By Emily Devon.
One of the biggest trends in beverages right now, is healthy calories. Convenience World magazine has been diving right into it!
In Bad for you bevs, a thing of the past, it discusses why liquid calories is at the forefront of brand manager’s minds.
A flavoursome healthy option that many consumers are turning to is kombucha.
Kombucha is a fermented tea that reaps a ton of health benefits.
Why?
- Due to the fermented process, kombucha tea is a good source of probiotics¹.
- Kombucha is made from green tea. Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet because of the bioactive compounds, which is a powerful antioxidant. Studies have even shown that green tea can increase calories burned, reduce belly fat, and improve cholesterol levels¹.
- It can kill bacteria. Kombucha is rich in tea polyphenols and acetic acid, which have been shown to suppress the growth of undesirable bacteria and yeasts¹.
- May reduce the risk of heart disease¹.
How to make kombucha
There are different ways to make different types of kombucha. This is a basic recipe from Arabella Forge at Good Food.
Ingredients:
3 litres boiled water (filtered if possible)
5 black or green tea bags or the equivalent in loose-leaf tea
1 cup white or raw sugar
1 kombucha scoby
1 kombucha liquid from a previous batch
Add water, sugar and tea bags to a large saucepan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat, add the tea and allow it to rest for 30 to 60 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and allow the solution to cool to room temperature. Pour into a large, sterilised glass jar and add the scoby and kombucha liquids. Cover with a tea towel and secure with string or rubber band.
Keep in a warm, dry place. The preferred temperature for kombucha brewing is 24-32C, away from direct sunlight. Leave undisturbed for a minimum of 7 to 10 days.
Scoby will grow on top of liquid. It will also develop a sour, tart flavour.
Strain the kombucha liquid from the scoby using a coffee filter or plastic sieve (do not use metal). Keep the scoby, along with one cup of the liquid for a subsequent batch, and either drink the remaining liquid or ferment into a “flavoured booch”.
References
- 8 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Kombucha Tea, Healthline. Joe Leech, 2018. Accessed on 10/03/2020. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-kombucha-tea
- How to brew your own kombucha, Good Food. Arabella Forge, 2016. Accessed on 10/03/2020. https://www.goodfood.com.au/good-health/how-to-brew-your-own-kombucha-20161116-gsqcxj
