There is no dearth of magical concoctions in the culinary world. When it comes to pouring ourselves a healthy, hearty drink, all of us might have some of our own secret recipes, or we’ll just hop on the trending one without a thought. Kombucha yea, for instance, has been one of those drinks that many of us have been talking about since a few years now, but is it really is a magical elixir? The origins of Kombucha lies somewhere in East Asia, where it has been around since the 19th century. Yes, Kombucha isn’t something new in the world. It made its way to the United States and got popular instantly for the simple fact that a drink like that could be made at home easily.
Made with sweetened green or black tea (and sometimes both) that ferments for a month, SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) is the primary fermentation element for Kombucha, which is also known as a probiotic tea. Let’s say that SCOBY is actually a mushroom-type blob on top of the tea which eats all the tannic acids, caffeine and sugar in the tea – eventually creating live microorganisms that are said to be beneficial. Due to all the ever-growing good bacteria and yeast in the tea, it is said to be highly acidic and packed with B vitamins, antioxidants along with a little bit of alcohol due to the fermentation process.
Now while the pro-kombucha clan may have a lot of good things to say including how it can be used for memory loss, joint pain, high blood pressure, constipation, etc., WebMD, other health journals and several experts warn that there's not enough scientific evidence to support the health claims of Kombucha tea. They believe that Kombucha tea can have adverse effects, such as an upset stomach, infections and allergic reactions.
Nevertheless, Kombucha tea is no less in flavour. While the traditional Kombucha tea is available in all supermarkets, one can get their hands on soda-like flavors include root beer, cola, and orange. So, while we may not know if it’s the healthiest drink around, we sure know that it may be relatively less in sugar and calories, with a whole lot of flavour.
Looking to have some fun with Kombucha? Here’s a cocktail you shouldn’t miss.