What Is Kombucha Tea?

Kombucha is the latest trend that is taking the tea-drinking world by storm. Lovers of this slightly-sour, fermented beverage swear by its probiotic properties and rich health benefits. However, it is the flavour of kombucha tea that draws most tea drinkers in. In this article, we’re going to touch upon what kombucha tea is, what are the health benefits of kombucha tea, and how to make kombucha using black tea.

What is kombucha tea?

Kombucha is a type of fermented tea, which originated in China. Essentially, kombucha is made by fermenting a regular sweet tea with the help of a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (known as a scoby). The bacteria and yeast in the scoby eat most of the sugar in the tea, leaving it with a slightly tart flavour and fizziness. Due to the fermentation process, kombucha tea contains a mild percentage of alcohol, but this does not affect you unless you drink many cups in quick succession. Most people enjoy kombucha tea as an independent beverage, but many restaurants, bars, and beverage producers also combine it with other flavours to enrich its taste.

Which type of tea works best with kombucha?

Since the fermentation already gives kombucha a slightly sour flavour, you want to choose a mild-flavoured tea to complement the taste. We would recommend using either pure black tea, green tea, white tea, or golden leaf tea for brewing kombucha.Even blended teas that combine different varieties can taste great with kombucha.

Important to note is that you should avoid using highly flavoured or herbal teas to brew kombucha. For one, herbs like peppermint or chamomile do not provide the nutrients required to feed the scoby culture. Apart from this, added chemical compounds used to impart flavour could also have a negative effect on the growth of the scoby.

Finally, irrespective of the type of tea you use, it is important to use organic tea, since any pesticides that linger on non-organic tea leaves could inhibit the growth of the scoby and more importantly, be ingested by you while drinking.

What are the health benefits of kombucha tea?

Many health experts claim that kombucha offers a variety of health benefits, ranging from better digestion to strengthening immunity, to its detoxifying nature and reducing blood pressure. While scientific evidence regarding the health properties of kombucha tea is yet to be fully agreed upon, there are certainly some key benefits that consuming it in moderation could have, such as:

1. A healthy probiotic: Kombucha is a good source of probiotics, which provide your gut with healthy bacteria that help to promote digestion, reduce inflammation and even help in weight loss.

2. Antioxidant properties: Kombucha made from green tea is known to have antioxidant properties, which helps to reduce belly fat, improve levels of cholesterol, control blood sugar levels, and more.

3. Reduces harmful bacteria: Kombucha, similar to black tea, is rich in polyphenols and acetic acid, both of which can help to suppress the growth of harmful bacteria and yeasts.

4. Improves heart health: Kombucha has been shown to rapidly improve cholesterol levels, which can help in protecting yourself against heart disease.