Kombucha

[veggie]

Anyone had any experience with Kombucha or know anything about it?

[vegangelist]

never tried it myself, but have had the chiropractor speak highly of it, as well as others. i am waiting to hear others' responses as well.

kristi

[joy]

I haven't tried it myself, but here's a diary of someone who drank it to accompany a 5 day juice fast. I doubt the author is raw, but he appears to eat a fairly clean diet. He keeps a very detailed account of kombucha's effects.

http://www.chetday.com/jfast.html

Bless you :)

[SedonaSun]

I found some Kombucha at my favorite raw food health store wonderland. It's expensive for a 20oz bottle ($3.49) but cheaper than a Starbucks, to put it into perspective. I tried the Gingerade. Had no idea what to expect, but I like it. The bottle says it might have a slight alcohol content due to the fermentation. It tastes like a cross between a wine cooler and a beer--in a good way (and I don't really care for either, btw). Very fizzy. (Hint: don't shake the bottle before opening it! Don't ask how I know :eek: )

Another post about Kombucha says it has a lot of sugar. The caloric content on the label is only 60 calories for the entire bottle and I don't see sugar listed. Not saying there's no sugar in it, just reporting what I see.

Obviously I haven't had enough to report any detoxifying results, but I did want to say that I find it to be tasty, although I can certainly see that it's not a taste for everyone and if you have/had issues with alcohol, you might want to abstain, just in case.

[asil]

I bought some in a bottle at Whole Foods. There is no way the stuff I had contained sugar (perhaps it's used up during the fermenting process. You know, like beer or bread). Mine tasted like fermented, very strong vinegar. It would definitely be an acquired taste :).

[SedonaSun]

My husband had a sip last night and about spit it out. He said it tasted like vinegar, too. Weird, because I don't get that taste at all.

[veggiegirl2010]

I had a friend give me a kombucha mushroom once and he explained to me how to make the tea. (He learned from some monks he stayed with).
I made the tea for about a month or two...I liked it. I thought the taste was pleasant...kind of similar to a cider. There are all kinds of amazing benefits that I read about. I didn't really do it long enough to notice any of those happening to myself ~ but not suggesting it wouldn't if my diet had been cleaner at the time or if I had done the tea longer.
I quit making the tea because I went to Mexico for a while and no one took care of my mushroom while I was gone! :eek:
I would definitely try it again now if I only had another mushroom to start it with! It takes a little care and a little effort to make your own, but no more than what it takes to make good raw dishes ~ so it's not bad. And I made a rather big batch of the tea at one time so that I could fill up a few bottles to put in the refrigerator to drink while my next batch of tea was fermenting.
So...that was my experience with it all!

[veggie]

I actually tried the citrus and the cranberry flavors and loved them. I can see how some may think it's an acquired taste. However, I really liked it. I drank it after eating something that didn't agree with me, and I felt it helped my body get back into balance. I'll agree with you, Kelly, it is a bit pricey. I also compare it to splurging on a Starbucks!

[SedonaSun]

For those curious enough, here's a link on making your own http://www.kombuchatea.co.uk/how-do-i-make-kombucha.asp

It has instructions for making your own, links to purchase Kombucha starter kits, photos taken during the process, and more.

Definitely cheaper than buying it in the store. I've never tried making anything like this (sourdough bread, yogurt, etc) but hey... why not? And what a cool way to gross out our friends with the new culture that forms while it ferments--they already think I'm weird enough, heh heh. Wonder if the dogs would like the tea...hmmm.... :rolleyes:

[Sparkle]

I made my own years ago and it was very easy and quite tasty. The sugar is used by the "mushroom" to feed on and ferment. You can vary tastes by using different teas. The vinegary taste is when it goes too long. Once you start you will have lots of "mushroom" babies to share with friends.

I didn't really feel the benefits that others listed, but it was an enjoyable drink - like Veggiegirl mentioned - cider. I didn't drink it long term and I was eating SAD.

I may give it a try again in the future.

[misslinda]

A chinese tea-fungus that is fermented and is probiotic. Puts the good bacteria back in.

I started drinking it a few days ago b/c I didn't know that the oil of oregano I was using to rid my infection, takes the good and bad bacteria out. I felt alive again and actually had an appetite for the first time in like 3 months,vibrant energy and warm hands. My skin has returned with more glowiness--I didn't realize how BLAH and morbid I looked until acquaintances commented on how vibrant I looked.

I really like Kombucha tea.

[RawTruth]

Here's the thread where kombucha was discussed back in March. If you go to post #10, there's a definition that I'd cut and pasted from an incredibly detailed website. BTW, there are sooo many webpages about kombucha, including the entire history of it, via Google.

Here 'tis --
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2884&highlight=kombucha

[misslinda]

This is just me but I did mung bean tea first (prescribed by my accupuncturist/herbalist), to expel toxins and poisins from my body that was keeping my from fighting the infection and then I did Kombucha--this combo worked for me. I'm not welting like I was before.

Thanks for the link RT I'll check it out.

[misslinda]

Rawtruth, how did you respond to Kombucha--any changes?

[rawsome]

As others previously posted, Synergy now sells organic and RAW Kombucha drinks. It is definitely an acquired taste (my wife hates it!), but I'm happy to find raw drinks at the store (even most juices have been pasteurized). Kombucha has also been around 1000s of years, so it must have something going for it.

[pizda]

I was growing up with kombucha (fungus) jar in my grandma kitchen. I did not like it, but grandma forced me to drink especially when I had tummy ache. If you would only see how the fungus grows and what you are drinking!!!??? ,-))).
It is a nasty stuff, but taste somewhat different. The bottled kombucha that you buy in store is dead and has very little medicinal or nutritious properties. You need to grow and drink while fungus still alive. Fungus is feeding by tea with sugar and releases enzymes in the same jar. In some way the process similar (fermentation) to kefir or yougurt.
Bon appetite. ,-)))).

[SedonaSun]

I just bottled my first batch of kombucha!! Got another batch going already.

No, it's not the most appetizing looking thing while it brews, but there are a lot of nasty foods and drinks that are consumed regularly -- not to mention the whole meat industry and all the crap that goes into SAD foods and fast foods. We just don't see the gross end of all that.

But kombucha is definitely not for everyone. I like being the odd duck :)

I made for about $1 what would have cost me $18 or more in the health food store -- and mine tastes better than the particular brand they carry now. Come to think of it, the one they carry now is probably pasteurized. The one they used to carry may have been raw--it was better.

I've got someone here who wants my first kombucha baby, but if any of you want one down the road, let me know. It takes 2 weeks to get a good baby (I read it's supposed to go through 2 brewing cycles to be strong enough to make it's own tea and each cycle is about a week).

[anthony11]

I prefer to stick with Bragg's apple cider vinegar. It tastes better and doesn't have caffeine.

[Punky]

I prefer to stick with Bragg's apple cider vinegar. It tastes better and doesn't have caffeine.

I tried the Kombucha drink this week (bought it from Whole Foods Market-
and YES it says it is RAW and unpasterized). It is an acquired taste.
Reminded me of apple cider vinager, diluted and a touch fizzy...
I bought the original, citrus and gingeraide flavors. Gingerade was
by far my favorite. I felt extremely vibrant after drinking these and will
be drinking them every week now.

Anthony, I didn't think it had caffeine?!?!? it is made from chinese tea, so maybe you are right; slight alcohal though!...which I could feel for like 5 min. I would think the apple cider vinager would have similar beneficial effects, although I am no expert....and it is cheaper than the bottled Kombucha.

I really don't have any ailments currently, but do like how I felt after drinking these.

[RawTruth]

Last month, I was drinking 2 oz. of kombucha daily for several weeks, but ended up not liking the effect on my digestion. I think it's a very individual thing and can be quite beneficial for some people.

[Mommax4]

http://www.happyherbalist.com/

http://happyherbalist.com/kombucha.htm

The Happy Herbalist will answer questions when you e-mail them if there is something that isn't addressed on his site.

I heard about him from another site, and everyone who gets their starts from him just rave.

[WinterSun]

SedonaSun- I always have 3 batches going at a time, your right, it's sooo much cheaper to make your own.
I got my first "baby" from an Amish woman. I wish I could find people who would like "babies" but how would you send them?? You can find sites that sell the "babies", when you brew kombucha for a while, and have several batches going you get "babies" galore, I'd give them away! I put my old ones on my tomatoe plants, they're also good for the compost pile.
I drink 8 oz. in the morning and 8 oz. when I get home from work. At first if I drank it on an empty stomach I'd get heartburn, but that doesn't happpen anymore. My hubby drinks it too, sometimes we drink it just because.
It is so helpful as far as detoxing your body and helping your liver.

[Ginger]

Tastes like cider to me & depending on the brand it also tastes like apple cider vinegar too. My 2 1/2 year old LOVES the stuff!

[amber_vegan]

Just wanted to say that I love kombucha...the grape one. It does have a vinegar taste but I think it rocks. When I first started drinking it I would become extremely hot and start to sweat, weird feeling but the drink has done wonders for me. Now drinking kombucha with my raw diet, I feel amazing.

[samariah]

I dont know if this is true but i read somewhere that kombucha can have a very mild psychedelic effect.