Have you tried Kombucha?
What is that?
What language are you speaking?
Huh?
Never heard of it!
‘Scrunched up face’
I didn't know you spoke another language!
Pradon.
Are you taking the mickey?
These are just a few of the responses I’ve had when asking people about kombucha, so this blog will run through Kombucha Warehouse’s 8 top tips to move soda drinkers over to kombucha!
As you can see from the long list above we have a lot of educating to do! So, it only seems right to start off with explaining what kombucha actually is.
Top Tip 1.
Get to know the Kombucha Basics!!!
What is Kombucha? Most people have no idea, myself included up until about 5 years ago.
Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years.
Not only does it have the same health benefits as tea — it’s also rich in beneficial probiotics.
Kombucha also contains antioxidants, can kill harmful bacteria and may help fight diseases.
Top Tip 2.
Educate yourself and understand the importance of your Gut health.
It is more common than not that people have ZERO idea about the importance of their gut health.
Our gut is our body's second brain and in my opinion it is even more powerful than our brain. Here's why: Did you know that 70% of the immune system is located in the gut, and as Hippocrates himself said that “all disease begins in the gut”, this makes total sense when you think that anything you eat is processed through the gut. That being said an unhappy gut can lead to you being uncomfortable, unmotivated, unhappy and unfocused which all essentially leads to an unproductive you.
Summary: A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and effective digestion, and it may help prevent some cancers and autoimmune diseases. For a more detailed description check out our blog on HOW HELPING YOUR GUT CAN SUPPORT YOUR HEALTH
Top Tip 3.
Familiarise yourself with the benefits of Kombucha
Once you have educated yourself on the benefits and importance of gut health. You are then equipped with the knowledge to further understand the role kombucha has for your Gut.
Below is a list of key benefits, a small summary of the benefits kombucha has to offer. And if you're feeling extra Geeky, some really interesting links.
Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals, reactive molecules that can damage your cells(13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
SUMMARY - Kombucha is rich in antioxidants, and studies have shown that it protects rats’ liver from toxicity.
One of the main substances produced during the fermentation of kombucha is acetic acid, which is also abundant in vinegar.
Like the polyphenols in tea, acetic acid is able to kill many potentially harmful microorganisms (20Trusted Source).
SUMMARY - Kombucha is rich in tea polyphenols and acetic acid, which have both been shown to suppress the growth of undesirable bacteria and yeasts.
Kombucha is made by adding specific strains of bacteria, yeast and sugar to black or green tea, then allowing it to ferment for a week or more (1Trusted Source).
SUMMARY - Kombucha is a type of tea that has been fermented. This makes it a good source of probiotics, which have many health benefits.
Green tea Is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.
Kombucha made from green tea may offer many of the same health benefits as green tea itself, such as weight loss and blood sugar control.
SUMMARY - Kombucha made from green tea may offer many of the same health benefits as green tea itself, such as weight loss and blood sugar control.
Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death. It is characterised by cell mutation and uncontrolled cell growth.
SUMMARY - Test-tube studies show that kombucha may suppress the growth of cancer cells. It is unknown whether drinking kombucha has any effects on cancer risk in people.
Type 2 diabetes affects over 300 million people worldwide. It is characterised by high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
SUMMARY - Kombucha improved several markers of diabetes in rats, including blood sugar levels.
Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of death (22).
Rat studies show that kombucha can greatly improve two markers of heart disease, “bad” LDL and “good” HDL cholesterol, in as few as 30 days (23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).
SUMMARY - Kombucha has been shown to improve “bad” LDL and “good” HDL cholesterol levels in rats. It may also protect against heart disease.
Top Tip 4.
Prepare your Palate & your mind for a whole new taste. Kombucha is a whole new flavour.
What does it taste like & what's that tang on my tongue?
Well, since the last Top Tip was a tad lengthy and I'm sure some of you felt like you were back at school for a minute. Let's make this quick. The simple answer is: Since kombucha is a fermented product, it naturally has a unique, slightly vinegary taste and smell. The tartness only means your kombucha is mature. The stronger the vinegar smell and taste, the longer the kombucha has likely fermented. The overall flavour profile should be balanced and lightly sweet — not as strong as say, a bottle of vinegar or salad dressing. As mentioned, the fermentation process is accelerated if the kombucha is left unrefrigerated.
If your kombucha has been stored in the refrigerator or an iced cooler and still has a strong vinegar smell or flavour, it’s completely safe to consume. If you find the vinegar flavour isn’t to your personal preference, all is not lost! Kombucha is great for cooking, too. The tart and sour notes can add a little extra zing to sweet or savoury recipes. Now onto the next Top Tip, let's prep your kombucha.
Top Tip 5.
Chill it, Roll it, Ice It, Mix it.
For me these are ESSENTIAL steps to enjoying your first Kombucha to the max. Due to the fermentation process kombucha goes through there is a unique tang to this Healthy Beverage - not a horrible tang but very different for new Kombucha drinkers - and to help you come to grips with it you may need a little assistance at first. These steps ensure you get all the help needed when experiencing this rollercoaster of flavour.
- CHILL IT - Your Kombucha must be kept refrigerated to stop further fermentation which may alter the flavour.
- ROLL IT - Although you might be jumping with joy, be sure to leave your ‘booch firmly on the ground. If you need to mix, gently roll it from side to side.
- ICE IT - Pour that Booch over a glass full of ice. We like to fill our ice trays with filtered water because unfiltered water has chlorine and other baddies we don't want to contaminate our booch with. We then fill a glass full with ice. The more the better, Reason? The more ice means faster chilling followed by slower dilution.
- MIX IT - Well this one we can have some fun with. If you fancy having some fun with your booch why not try mixing it up. Here at KW we love to experiment with our booch which has led us to numerous ways of enjoying Kombucha from mixing Fruity pures for that extra texture and taste, kombucha Ice cream floats and if you've got that friday feeling mixing up your favourite kombucha with some alcohol for a take on your favourite cocktail. Visit our lounge for lots of tasty ideas. https://kombuchawarehouse.com/blogs/news
Top Tip 6.
Love Your Gut, Love Your Body, Love Your Mind And Love Yourself.
To us at Kombucha Warehouse, Kombucha is all about looking after your temple(your body). This day and age is so fast paced people seem to forget to look after themselves. It happens to all of us. We live fast, we eat fast food, we drink popular unhealthy drinks just because they are readily available and the majority unknowingly and unwillingly become stuck in an unhealthy routine simply because it's easy. So in conclusion to the above, give your gut some love, your body and your mind will thank you later.
Top Tip 7.
Make it a part of your lifestyle.
This is probable one of the easiest tips of them all. Some of the ways I include Kombucha in my life style are:
- Playing Sports/going to the Gym it aids in energy and detoxification also supports tissue growth, healthy and strong joints, Full of electrolytes that support hydration and aids recovery.
- Add it to your food. Personally, I love to either make overnight oats, use as a salad dressing or even Make an ice cream float for dessert. Here's my favourite overnight oats recipe: https://feastingonfruit.com/berry-kombucha-overnight-oats/ as for the salad dressing, any salad tastes good with kombucha. I would intentionally over-ferment it by leaving it out for a while. For me i like the more fermented original flavours for salads for the obvious reasons, extra vinegary taste. Here's my favourite recipe for the ice cream float: https://www.liveeatlearn.com/kombucha-float/
- Take it to the Cinema. We love going to the cinema, but unfortunately unless you buy water there is no healthy tasty alternative to drink with your popcorn. And who really wants to drink water at the cinema? Not me! We always take a few cans/bottles with us when we go.
- Alcohol Alternative/Designated Driver. Kombucha is known for making you feel good inside and out so makes for a great healthy alcohol substitute, especially because you can ditch the dreaded hangovers and make the most of your day. Kombucha's tart, slightly acidic flavour and palate-cleansing properties make it a drink that readily complements food, much like wine.
- Lunch Treat. Take it to work with you as a sweet treat. Not only will your taste buds thank you, your body will too.
Top Tip 8.
Make it your 1 small change
I always say whether you're having a complete overhaul or just adding some more goodness to your life it's always easier 1 small change at a time. I personally try to make 1 positive small change a month. If you try too many changes at once it's hard to keep it up. It's never easy changing your diet or routine drastically. So I'm going to leave you with this... add Kombucha to your regular diet. Make it your one small change for the month, make it your habit, make it part of your lifestyle.
Jordan - Co-founder of Kombucha Warehouse