Kombucha?

[kiwiberry1002]

I just tried Kombucha for the first time today, and i was wondering if any of u had an idea where i can get it for a cheaper price (in bulk perhaps)?

[pinkrosebud]

I live in Olympia Wa, and have no idea where to get it in bulk. However, I just brew a gallon of my own every week, this way I can experiment with tea varieties and juice combinations. It is fabulous. All my friends and coworkers say it is better than the stuff you can buy at the store. All you need is one glass gallon jar, coffee filter to cover the jar with, Tea of your choice but has to have caffiene, sugar and of course (the tricky part) a kombucha start. Put out your feelers in your local area and see if anyone is brewing. If they are they will be more than happy to give you a baby. I have to give a baby away every other week. Good Luck!!

[Rawzula]

How do you brew Kombucha at home? I want to try it out for myself.

[luckitri]

Me too! Makes me sorry I gave away that huge sun tea jar!

[VitalHarvest]

Can I add a side-question to this discussion?

I'd like to hear others' perspectives on why fermented foods/drinks are healthy. And thank you for sharing your opinions. :)

[Ashira]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is kombucha? (and is it legal to give babies away? :D LOL) Seriously, I'm intereseted in fermented foods so would love to learn from your wisdom. TIA

[Naiad]

Can I add a side-question to this discussion?

I'd like to hear others' perspectives on why fermented foods/drinks are healthy. And thank you for sharing your opinions. :)

Helpful bacteria - probiotics :)

Especially good for people taking antibiotics, which destroy both beneficial and detrimental bacteria in the body. I worked with a woman who lost her mother when super doses of antibiotics for a lung infection left her ripe for a horrible stomach infection :(

[SchoolOfRAWk]

This is what I put in my recent newsletter on fermented foods. Please disregard the workshop information at the end. Basically, we should be eating them daily. The mainstream raw diet kind of doesn't emphasize them enough. At all the healing institutes, especially when reversing disease, they are strictly enforced, and for good reason. :)
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What Are Fermented Foods?
Fermented foods are foods that have been fermented. It is important to be sure that we all have a clear understanding of what "fermentation" means. Fermentation is the controlled process of food decomposition. During the process foods begin to naturally break down, thus creating new nutrients and beneficial digestive bacteria. This bacteria not only helps to break down and assimilate foods, but it produces natural preservatives.

I thought it would be fun to present some other definitions of fermentation, though, for a broader understanding.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, fermentation is a chemical reaction in which sugars are broken down into smaller molecules that can be used in living systems. Nice, but not my favorite.

We can thank the Ameritage Heritage Science Dictionary, another publication, for this yawner: The process by which complex organic compounds, such as glucose, are broken down by the action of enzymes into simpler compounds without the use of oxygen. Fermentation results in the production of energy in the form of two ATP molecules, and produces less energy than the aerobic process of cellular respiration. The other end products of fermentation differ depending on the organism. In many bacteria, fungi, protists, and animals cells (notably muscle cells in the body), fermentation produces lactic acid and lactate, carbon dioxide, and water. In yeast and most plant cells, fermentation produces ethyl alcohol, carbon dioxide, and water. I'm sorry, am I snoring? I’m quite sure this thorough but unappealing definition is accurate, but honestly, this is TMI (Too Much Information) in my opinion. Why? Because it’s waaaaay over the average person’s head.

Here’s a fun one for you. Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary described it as the following:

“a chemical change with effervescence”

Adorable, but that could describe what happens after too much Taco Bell, too, meaning that it doesn't say much. Fortunately, they included the following definition as well, which I loved:

An enzymatically controlled anaerobic breakdown of an energy-rich compound (as a carbohydrate to carbon dioxide and alcohol or to an organic acid); broadly : an enzymatically controlled transformation of an organic compound.

Bravo. Enzymes! Transformation! NOW we’re talking. POWERFUL STUFF! Yes, fermented foods are live foods that have transformative, regenerative, qualities. Is it ANY wonder they are imperative for optimum health? Without them, we degenerate.

Fermentation is an ancient food preservation tool. Our grandparents or great-grandparents likely fermented foods, especially before refrigeration, as a means of storing vegetables for the winter. It was one of the mainstays in their diets----likely due to the preservative qualities and not the health benefits. However, even animals and indigenous folks intuitively ferment foods, burying raw foods in the ground for a week, then digging them up and eating them. And in other cultures around the world, homemade fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi never went out of style in their less commercialized cultures, and it is reflected in their improved health statistics.

The term "fermented" can sound unappealing—especially when you consider that we are basically talking about “strategically” decomposed food, more or less (BIG emphasis on "strategically"!). But in all actuality, many commonly ingested foods are a result of the fermentation process, and are quite popular: Beer, Pickles, Cheese, Wine, Soy Sauce, Vinegar, Yogurt, etc. All of these products are sharp or tangy. All of these mainstream products are fermented, but they are all either pasteurized (heated, which kills all the good bacteria and enzymes), are unhealthy in and of themselves and/or they contain unhealthy additives. . . .

The Massive Benefits Of Fermented Foods
When you eat raw cultured vegetables loaded with enzymes you give your body an opportunity to use it's own enzymes to rejuvenate itself instead of wasting a large portion of them digesting food. Within a healthy lifestyle, raw fermented foods in their natural state are highly valued for their probiotics (good bacteria), enzymes and nutrients, not to mention their predigested state that renders them very easy for our stressed digestive tracts to process and assimilate. That is why Dr. Ann Wigmore, largely recognized as the mother of the western living foods movement, made them a daily staple for all who came to her in search of health.

Common raw and vegan fermented foods used in the living foods lifestyle are as follows:

Veggie Kraut
Rejuvelac (a fermented Wheatberry drink)
Young Coconut Kefir
Kombucha Tea


These fermented foods increase total health, promoting the growth of friendly intestinal bacteria, supporting the immune system, and aiding digestion. The nutritional benefits of fermented foods are exponential, meaning that they contain all the benefits of organic, raw foods in their natural state but develop more and more beneficial properties as the food ferments.

Just some of the benefits of fermented foods are as follows:

- They contribute to a healthy immune system and help fortify patients suffering from AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, and cancer

- They promote a tranquilizing effect on the nervous system and benefit many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, Autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

- They help relieve all intestinal disorders, promote bowel movement, reduce flatulence, create a healthier digestive system -- and is an absolute must after the use of antibiotics to restore balance to the digestive tract

- They help regulate weight and appetite by reducing cravings for sugar, soft drinks, bread and pasta -- all foods I strongly advise against

- They help the body prevent bacteria and fungal overgrowths by populating the gut with healthy flora.

How To Add Fermented Foods To Your Diet
The best way to add fermented foods to your diet and to ensure their integrity is to find some that are appetizing to you and to make them yourself. Store-bought ferments are often pasteurized, thus cooking them and destroying the enzymes and good bacteria. Plus, they are expensive, often over $10 a pint for Kraut and $3 a pint for Kombucha, etc! If that's your only option, though, don't let it deter you: Dr. Ann Wigmore said that only 1 tbsp of Kraut per meal was enough to receive the benefits. THAT is what I'm trying to tell you, people: this stuff is POWERFUL!

If you live in Eugene , I am hosting a Fermentation Workshop on April 28th because even raw foodists typically don’t get enough fermented foods in their diet. We’ll be puttin’ the fun in fermentation as I demonstrate Veggie Kraut, Kombucha tea, Rejuvelac and Young Coconut Milk Kefir–––4 extraordinarily healthy fermented options that would be tasty mainstays in any healthy diet–––in this interactive workshop.

If you do not live in Eugene or are unable to attend the workshop, there are some great books on fermentation as well as myriad web resources, simply by doing a basic online search. By all means, just start getting these into your diets, folks, no matter WHAT your current diet is. If your goal is health in any capacity, you cannot duck out of or dodge the importance of fermented foods, they are crucial and provide a unique benefit that other foods simply cannot and do not. You will notice an improvement in energy and health almost immediately, and your body will thank you exponentially.

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Kombucha Tea

It's BEYOND yummy!

http://www.kombuchatea.co.uk/

http://www.anahatabalance.com/teakombucha2.html

Cultures are considered bad luck to be bought and sold. (Note: it is not really a 'mushroom', that is a misnomer). It is a SCOBY, a Synthesized Culture Of Bacteria & Yeast. This tea is LOADED with enzymes, probiotics and nutrients.

To get a FREE culture, for just the cost of shipping, and to study up on the SIMPLE process of making it, but also to receive live assistance, join the worldwide yahoo group, Original Kombucha. It's GREAT and the people are marvelous. That is where I got my scobies, and I got like 9 for $14.00 (shipping and handling; it is less for less scobies). You can join here:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/original_kombucha/

To try it, most health stores sell SYNERGY kombucha tea. They make a strong, super healthy organic kombucha and flavor it with fresh fruits and juices. Strawberry and Grape are my favorites, as well as Ginger ("Trilogy" is ginger, lemon and rasberry). ADDICTIVE!

[VitalHarvest]

Thanks Naiad & SchoolOfRAWk for the info. I will read the rest of that in a little while. I was familiar with the friendly bacteria aspect, but I've also read that fermented foods are very acidic, too. . .

[SchoolOfRAWk]

I would never let that scare me. It may be or may not be, but it only has good effects on your body.

[Ashira]

Thanks Naiad and Erica for the info... I will definitely look into a kombucha kit, sounds like a great addition to our diet!

[jaurequi]

SchoolOfRawk,

From what you've learned about this, is it your understanding that rejuvelac and kombucha should be drunk alone, before, after, or with foods for maximum benefit?

I read that fermented foods are supposed to help with sugar cravings, but it was not from a source I would consider reliable. I see it on your list in the newsletter; do you know if this is true or anectodotal?


Best,

[Damzlfly]

I have read that Kombucha should be taken alone on an empty stomach, preferably first thing in the morning.

[Shirleyh]

Would the tea be the same as doing the cultures? Or are they done at the same time?

[Stina]

Can someone buy a bottle of Synergy and use the slimy thing floating around as a baby?

[SchoolOfRAWk]

No. You would have to use a LOT of them, together, they may form one if you let them all soak together a long time in tea. The thing is, that is expensive and stuff.

Just check one of the many kombucha shares online - someone in your area will mail you one or 2 nice ones for free for the cost of shipping. Go to www.yahoogroups.com and search KOMBUCHA. You'll be brought to the ORIGINAL KOMBUCHA group, and join it. It is awesome. You'll have what you need in no time. I got NINE for $14 from a woman in Utah. Packaged with tons of love and care. :-)

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Shirleyh - The tea brews from the cultures. So the drink is a cultured (read: fermented) drink. So, you don't really "do" the cultures, the culture is separate but you never ingest that alone.

From what you've learned about this, is it your understanding that rejuvelac and kombucha should be drunk alone, before, after, or with foods for maximum benefit?

I read that fermented foods are supposed to help with sugar cravings, but it was not from a source I would consider reliable. I see it on your list in the newsletter; do you know if this is true or anectodotal?

Yes, fermented foods, especially kombucha, have been known to help with both sugar cravings and even alcohol cravings. Absolutely. As well as energy levels and more.

As far as drinking alone - ALL beverages should, technically, due to common sense/food combining. HOWEVER, if you DO drink with a meal ever, the BEST choice is a fermented beverage, actually, because it aids digestion as it is loaded with probiotics. If I'm thirsty while eating, I always do grab K-tea. That said, it is so satisfying, I generally drink it alone and not with meals but I drink it all day. Morning is great, your stomach is "emptiest", but man, I drink it before lunch, after lunch, after dinner. I drink a few quarts a day of k-tea when going strong. The last month I've tapered off (totally natural). In my small School Of RAWk kitchen over here, I have 8 - 9 gallons brewing. I'm excited for summer as they will ferment even quicker. I like it strong, I'm a "Synergy" girl (lol!)

Kombucha is remarkable and because the culture covers the liquid in the jar and stuff, there is no mold and danger of wild spores. Unlike REJUVELAC, which scares me to do anymore.

As an aside, does everyone make kraut? If not, when you do, to add to the potency, you can get great veggie culture starters to be certain to add lots of hardy strains of beneficial bacteria to your kraut. I got some and am excited to do that for next time. I should make some while fasting, actually, and just MIGHT. Hmmmmm.

[Shirleyh]

Thanks! :)

I am reading more, and the komucha is a mushroom that is brewed in a tea & sugar. Is it okay to brew without the other stuff. I am wondering if the energy came from the tea that has caffeine in it?

[SchoolOfRAWk]

It is actually not a mushroom, it just RESEMBLES one, kind of. Or a big pancake. It is spongy and stuff, though. But it is not a "mushroom".

No, you need the caffeine and the sugar. The thing is, the CULTURE eats that and CONVERTS it. It is really NOT in your drink, you are drinking the end result, the probiotics, the enzymes and nutrition it CREATES. It is still a raw health elixir. Some don't do it, but it has helped me immensely.

I was nervous at first, due to a candida issue, but my body LOVES it.

[Shirleyh]

Ok, so it has to be white sugar. I have some. I also have green tea. Can I sun brew the green tea? How is it raw with boiled water? Thanks!

[dreamrawalwz]

Am I the only one that has issues with kombucha? I get SOOO bloated, full, and uncomfortable. Maybe it's because it's cultured in sugar and I can't tolerate sugar?

[jaurequi]

Thanks! :)

I am reading more, and the komucha is a mushroom that is brewed in a tea & sugar. Is it okay to brew without the other stuff. I am wondering if the energy came from the tea that has caffeine in it?


I just recently read that someone made it with rooibos, which is a tisane rather than a tea, though most people consider it a "tea" or label it, "herbal tea." It has no caffeine, and is not even of the Camellia sinensis; so not even related to tea at all - a true herbal.

If I remember the site, I'll post it; but I cannot recall it right now.

Best,

[andypdx]

Am I the only one who CANNOT even STAND the SMELL of Kombucha? I've tried both Kombucha and Rejuvelac, and they both just smell like alcohol or rotting fruit to me.

:confused: