Saturday, May 30, 2015

How to Make Kombucha




  • Guest Writer for Wake Up World
    I am a huge fan of Kombucha. It  has been brewed and enjoyed for over 2000 years all over the world. Many cultures have studied this amazing concoction and applied it to their health regiments, from Russia to China, and early Europe.
    I have been brewing Kombucha  at my own home for many years now. During it’s brewing, it naturally carbonates and creates a refreshing and fizzy healthy drink! I attribute drinking this fermented tea on a daily basis to many health benefits I have experienced. And it’s easy to make it at home!
    Benefits of Kombucha
    Kombucha is an all round natural, healthy fermented beverage full of amazing amino acids, probiotics and essential minerals. Probiotic literally means “for life”. Antibiotics kill ALL of the bacteria in your body, even the good stuff, but probiotics re-establish the natural ecology and order of the intestinal system. Probiotics are believed to boost immunity, mood enhancer, fight allergies, detoxify the body and rid the body of disease.




    However Kombucha is not  a panacea.  It doesn’t cure disorders,  it simply  brings the body back into balance so that it may heal itself naturally. That is the secret to how this beverage is able to do so much  —  it accompanies and supports your body’s natural immune system.
    For that reason, the Kombucha benefits you experience may vary  but it has is known for some of these great health benefits:
     Probiotics by the billions
     Helps to alkalize the body
     Helps in the detoxification of the liver
     Increases metabolism
      Improves digestion
      Relieves constipation
      Boosts energy
      Reduces the size kidney stones
      High in antioxidants
      Can be applied topically to soften the skin from eczema and other skin disorders
      Speeds up the healing of ulcers (kills  h.pylori  on contact)
      Helps clear up candida and  yeast infections
      Aids healthy cell regeneration
      Lowers glucose levels to prevent spiking after a meal
    Earthie Mama’s Kombucha Tea Recipe  ~ 1 Gallon

    Flavored Kombucha
    Supplies:
    •  1 Cup Organic Sugar
    •  4-6 Teabags (Organic Green, Black or White)
    •  Kombucha Starter Culture ~ SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast)
    •  1 Cup starter liquid (from another Kombucha tea)
    •  Brewing glass jar
    •  Cloth cover
    •  Rubber band
    Instructions:
    •  Bring 4 cups water to a boil.
    •  Turn water off , add tea bags ~ let steep for 10-20 minutes
    •  Stir in 1 Cup organic Sugar
    •  Let tea cool completely
    •  After it cools, pour in brewing jar
    •  Pour in starter liquid and SCOBY
    •  Cover with cloth and secure with rubber band
    •  Set in a dark place out of sunlight
    •  Keep undisturbed for 7 days.
    •  After 7 days try your kombucha with a straw or spoon.  If it tastes too bitter than it has brewed too long. If it is too sweet put cloth and rubberband back on and let sit for a few more days trying it every so often until it tastes to your liking.
    •  Drink as desired.
    •  Put it in fridge right away or fill up smaller bottles almost to the top and store for second fermentation for more carbonation.

    The SCOBY
    Other tips:
    •  You can flavor you Kombucha with organic frozen or fresh fruit, honey, ginger, herbs such as lavender or rose.
    •    If your Kombucha is too bitter, don’t throw it away! Use it for salad dressing in replacement or addition to vinegar.
    •    If your have too many SCOBY’s instead of throwing it away, compost it, worms LOVE SCOBY’s!
    •    If you have trouble finding a SCOBY, you can make your own by using some of a bottle of already brewed Kombucha and mix it with a cup of tea and sugar. A SCOBY  will form at the top.
    •  If you can’t find any Kombucha, you can just leave tea and sugar to ferment, it takes a while but a SCOBY  will form at the top.
    XOXO
    Earthie Mama
    ps. If you enjoy this recipe, check out my Kombucha Mojito recipe here on EarthieMama.com
    Previous articles by Earthie Mama:
    About the author:

    Alex is a true  Earthie Mama, helping others tune into their most natural state while bringing harmony and balance into all areas of their lives in order to thrive. Alex has a well known blog on health, wellness, conscious parenting, green living and getting off the grid to self sustainability: earthiemama.com. She also has an  MA  in Psychology, and is a registered Yoga Instructor, environmentalist, conscious mother,  green living expert  and birthing expert,  and  sells all natural products and her ebooks through her website.

    Please check out her website at earthiemama.com  or find  Earthie Mama on Facebook page at Facebook.com/TrueEarthMama.

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