Kombucha - Fermented Tea for Gut Wellness

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage made by adding a culture of bacteria and yeast to sweetened tea. It is believed to have probiotic benefits for gut health and is sometimes flavored with fruits or herbs.
Category
Beverage
Where to get
Available in health stores, supermarkets, and specialty stores.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Kombucha FAQ


Image credit: htv.com.pk

What is kombucha & how does it work?

It’s basically just the process of bacteria and yeast eating up sugar to produce acids, gasses, or alcohol. In the case of kombucha, we’re getting a bit of each.

Where does kombucha come from?

Kombucha is thought to originate in China or Japan. It’s made by adding specific strains of bacteria, yeast, and sugar to black or green tea and then allowing it to ferment for a week or more. During this process, bacteria and yeast form a mushroom-like film on the surface of the liquid. This is why kombucha is also known as “mushroom tea.”

What is kombucha fungus?

Kombucha (also tea mushroom, tea fungus, or Manchurian mushroom when referring to the culture; Latin name Medusomyces gisevii) is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black tea drink. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of bacteria and yeast.

What is a kombucha culture?

A kombucha culture is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), similar to mother of vinegar, containing one or more species each of bacteria and yeasts, which form a zoogleal mat known as a "mother".

Kombucha References

If you want to know more about Kombucha, consider exploring links below:

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