Kombucha (or tea fungus) is a lightly carbonated beverage created by using fermented tea, sugar, fungus, and bacteria. Its popularity is explained by the fact that the combatant is able to provide your body with several important bonuses at once: charge with energy for the whole day, cope with pain and inflammation, strengthen the immune system and speed up metabolism.
This controversial drink is known to people for thousands of years and has always been used in various cultures to promote health. Most notably, what people say about improving digestion and the beneficial effects of this drink on the intestines.
Kombucha is rich in probiotics. On the one hand, as is the case with any other tea, your body will receive antioxidants and polyphenols. But since this drink is fermented, you will also provide the intestines with probiotics (beneficial bacteria), which are important for normalizing the functioning of the digestive system. “In addition, dairy products – and these include our titular beverage – can improve the health of intestinal cells and function of the immune system, reduce the risk of allergies and chronic diseases. Not much research has been made about this drink. In any case, not as much as we would like. Except for the undoubtedly positive effect of probiotics, we know almost nothing about it for sure.
Benefits of drinking kombucha
- Strong immune system. This beverage is rich in antioxidants, which increase the body’s energy and support the immune system. If you drink it daily, the body’s defence functions will improve significantly. In addition, the risks of developing autoimmune diseases are significantly reduced.
- Detoxification. This tea drink has the ability to cleanse the body. Fermented tea contains a powerful glucuronic acid, which neutralizes toxins in the liver and removes them through the kidneys. This also reduces the pressure on the pancreas, which is good for the liver. In addition, it prevents the harmful effects of petroleum products, resins, and pesticides on the body.
- Antioxidant effect. Tea is replete with powerful organic acids that protect the body from oxidative damage. The antioxidants look out for oxygen free radicals and neutralize their actions. Thus, if you use a fermented drink, it will protect the body from serious diseases and inflammations.
- Antimicrobial effect. The antimicrobial properties of the drink are actively fighting food pathogens. They provide protection against a variety of microorganisms that negatively affect human health. For example, epidermal staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and salmonellosis.
How to make kombucha
This drink is a bit tricky to make, but if you’re a true fan – all it takes is some time and patience. You will need:
- 5 tbsp. l black tea without additives and flavours
- 0.5 litres of boiling water
- 7 tbsp. of sugar.
- Pour boiling water over the tea and let it sit, then add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.
- Thoroughly wash a one-litre jar with soda or sterilize in the microwave.
- Strain the tea into the sterilized jar through a cheesecloth.
- Cover the jar with a fresh layer of cheesecloth and put it in a dark place.
- After 4–6 weeks, a significant vinegar aroma will appear, and then a thin “mushroom-like” layer will form on the surface of the tea leaves.
- Carefully remove the “mushroom” and transfer into a three-litre jar filled with diluted tea.
- Was the fungus with boiled warm water once a week in the summer. In winter, it is enough to carry out the procedure once every 3-4 weeks.
- Transfer the fungus in another sterilized jar from time to time.
- Keep the jar in a dark place without drafts, do not allow direct sunlight.
We would like to share a video with instructions on how you can make your own fermented drink at home. Enjoy!
Top 7 kombucha smoothies
Berry Buch
Ingredients
- 1 cup of wild blueberries
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup kombucha
- 1 small knob of ginger
Instructions
- Peel the banana, chop it up into chunks. Freeze beforehand with the wild blueberries.
- Grate the ginger finely.
- Use a blender to mix all the ingredients together into a frothy puree, pour into glasses, garnish with a few frozen wild blueberries and enjoy!
Boochy Blend
Ingredients
- 1¼ cup 300 ml of Kombucha
- juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons 45 ml of honey, optional
- 1 cup 150 g of mango
- ½ banana
- 1 cup 140 g frozen blackberries
Instructions
- Peel the banana, cut it up and freeze it.
- Cut the mango, remove the pit and place it in a freezer as well.
- Juice the lemon.
- Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender or food processor and mix until completely incorporated.
Strawberry-Ginger
Ingredients
- 1 cup of kombucha
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of chia seeds or chia seed gel
- 1/4 inch ginger
- 4-6 ice cubes
- 1 tbsp of maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Grate the ginger finely.
- Freeze the strawberries overnight before making.
- Mix all of the ingredients in a blender until it reaches a smooth consistency.
Cucumber-Cilantro
Ingredients
- 1 small cucumber
- 2 ripe kiwis
- 1 cup of kombucha
- 1/2 cup of coconut yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger optional
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Chop up the cucumber into cubes.
- Peel the kiwi, slice it.
- Grate the ginger.
- Pick the cilantro leaves off the stems.
- Place everything into a cup of a blender and pulse until homogeneous.
Green Pineapple
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of hemp seeds
- 1 cup of kombucha
- 1 cup of leafy greens to taste
- 1 tbsp of flax oil
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 ripe banana
- a handful ice cubes
Instructions
- Peel the banana, cut it and place in a freezer.
- Peel the pineapple, remove the middle and cut it into cubes. You can freeze it as well.
- Tear up the greens so that they can fit into your blender.
- Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until the mixture is even. Pour into glasses and garnish with additional chunks of pineapple.
Swiss Chard Freshness
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of kombucha
- ½ cup of water
- ¼ cucumber
- ½ cup of Greek yogurt
- 3-4 leaves Swiss chard
- ½ cup blueberries
- 4 ice cubes
Instructions
- Cut the cucumber up into chunks.
- Rinse and tear up the Swiss chard.
- Freeze the blueberries beforehand.
- Use an emersion blender to combine the ingredients.
Strawberry-Cantaloupe
Ingredients
- 1 cup of kombucha flavored or plain
- 1 cup of fresh cantaloupe
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1/2 of a lime
- 3 fresh mint leaves
- 2 teaspoons of honey
Instructions
- Dice the cantaloupe
- Juice the lime
- Freeze the strawberries beforehand.
- Combine everything in a cup of a blender or food processor and mix until incorporated.
Conclusion: fermented beverages are trendy
What is so special about kombucha? If we explain briefly, this funny-looking tea has antimicrobial properties and helps in the treatment of various disorders and diseases:
- restores the intestinal microflora;
- facilitates detoxification of the body;
- helps with gout;
- reduces cholesterol;
- reduces arthritis pain;
- constipation.
However healthy this drink might seem, do not forget about personal food restrictions. It’s not recommended to consume it if you:
- Increased acidity.
- Low blood pressure.
- Acute gastric ulcer.
- Heartburn.
It is not recommended to use this stuff independently, without consulting your doctor. Otherwise, the harm of this tea is possible. Despite all the benefits of the drink, many studies in the treatment of diseases were successful only in individual cases and have not yet been confirmed at the world level of medicine.