Healthy beverages are common nowadays since people are more inclined to live a healthy and active lifestyle due to the pandemic. One such beverage is kombucha. Also known as mushroom tea, it has long been popular across the globe for being a probiotic drink that promotes digestion and strengthens the immune system.
You might be wondering where the kombucha trend began. It came from China, and when a Korean physician named Dr. Kombu (can you see where the drink got its name?) learned about the beneficial properties of the fermented drink, he brought the well-known tea to Japan for Emperor Inkyo. During the Kofun period in Japan, kombucha’s popularity soared when the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean empires were strengthening their ties through trade after a long period of unrest. Since then, kombucha has been used as a source of nutrients and a tonic to treat diseases.
Kombucha is also popular among Korean celebrities, like Son Ye Jin (for her anti-aging skincare routine) to BTS member Jeon Jungkook. Since he's called the sold-out king, sales of kombucha skyrocketed when he drank kombucha during a live broadcast last February 2021.
In America, ready-to-drink kombucha is common, but some people prefer to brew their kombucha since they know how to do it properly and it's easy to do. The trick is to follow the proper fermentation process to avoid contamination. Hollywood stars like Halle Berry and Lady Gaga also love kombucha.
Technically, kombucha is a fermented tea made from a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The fermentation usually lasts a week or more depending on who’s preparing it. During the fermentation process, a large colony of bacteria will start to grow, and it will fill the liquid with lactic acid bacteria.
Kombucha is packed with vitamins and antioxidants which help people with high blood pressure, diabetes, gout or any bone-related problems. It also promotes weight loss and can even help people fight cancer. Its benefits come from good bacteria and yeast, which helps detoxify the body. Kombucha also helps promote skincare since it has plenty of vitamins from B6 to B12. Other beauty brands decided to include Kombucha as their natural ingredients since it has comprehensive skincare benefits to achieving healthy and glowing skin.
Some say it tastes like beer, while others say it's like regular tea. Those who can’t drink kombucha on its own can be creative. Others mix it with alcoholic drinks to make it more palatable to their taste buds. Kombucha may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's undoubtedly a perfect beverage for people looking for an organic way of staying fit and healthy.
It's easy to get addicted to this beverage, especially if you're starting to see its positive effects, but it's best to consume it in moderation. Nothing beats being active and eating a healthy diet. That said, kombucha will definitely complement your holistic lifestyle.
