33 Kombucha FAQs: Getting To Know Your Booch

Kombucha is a fermented black or green tea that contains beneficial bacteria. It is like a fizzy cider with a hint of sweetness. Carbonation is the natural product of fermentation that builds up its unique taste. Many people drink it because of some claims about its health benefits that include improving gut health, managing blood pressure, and curing cancer. 

Kombucha is easy but takes about two weeks to ferment. To start a brew, you will mix sugar, filtered water, green/black tea, and SCOBY or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Then, you’ll need to cover the fermentation jar with a cloth to let the brew breathe. 

The first fermentation will take about a week, then the brew will be poured into smaller bottles for another round of fermentation. The second fermentation will add flavor to the kombucha brew and allow it to become fizzy for another 2 to 7 days. 

Kombucha advocates claim that kombucha is good for constipation, reducing inflammation, preventing cancer, and boosting cardiovascular health. However, there’s still a need for further scientific evidence to prove the claims. 

Most health professionals say that the lack of evidence does not mean the benefits of kombucha are not true, but there is not enough clinical research to verify them.

Pronounce kombucha as /kom-boo-cha/ where you emphasize the sound of every vowel. The term kombucha came from the name of a Korean physician, Dr. Kombu, who brought it to Emperor Inkyo of Japan. The word kombucha in the Japanese language means kelp tea, which is far from the fermented tea that we know. 

The beneficial bacteria and enzymes in kombucha help maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut. It contains acids that aid digestion and improve digestion. 

Kombucha tastes sour, fizzy, with a hint of sweetness. The taste may also be affected by its flavor. Most people consider its resemblance to the taste of sour beer. 

There is a difference in the alcohol content in commercial and homebrewed kombucha. The alcohol content in most homebrewed kombucha can start from 0.5% and above. The limit usually depends on the length of fermentation. Store-bought kombucha, on the other hand, has an alcohol content that ranges from 0% to 0.5%.

Brew Dr., in particular, prefers to remove the alcohol in their kombucha because they aim to make their product available for all ages. Overall, the alcohol in kombucha is only minimal compared to the 5% alcohol in most alcoholic beverages. 

It is safe to drink kombucha every day as long as you maintain the daily recommended intake of 12 oz. Drinking too much kombucha in a day can lead to serious health conditions, which we explained here. 

Kombucha is good for you as a probiotic and an ideal alternative to sugary drinks like soda. It can also boost your energy in the morning and help you wind down in the afternoon after a long day. 

The safest way to drink kombucha is to start at 4 oz. a day for beginners. Once your body gets used to it, you can increase it to 12 oz. a day. Going beyond that limit may cause some side effects like nausea and an upset stomach.

Raw kombucha is the unpasteurized version of kombucha, which contains a live culture of beneficial bacteria. Some companies pasteurize their kombucha brews to kill all the bacteria in pathogens through heating, in hopes to make it safe for drinking.

Kombucha is a healthy drink, but it is not for everyone. Some people with immune systems may experience some side effects, such as:

• Upset stomach
• Yeast allergies
• Jaundice
• Yeast infection
• Nausea
• Headache
• Neck pain
• Death 

There’s no rule in drinking kombucha. However, there are some benefits to drinking it at a specific time of the day. Learn more about the perfect time of the day to drink a booch here. 

There are two ways to grow SCOBY from scratch. One is by boiling a pot of water, steeping a new batch of green or black tea, and adding organic cane sugar. Then, put it in a jar and mix two cups of store-bought kombucha. Another option is to simply pour the store-bought kombucha into a jar and let it grow new SCOBY for 7 to 10 days. 

Kombucha is best served chilled. Ideally, you can drink ½ cup every meal or three times a day for maximum benefits. Some people add fruit juice to it to balance its sour taste.

Drink kombucha after your workout to boost the fat-burning process of your body. Green tea in kombucha contains EGCG, which may contribute to speeding up your weight loss efforts. 

There are about 15 to 30 milligrams of caffeine in kombucha. So, people sensitive to caffeine or insomnia must avoid drinking it before bed to avoid experiencing any side effects. 

Kombucha may last for a long time after opening. However, it is recommended that you consume it within three days to prevent the pathogens from developing in the drink. Once you started drinking it in a bottle the contaminants in the air and your saliva may get into the drink and cause unwanted bacterial growth. 

To make a hard kombucha, you’ll need to add champagne yeast and sugar during the second fermentation. The yeast will feed on the sugar to increase the ABV of kombucha from 0.5 % to 5%. You will also need an airlock to release the carbonation but prevent the yeast from getting oxygen. 

People with compromised immune systems and pregnant women should avoid drinking kombucha. Their immune system may not handle loads of bacteria that can get through their blood and cause diseases.

Kombucha started in northeast China and has spread in Japan, Korea,  eastern Europe, and Russia. In the early centuries, it was used as a healing beverage for its health benefits. Today, it has spread in all parts of the world and is now starting to become a popular health drink. 

During the second fermentation, you can add any fruits or herbs to add flavor to your kombucha. You may mix and match several fruits to achieve the flavor you want. 

No, kombucha only contains 0.5% alcohol which may not likely get you drunk. The alcohol level is enough to relax your nerves after work and drowsy before bed.

Yes, it is safe to drink kombucha every day as long as you don’t have any serious health conditions or are pregnant(for women). 

When you first start drinking kombucha, you may notice how it makes you feel relaxed but not tipsy. Your body will also digest food better and you’ll have more sustainable energy throughout the day.  

Green tea-based kombucha is good for weight loss because it amplifies the fat-burning effect of a workout. It is also a low-sugar alternative that can help you steer away from sugary beverages like energy drinks and soda. 

Kombucha advocates claim that kombucha is full of health benefits that help support good digestion, improve gut health, and boost immunity. However, further research is needed to prove the claims. Nevertheless, more and more people are turning to kombucha as an alternative for unhealthy drinks.

Experts say that people who feel sleepy or weird after drinking kombucha have histamine intolerance. They lack a specific enzyme that helps the body process histamine. 

Kombucha will not cause any problems for healthy adults. However, it can cause serious health conditions to people with weak immune systems and those suffering from HIV and kidney disease. Serious side effects of kombucha can lead to death due to lactic acidosis or too much lactic acid in the blood. 

Kombucha can stay in the fridge for a very long time. However, kombucha brands recommend that you should consume it before its ‘expiry date’ to ensure the best quality or taste. The cool temperature in the fridge helps pause the fermentation and prevents kombucha from turning into vinegar. The only catch of leaving kombucha in the fridge is it will lose its fizz. 

No, the ABV in kombucha is too low to be considered an alcoholic drink. It may contain some alcohol, but you can still buy it in any supermarket or local health food store. 

While some people give kombucha to their kids, it’s best to consult a pediatrician first. In case you get a green light, the brand and contents of the kombucha should also be kid-friendly to keep them safe for potential side effects. One of the best brands of kombucha that is good for kids is Brew Dr. because they keep the alcohol content at 0.1% in their booches. 

Some people get sleepy after drinking kombucha because of possible histamine intolerance. Most kombucha drinkers usually attribute their sleepiness to the alcohol in kombucha since it helps them relax.