Everything you need to know about kombucha
You may have noticed a surge in research and conversation around gut health. The stomach is often considered a ‘second brain’ (or even first brain) because it operates independently from the brain in our heads and the spinal cord. So what does this have to do with kombucha, the fermented drink we’ve come to know and love? Quite a bit actually!
While the research into the health benefits of kombucha is small, the demand for this drink is high. As your new favourite online grocer, we’ve got a great selection of kombucha flavours in our shop so we thought it’s about time we explored this beverage in more detail.
What is kombucha?
Searching for healthy and refreshing drinks can be a challenge because hidden sugars are so sneaky. Kombucha is an effervescent, fermented drink that’s grown in popularity in recent years for its sweet and sour flavour and acclaimed health benefits. It’s a nice alternative to soft drinks and can actually be made at home if you have the right equipment and patience.
What is kombucha made from?
There are a few key ingredients that give kombucha its kick: tea, sugar and a ‘scoby’. The name ‘scoby’ is an acronym for ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast’ and to produce the liquid you drink, it needs to be fed with sugar and tea.
Flavoured kombucha
If you want to flavour kombucha, you simply drop a handful of your favourite fruits into the concoction, like ginger, lemons or even blueberries. The sky’s the limit for which flavour combo you choose so it's best to experiment to learn what you like.
However, making kombucha can be quite time consuming, so we’ve brought in the best of the best: Liberty Kombucha and Remedy Kombucha. Liberty Kombucha comes in a can and has the wildest flavours, like lemon and coconut, black cherry and Kakadu plum and ginger.
Remedy Kombucha contains no sugar and will wow your taste buds with flavours like mango passion, raspberry lemonade and ginger lemon. They also have packs of four cans for when you’re on the go, too.
What are the benefits of drinking kombucha?
This is a hotly contested debate (mostly due to the lack of research) but most people can agree on the fact that kombucha contains a large number of probiotics, which is great for gut health. So let’s take a look at some of the potential benefits of downing this fermented fizzy beverage.
Blood sugar control
Similar to green tea, kombucha has a truckload of antioxidants. These amazing substances help to fight off free radicals which are molecules that can damage cells in the body. You’ve likely heard of antioxidants before (they’re also in fruit, particularly berries) and they’re great for detoxing toxicity from the liver and keeping blood sugar levels in the healthy range.
Improved digestion
We’ve mentioned the probiotics in kombucha and they’re so vital to keeping gut flora in check. Probiotics improve digestion by adding good gut bacteria into the mix to help break down food. Fermented foods are wonderful for this and kombucha is a brilliant way to take care of your tummy.
Lower risk of heart disease
As one of our nation’s biggest killers, heart disease is a big problem. Researchers studying rats have found that kombucha can improve cholesterol levels – high cholesterol levels can be a key contributor to heart disease. Pretty amazing for a simple yeast and bacteria elixir!
Helps manage type-2 diabetes
When kombucha is made properly, it’s actually a really healthy drink. According to research, kombucha can slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, lowering blood sugar levels, which is a big win for anyone with type-2 diabetes. When made from green tea, the health benefits of kombucha explode – it’s even more bang for your buck when it comes to blood sugar levels, digestion and antioxidants!
Is kombucha good for you?
Homebrewing kombucha can be fun but you need to make sure you get the balance right, otherwise, the results could be disastrous. If you over-ferment the drink, you run the risk of causing yourself some health issues, so it’s a good idea to go the store-bought route until you’ve mastered your technique.
Get your kombucha fix on iPantry
Before you commit to making your own kombucha at home, check out what we’ve got on iPantry. There’s a range of flavours to explore as well as a whole world of groceries to discover. Give us a try for your weekly shop and score next day delivery when you order before 2pm Monday to Friday.
