Kombucha? You Betcha!

I first heard about kombucha when my 25-year-old daughter and her friends were drinking it after a night of carousing. I thought it was an energy drink or vitamin detox and was interested.

What I found out is that kombucha is a beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria. Although it is very trendy it actually dates back to China, 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty. It was known as "The Tea of Immortality". It has been used in Eastern Europe, Russia and Japan for several centuries. The name kombucha is thought have come from Japan in 416 AD. It looks like more than just fashion trends repeat themselves!

I am a huge fan of natural remedies and was excited to find out that kombucha is loaded with live culture probiotics and is a natural antibiotic.

Probiotics fight off bad bacteria in the gut. The process of fermentation in making kombucha creates by-products, one of which is acetic acid. Acetic acid creates a kind of sterile environment which inhibits the growth of unhealthy bacteria. Prescription antibiotics kill off all the bacteria in our systems, kombucha leaves the good and kills the bad. No bad bacteria means no infections which means a healthier immune system. It improves overall gut health and aids in digestion, immunity and weight loss. I was all in to try this trend!

I quickly learned there are a lot of different brands and flavors to choose from. Kombucha can be an acquired taste, as some are very vinegary while some kind of taste like beer. Since it is a fermented beverage, there may be some alcohol present in it. Most brands have very small unnoticeable trace amounts.

I did find there is one brand called Booch Craft that actually contains 7% alcohol, which is much more than beer. I set out to find try this version in my quest explore all that kombucha has to offer. Although it comes in a variety of interesting flavors, all that was left on the shelves for me was Grape•Coriander•anise. Yes, all of those flavors in one bottle! I found it to taste like a combination of kombucha, beer and wine. It had a hefty price tag of $7.99 for a 22 oz bottle, so next time I’m holding out for the Apple•Lime•Jasmine that I originally wanted to try.

As for the other, everyday kombucha brands, I recommend you try a few to see which suits your taste buds. A few things to look for when selecting are a low sugar content and to be sure your bottle is labeled “live cultures”.  You might see something like “2 billion live cultures”,  printed on the front of the bottle.

I have grown to like almost any kombucha I try now. I drink it a couple of times a week. It’s great for your digestion, boosts energy and helps me fight off ailments. If you want to try it, there are a few brands I would suggest. Heath-aide, Brew Dr. , Humm, GTS and Kevita Master Brew all have a variety of flavors that I really like. At first only natural and whole food markets carried Kombucha, but now all grocery stores have it in the refrigerator cases. Don’t wait until you are hung over, fighting a cold or constipated to try some. Try substituting a fizzy kombucha for your sugar laden soda and give your immune system a boost! Next time you are headed to happy hour, consider going to Kombucha Bar where they have Kombucha on tap.

It’s the latest hip thing to do.