Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that’s made by adding yeast and a culture of bacteria to a mixture of black or green tea, sugar, and sometimes additional flavorings or fruit juice. After you blend the tea with sugar, it becomes kombucha with the help of something called S.C.O.B.Y., which stands for symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. This live bacteria sets the stage for a fermentation process, which is what gives kombucha its slight effervescence and tart-and-tangy taste.
Kombucha Health Benefits
It’s no magic potion or crazy cure-all, but Kombucha tea offers some great potential benefits. Thanks to the fermentation process, the tea is packed with probiotics, particularly when raw or unpasteurized. These microorganisms are the “good” type of bacteria similar to what occurs naturally in our intestines. Probiotics are great for overall gut-health, de-bloating, lowering cholesterol, and help to promote a healthy immune system. Kombucha also contains B vitamins, known to promote energy, metabolism, and cell proliferation and growth (which may be beneficial for hair, skin, and nails).
