Video: How To Make Kombucha
Kombucha (pronounced “kom-BOO-cha”) is a popular and increasingly visible plant-based healing drink that dates back to the Qin Dynasty. Often used to aid digestion and improve gut health, the beverage is known for its flavorful and medicinal attributes, which makes drinking it an ideal way to detox in the new year.
Kombucha typically consists of a plant-based sugar or other plant-flavored bases like juice or tea, which are then fermented with a living colony of bacteria and yeast (known in brewing parlance as a “SCOBY“– but don’t let the word “bacteria” freak you out). The fermentation process, which can take anywhere from 2 days to 10 days, results in a delicious probiotic beverage with a host of health benefits, including improved digestion, better mood, and decreased arthritic symptoms. Kombucha is also rich in antioxidants, B-vitamins, and anti-cancer agents like saccharic acid, which can help cleanse the body after weeks of holiday drinking and cookie-eating.
Below, watch GC Guy Jared Reichert explain how to make kombucha at home. For best results, drink kombucha in the winter and during seasonal transitions in order to boost immunity. At the very least, you’ll have something tasty to drink as you contemplate whether or not to make a New Year’s resolution.
