May 10, 2019 · Written by Foodtolive Team
What is Kombucha and Why Is It So Popular
Kombucha is fast becoming a favorite drink for people looking for a unique, healthy, and tasty drink. Once only found in cafes or health food stores, this beverage is now available on supermarket shelves all over the world.
But what exactly is kombucha? And is it as healthy as people claim, or is it just another trend?
Kombucha tastes like sour, vinegary apple cider, but it’s common to have other flavors added. Kombucha’s benefits were discovered over 2,200 years ago by the ancient Chinese and are the same reasons why people drink it today.
How Kombucha is Made
Simply put, kombucha is fermented tea. After adding sugar and a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) to either black or green tea, the mixture is left alone from one week to a month. The amount of time a batch is left to ferment determines how sweet or vinegary the drink will be. For flavored kombucha, brewers add fruits, herbs, and spices for a second fermenting period.
Is Kombucha Healthy
Kombucha is full of probiotics and antioxidants, which helps your body flush out toxins and kill harmful bacteria. Plus, probiotics provide healthy bacteria for your gut, which can improve digestion, inflammation, and help support healthy weight loss.
Since kombucha is made from tea, is has the same benefits that support your body’s well-being. Green tea helps to increase metabolism, reduce belly fat, lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and more.
Does Kombucha Have Caffeine or Alcohol
Yes, kombucha does contain alcohol, but it is a natural result of the fermentation process when yeast consumes sugar and releases CO2 and ethanol. The amount of alcohol is negligible when compared to the number of probiotics released during the same process. When sold in the grocery store, kombucha contains .5% ABV, which is well below a light beer.
A whole bottle of kombucha has only about a quarter of the caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of coffee. This is because fermentation cuts the amount of caffeine in the tea to 1/3. So, while kombucha does contain caffeine, the amount is so small that it isn’t enough to have much effect, especially if you are a regular coffee drinker.
Is Kombucha Vegan
Yes! Kombucha is 100% vegan. Plus, it contains a variety of B vitamins, which are thought to only come from animal sources. Kombucha great for vegans trying to meet their daily vitamin B requirement.
Why Kombucha Became So Popular
As consumers continue to favor health-conscious products, kombucha is becoming a favorite of those looking to live healthier lifestyles.6 But besides the health benefits, what about kombucha makes it so popular?
One reason is that kombucha is a great alternative to soda. It’s fizzy like soda but without all the sugar. And for those who buy bottled water, kombucha is a refreshing, guilt-free way to try something different. Lastly, there are dozens of kombucha flavors, which makes it is hard for consumers to tire of this drink.
As more companies make kombucha, it will become more inexpensive and accessible, which will lead more people to try it for themselves and continue to raise its popularity around the world.
