“Hey, what are you doing this weekend?”
“I think I’ll stay home and work on some old unfinished projects.”
As we try to come to grips with the largest lockdown in human history, make-work projects are becoming a part of our new reality. I view it as the silver lining to this scary and long situation.
A recent project of mine was cleaning up and restarting my Kombucha. Also known as the world’s strangest and perhaps healthiest drink.
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha is made with a cultured bacteria called a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), a slimy brown substance. SCOBY dates back to 220 BC in China and is an ancient health elixir that was used by emperors and ordinary people alike.
When making Kombucha, you can’t skip including this cultured bacteria. There’s a lot of complicated science and biology wrapped up in that wondrous slime.
SCOBY is straightforward to make and costs pennies per cup. Unlike the 500ml bottle at the supermarket that goes for $6 a pop.
To find a SCOBY, ask your friends on social media. Kombucha brewers are also always happy to share their slime. If no one you know has one, try online. You’ll need a fresh, wet one, not dried. Did I say it was easy?
How To Make It
You’ll need:
- 4 liters of brewed tea (I use English Breakfast, but any kind will do)
- 1 cup of sugar (I use organic cane sugar)
Once the tea cools, pour into a sizeable open-mouth glass vessel. Add the SCOBY. I also add about a cup of a previous Kombucha batch to get it going faster.
Cover the jar opening with paper towels and secure with elastics. Now you have to wait; depending on where you put your brew, it could take two to three weeks to be alive and ready.
What It Tastes Like
The taste is not for everyone, as it is slightly vinegary. In all honesty, I hated it the first time I tried it. But after a while, it grows on you.
I create a 60/40 mixture with juice. I call it “Komjuica,” and it is far easier to drink. Even the kids will drink it! Well, some kids.
The Health Benefits
This drink is good for you in more than one way. The bottom line is that it’s alive. The bacteria and yeast are working to make our bodies work better.
According to Medical News Today, potential benefits include:
- Improved gut health. A 2014 study confirms the fermentation process of Kombucha means that the drink is rich in probiotics.
- Decreased risk of cancer.
- Decreased risk of infection.
- Better mental health.
- Decreased risk of heart disease.
- Weight loss.
- Improved liver health.
- Better management of Type 2 diabetes.
Of course, more research is needed to prove the above claims.
We know that living as healthy a lifestyle as possible will help ward off all disease, and maybe Kombucha is a part of that. It’s worth a try.
Make Kombucha: Check.