Back in New York for the summer we're missing the refreshing Kombucha tea that we perfected in Costa Rica. We left our SCOBY there after sharing ‘daughters’ with several friends. We serve a Kombucha "cocktail" for fun and for it’s renowned cleansing health benefits each day of our detox retreats. It nourishes our minds and bodies both in pleasant and profound ways. We thought we could share a few quotes so you might discover how and why Kombucha can be a healthful addition to your life, too!
“Drinking Kombucha promotes good health and helps millions of people with its excellent detoxifying and immune-enhancing qualities. There are no known negative reactions from drinking kombucha tea, except for in the case of improper brewing methods. Its origins are lost in history, but in the earliest records two thousand years ago it was known as ‘the elixir of long life’.”
“Kombucha is a living health tonic that is made from the fermentation of green or black tea. The Kombucha 'mushroom' or SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Yeast and Bacteria) reacts with sugar and tea to produce not only acetic and lactic acid but also small amounts of a potent detoxifying substance, called glucuronic acid. Kombucha is a probiotic. Pro = in favor of; biotic = life. Kombucha balances the pH naturally. The result can taste like something between sparkling apple cider and champagne, depending on what kind of tea you use. It’s not what you’d imagine fermented tea to taste like."
The origins of Kombucha have become lost in the mists of time. It is thought to have originated in the Far East, probably China, and has been consumed there for over two thousand years. The first recorded use of kombucha comes from China in 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty. It was known as “The Elixir of Immortality”.
"According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kombucha Tea is known to help balance the Middle Qi (Spleen and Stomach). It aids the stomach to help improve digestion of food and by assisting the spleen in the delivery of more nutrients. Kombucha helps to break stagnation, reduces damp and phlegm and expels toxins from the body. Hence the Chinese reference to kombucha tea as the Immortal Health Elixir. It has a reputation for healing hundreds of different ailments, and is renowned as an anti-aging treatment and secret to retaining youthful looks. It is an effective chelator that removes heavy metals and a wide range of other toxins from your body. People who drink it seem to be healthier and younger-looking than the rest of the population.” – the Happy Herbalist