Kombucha

Kombucha tea is a fizzy beverage that begins with a base of either black or green tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast and ends as a fermented powerhouse packed with probiotics that’s incredible for your gut health.

The actual science behind this wonder drink is a little more complicated! Kombucha undergoes an important fermentation process for anywhere between one week to a month during which the sugar content is dissolved by the bacteria and yeast and the liquid becomes carbonated with a slight zing. 

All of the magic happens during the weeks a kombucha drink is left to ferment. The bacteria and yeast form what’s called a SCOBY (also known as ‘The Mother’ or ‘The Mother Culture’) which is a living culture that feeds on the sugar in the drink. While the yeast eats the white sugar and makes alcohol, the bacteria eat the yeast and turns the beverage acidic and fizzy while preserving its shelf-life and preventing bad bacteria from forming.

Many strains of good bacteria are formed during this process, such as lactic acid which is a type of probiotic bacteria. These beauties work wonders on your digestive system and help to balance your gut microbiome, as well as provide a huge range of other benefits for overall health.

Often, fruit and spices can be added to the fermented drink to give it different flavours. You’re left with a refreshing, sweet-sour drink that not only tastes amazing – it’s healing for you, too!

Is Kombucha Good For You?

The effects of kombucha on the body are not as scientifically studied as tea and probiotics. However, many believe that drinking kombucha has a wonderful impact on your health as it contains both of these ingredients which have been proven to be excellent for helping to improve all sorts of chronic problems.

The benefits of kombucha are similar to that of drinking green and black tea but with the added bonus of probiotics that grow during the fermentation process. Here are just some of the major points that make this beverage so popular:

1. Aids digestion – Since kombucha is packed with probiotics, it’s a great drink to consume to increase the healthy bacteria living in your gut. Good bacteria is essential for improving digestion, reducing inflammation and may help with weight loss.
2. High in antioxidants – Green tea is a miracle worker when it comes to our health as it’s very high in polyphenols which is a super antioxidant. If your kombucha uses a green tea base, expect it to do all of the good things green tea does for you, including helping to reducecholesterol levels, can support fat burning, aid heart health, may enhancing brain function and can help to boost the immune system.
3. Contains vitamins and minerals – Kombucha contains several vitamins, including B1, B6, B12 and vitamin C, which support your metabolism and help to strengthen bones, ligaments and muscle.
4. Healthy soft drink alternative – Swap those soft drinks for some healthy bottled kombucha. Traditional carbonated beverages are loaded with sugar and additives. Kombucha is low in sugar so you can enjoy the familiar fizz and sweetness of a soft drink without wreaking havoc on your blood sugar levels and preventing a ‘sugar crash’.
5. Help with weight loss – This beverage is low in calories and high in probiotics which is a better alternative for shedding weight. Green tea kombucha is even more beneficial as it can help to boost your metabolism and may help to burn fat faster.

Does Kombucha Have Alcohol In It?

Since kombucha is made using the same fermentation process as beer and wine, there are trace amounts of alcohol in it. This happens when the sugar is broken down and transformed into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

However, with less than 0.5% alcohol in each commercially sold bottle, kombucha is considered to be non-alcoholic and is able to be consumed by those who don’t drink alcoholic beverages.

What Is Kombucha SCOBY?

A SCOBY is the essential ingredient in making kombucha that transforms it from being a sweetened tea drink into a living powerhouse of good bacteria.

The word SCOBY is an acronym for ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast’ and is often referred to as ‘The Mother’ or ‘The Mother Culture’ – it takes the form of a light-coloured blob that turns brown the longer it’s fermented. A SCOBY is also called the mother.

When you leave a SCOBY to sit in brewed tea at room temperature, it will ferment in a similar process to fermented foods, such as sourdough bread, kimchi and sauerkraut. A baby SCOBY can also grow during this period and be used to make more kombucha. The process can be broken down into these steps:

1. Brew some green or black tea and pour into clean vessel
2. Add sugar and cool
3. Add SCOBY and seal jar with a cloth and rubber band
4. Leave to ferment for at least 1 week and let it work its magic!

Is Kombucha Gluten Free?

Our kombucha by Remedy, MOJO, Yogi and Belly Up is 100% gluten-free, as well as being a dairy-free, low-sugar, low-calorie and vegan. These drinks are made with very minimal ingredients and make a tasty, refreshing beverage for those with celiac disease or who have an intolerance to gluten.

Is Kombucha Low FODMAP? 

Kombucha is high in some fructans which makes it a high FODMAP drink that may not be suitable for those who can’t tolerate fructans very well. It’s best to seek advice from a health practitioner before introducing kombucha into your diet.

What Is The Best Kombucha To Buy?

Kombucha may have begun as a trend in healthy cafés, but it’s one that’s sticking around! You can now find this gut-loving drink on supermarket shelves all over the world and in a seemingly endless selection of mouth-watering flavours to suit everyone.

GoodnessMe make it easy to buy kombucha online. We’ve got green tea kombucha tea bags by Yogi plus kombucha bottles by Remedy and MOJO in delicious flavours, such as Berry Blitz and Wild Berry. For a quick dose of nutrition, try the Belly Up Shots in Lychee and Ginger with 6 strains of probiotics and over 3.3 billion good bacteria in each serve! 

Pair our drinks with a healthy snack, such as dried fruit, nuts, bliss balls, protein bars or vegetable chips, and relax knowing you’re doing your gut a whole lot of good!