Organic Kombucha Tea

What is It?

Kombucha is a form of bacteria and yeast, similar to a yeast starter for sourdough bread. The most common by-product is the kombucha mushroom, which is not a mushroom at all. The resulting culture expands and simply resembles a mushroom cap.

A kombucha culture is fermented with assorted tea bases, vinegar, sugar, and water to create a beverage. Black tea, raw sugar, and apple cider vinegar are the most common ingredients. Kombucha tea is also referred to as “kargasok tea,” “Manchurian tea,” “tee kvass,” and “tea wine.” People not only drink the beverage, but also eat the hardened culture itself.

For centuries, the people of Asia and Russia touted the benefits of the tea, celebrating it as an overall elixir for good health. Its popularity rose in Europe around the beginning of the 20th century, and so did the claims of the mixture’s potency and healing properties. As millions continue to turn to alternative health remedies, any beverage with kombucha in it garners attention.

The Purported Benefits

One common factor among all properly fermented substances is the ability to increase good intestinal flora in the body and eliminate bad bacteria. The most familiar food related to this activity is “active culture” yogurt. Better digestion quickly separates nutrients from waste.

Additionally, if the body easily digests food, it uses less energy to do so, so that increases a person’s overall vitality.

Many advocates of kombucha highlight this heightened wellbeing as a primary reason to use it as a tea, extract, or capsule supplement. Other professed benefits include:

• Additional vitamins and minerals, especially energetic B vitamins and vitamin C.
• Improved liver and kidney function, which helps to detoxify the body.
• Since the tea base will have a bit of caffeine, some report that the “pick-me-up” quality of the beverage to be stimulating.

One interesting note: Even though there are many individual reports of organic kombucha tea improving the health of those with cancer or AIDS, it is widely understood that those with compromised immune systems should avoid fermented products of any kind. The bacteria used may be unstable or contaminated, or taking it with certain medications, such as antibiotics, may cause serious side effects.

Additionally, since the fermentation process produces a hint of alcohol, there are conflicting reports as to whether the tea contains alcohol. Overall, it is advised that those with a history of alcoholism or intolerance should avoid this particular type of tea.

Buying Organic Kombucha Tea

Popular kombucha tea product manufacturers include:

• Yogi Tea's Green Tea Kombucha is frequently found in many health food stores or where fine teas are sold.
• Kombucha Wonder Drink is also available in upscale food stores or health food retail outlets.
• Another popular tea is GT’s Kombucha, which is mixed with fruit juice.
• Here’s one online retailer that often sells kombucha in a tea, tablet, or extract form: American Nutrition. You can also try Kombucha 2000.

If you’re interested in fermenting your own version of the tea, review the process, purchase supplies, and obtain mother cultures at Get Kombucha.

A Word of Caution

You’ll find a wide variety of herbal supplements made from organic substances. However, that doesn’t automatically render the products safe. As with many herbal supplements, the Food and Drug Administration has not fully investigated the claims of extensive health benefits of kombucha beverages.

Additionally, unless you are very familiar with creating healthy strains of bacteria, it might be best to first use commercially produced versions of organic kombucha tea instead of making your own. Manufacturers still have to adhere to strict guidelines of safe production, especially in order to label something organic, so you can try the tea without too much concern.