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From pop songs to skin care products, Korean culture has gained popularity worldwide. One such example is Kombucha which is being loved by people all over the world for its potential health benefits. Hailing from South Korea, kombucha is a fermented tea which is a staple in Korean culture. Also known as tea of immortality, the most special thing about kombucha is that it is made by adding a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) to sweetened tea. This converts it into a gut-friendly composition packed with plenty of health benefits.
Kombucha at home
While you can harness Kombucha benefits from store-bought kombucha drinks, homemade is always a better option. By making Kombucha at home you can easily adjust its tanginess as per your personal preference and you can also add some fruits and herbs to achieve the desired flavour.
Here is a quick guide to preparing kombucha at home
Ingredients to prepare kombucha
- 8 bags of tea (black, green, or oolong)
- 3 liters of water
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of starter tea (from a previous batch or store-bought kombucha)
- 1 SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast)
- Flavourings such as fruits, herbs, or spices (optional)
Instructions
- Add sugar to hot water and make it dissolve. Then, add 8 tea bags and steep for 5–10 minutes. Now, let it cool to room temperature.
- Gently place the scoby into the jar, and submerge in it completely. Now, cover the jar with a clean cloth and secure it with a rubber band.
- Place the jar in a warm and dark place for 7 to 14 days. The fermentation times depend on how much tanginess you want.
- After 7 days, taste your kombucha daily. Remove the scoby as soon as you achieve the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess.
- Now, you can add some fruits and herbs if you like. To carbonate, seal it tightly and put it aside for the next 2 to 3 days for further fermentation.
- Refrigerate the kombucha for the next 2 days. This will slow down the process of fermentation and make Kombucha ready to drink.
Advantages of drinking kombucha daily
If you are wondering about kombucha drink benefits, these are numerous from improving digestive health to promoting healthier and more beautiful skin.
1. Digestive health
Drinking kombucha every day can significantly improve your gut health. It supports the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut due to its high probiotic content. Thus, boosting the healthy gut microbiome. These probiotics not only improve digestion but also result in better nutrient absorption. On the other hand, if you are drinking kombucha daily this also helps in maintaining a healthy pH balance in the gut due to the presence of organic acids like acetic acid and gluconic acid. Plus, it also helps in coping with issues like bloating, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Improving the overall digestive system is among the major kombucha juice benefits.
2. Detoxification
Detoxification is one of the major kombucha health benefits. Drinking kombucha daily enhances the detoxification process of the body. How does it do that? When you are drinking kombucha, it offers you many organic acids like glucuronic acid which are known to help in detoxification. They support liver function and also aid in eliminating toxins from the body. These acids also facilitate the excretion of toxins from the body by binding to them.
3. Boost immunity
The health benefits of drinking kombucha also include better immunity. If you are drinking kombucha every day, it offers you a good amount of probiotics. This accelerates your antibody protection by activating the regulatory cells. These are the cells which produce immune-responding cells that help lead the immune response. Not only this, drinking kombucha also supplies you with a good amount of antioxidants, including vitamin C and polyphenols. This protects your body against oxidative stress and strengthens the immune system.
4. Skin health
Needless to say, Koreans are very concerned about their skin health and drinking kombucha is one of the ways they follow to achieve radiant skin. Being rich in B vitamins like B2, B6, and B12, drinking kombucha can reduce inflammation. Hence, encouraging new skin cell growth and combating acne and dryness. Detoxification is one of the known benefits from drinking kombucha. By aiding detoxification kombucha indirectly promotes healthier skin. Plus, kombucha benefits skin by protecting it from damage and premature ageing owing to the presence of polyphenols and vitamin C.
So, if you are looking to add a new drink to your daily diet, kombucha would be a great option. If you consume it daily, kombucha benefits are numerous from improving the digestive system to aiding in detoxification. Not to skip, kombucha can also work wonders for your skin.