit more energetic after drinking this fizzy beverage.
• You can find more information on what the Cleveland Clinic thinks the health benefits of kombucha are.

Are you starting to see all the health benefits of kombucha?

My Kombucha recipe

I really do love kombucha and I make it at home now.  It’s very easy to do and then you can enjoy all the health benefits of kombucha.  Here is what you need to get started:

• 2 gallon glass jar
• 10.5 cups of de-chlorinated water (or use distilled)
• Organic black or green tea
• Starter tea (room temp)
• SCOBY – you can search online to source these.
• Organic cane sugar 3/4 cup to 1 cup
• Bottles
• Juice (room temperature) or other things to flavor like fresh or dried fruit / herbs.

If you’re just starting out, I would recommend using juice.  That has always worked for me and it makes it easy.  Find our favorite flavor that is 100% juice and I have no doubt it will work perfect for you.

Pre-Instructions to brew your own Kombucha

1. Wash your jar and make sure that your SCOBY is room temperature.
2. Put 5.5 cups of water in a clean pot and boil to:
   1. 185 degrees F for green tea for 3 minutes or
   2. 212 degrees F for Black Ceylon tea for 5 minutes
3. Add the sugar
4. Add 5 cups water and let cool to 72 degrees F.
5. Pour your room temperature starter tea in the jar, then pour the 10.5 cups of sweetened tea.  Add the SCOBY.
6. Cover with breathable cloth like linen and secure it to the jar with a rubber band.

Instructions for first fermentation:

1. Put the jar in a dark, warm place.
   1. You can put a kitchen towel around it so that no light gets in.
   2. It would also be advisable to wrap a little heating pad around the jar (do not sit the jar on top of the pad).  You want the heat around the jar – not the bottom.
2. For the next 1-7 days (depending on your taste preference), taste the kombucha by slipping a straw between the jar and the SCOBY – you don’t want to disturb it too much.
3. I generally bottle mine after about 6-7 days (assuming the tea has been in a 75 degree F environment).  But, once ready, remove the SCOBY.
   1. Put on a clean plate for now.
4. Save 2 cups of starter tea from the top.  (This will be your starter tea for your next batch, whenever you choose to make it again.)
5. Once you have saved your starter tea, stir the remaining tea that is left in the jar.
6. Take each of your bottles and add your flavors (this step is optional)
7. Add your kombucha but leave about an inch of headspace.  Then, close the bottles.

Instructions for 2nd fermentation:

1. Let closed bottles sit in a dark area for 2 days.  After the 2 days, put the bottles in the fridge.
   1. You must put the bottles in the fridge for at least a couple hours.  If you don’t, you could have an explosion from the pent-up gases / carbonation.  So, always put the bottles in the fridge after this secondary fermentation.
2. After at least 2 hours of refrigeration, Open and enjoy all the health benefits of kombucha!

Lastly, don’t forget to store your SCOBY.  Take that guy and put it in your original jar and ensure it is covered with at least 2 inches of strong sweet tea.  Store for as long as you need to but just keep an eye on it that it has enough liquid to survive.