You know what tastes amazing when the weather is this hot? Anything cold and bubbly. But I try not to drink soda, and sparkling water isn’t my cup of tea. What’s a hot, thirsty person to do? If you’re like me, hopefully you’ve discovered kombucha.
Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that originated in China around 220 BCE. It’s made with a combination of tea, sugar, yeast, and a bacteria culture. That may not sound very appetizing, but hear me out! The mixture starts as sugary tea that gets fermented by adding a scoby. A scoby is an acronym for “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast”–not very imaginative, but it gets the job done. It’s similar to the mother cultures used to make vinegar and sourdough. The scoby eats most of the sugar and produces CO2 as a biproduct, and the result is a fizzy, sour, barely-alcoholic drink that tastes great and has very little sugar. You can even make your own!
Kombucha also has surprising health benefits. Basically combine the healthy side effects of black coffee, yogurt, and black tea and you’ll get the bouquet of healthy goodness that is kombucha. It is known for having great probiotic properties that heal and soothe upset stomachs and intestinal issues. Kombucha is packed with antioxidants that reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, and work to detoxify your body from unwanted toxins. If you crave the fizziness of soda, kombucha is an awesome healthier alternative with less sugar. It comes in so many different flavors, and you can probably find a brand you like more than others. It has a bit of a vinegar flavor, so it may be an acquired taste!
Learn to make your own kombucha here or swing by the Longmont or Boulder farmer’s market to pick up some of my favorite brand from Happy Leaf Kombucha!
