kombucha

this is today's 2nd post...

Our local supermarket is now carrying Synergy brand kombucha, and there's a bit of a fad going on around here locally to make your own... I've just inherited a kombucha "baby" from a friend of mine, so over the next little while I'm going to learn how to make my own... I've been drinking probably one 16-oz bottle of Synergy every other day the past several weeks. I don't become "loopy" like Sarma says some people experience, rather, I find it's like drinking a pop, gives me great burps (LOL) and it just plain tastes good. It's like a nice fizzy treat.

In "Living Raw Food", Sarma Melngailis writes:
"Kombucha is an ancient home remedy form east Asia that infilitrated the west via Russia at the turn of the century, but only int he last few years has the friendly tea-fungus with the funny name really made its mark in the world of health food. Kombucha is essentially a sweet fermented tea, containing good bacteria and yeast cultures. Organic acids, amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, and polyphenols abound in this naturally fizzy brew.

The acetic acid in kombucha combats bad bacteria, and the butyric acid that is produced by the yeasts can actually help halt the onset of yeast infections like candida. Your itnestines need beneficial flora (bacteria) to digest and process nutrients for you and to defend your body against harmful bacteria; drinking kombucha leaves your belly populated with a good dose of this flora. For vegans, the B vitamins alone are a great reason to bring some kombucha into your life. It also is a formidable oppounent to constipation. Most devotees regard it as an all-around, overall-condition booster.

Although teh FDA has not weighed in on kombucha (and there have not been many scientific documentations or trials done with kombucha), many researchers are finally talking up the loftier claims of its immune-boosting properties.

Some people report feeling slightly drunk or high from drinking kombucha, even though it contains only trace amounts of alcohol (0.5% to 1.7% usually). A psychoactive amino-acid, L-theanine, is naturally present in the tea, which may be part of what provides the kombucha happy high. L-theanine has been shown in studies to increase the alpha-wave function of the human brain, which has been compared to being in a peaceful or meditative state or reading a good book. Alpha-wave states are said to be healing and calming. You may not want to drink kombucha and drive- at least try it yourself and see how you feel. it seems to affect people differently. Some drink it first thing int he morning and all day long. if I drink a bottle on an empty stomach, I feel entirely loopy. I tend to have it only at night before bed, then stumble off to bed in a relaxed and happy kombucha stupor.

In any case, the fermented beverage is growing more and more mainstream each day. The Google cafeteria in Mountain View, California, serves about 100 glasses daily! GT's Raw Organic Kombucha (100% kombucha tea) and Synergy Organic & Raw (95% kombucha tea and 5% fruit juice) are popular brands, and you can find them in stores all over."

*IF* you like to have an occasional glass of wine, you might like to try Sarma's Kombucha Cooler recipe. It serves 4.

4c or two 16 oz bottles of fruit flavoured Synergy kombucha
a few drops liquid stevia or 2T agave nectar
1 bottle chilled, dry, fruity white wine, like a NZ Sauvignon Blanc

Fill four tall glasses with ice. Divide the wine and sweetener among the glasses and stir to combine. Top off each glass with the kombucha and very gently stir to combine.