Kombucha—what??? Ok, I have to admit, when I first heard this word I honestly thought it was a new yoga pose. Little did I know it was a NEW trend hitting the stands of markets everywhere and people from all over were talking about the amazing health benefits. Needless to say, I had to see what the buzz is all about.
Kombucha is known as the “immortal Health Elixir” (from Dr. Axe) by the Chinese, originating in the Far East around 2,000 years ago. Kombucha tea, also referred to as a “mushroom tea” (even though it contains no mushrooms), is a fermented mixture of sugar, bacteria, yeast, typically made with black tea (although it can be made with green tea too) and has almost too many benefits to list. They include:
- Better digestion;
- More energy;
- Weight loss;
- Cleansing and detoxification;
- Reduced joint pain;
- Immune support; and
- Cancer prevention.
All this from a drink? Apparently the four main probiotics in this drink form a “positive chemical reaction”, if you will, and create these amazing health benefits.
Ok, now the taste. With all the research done all that was left was to try it! I quickly headed to my local market. Does it taste like your everyday cup of tea? In my opinion the answer is—no! In fact, at first I was a little caught off guard by the taste. However, I was surprised by the huge selection available when shopping for Kombucha; the brands and flavours are endless, so something for every taste.
Here are my faves:
- Bliss Tea Kombucha – Hibiscus flavour (*local)
- Bucha Live Kombucha – Blood orange flavour
- Rise Kombucha – Blueberry and maple flavour
Besides consuming this as a healthy, beneficial drink, you can also incorporate Kombucha into many other family-friendly recipes (you can find them online) such as vinaigrettes and even waffles—yes waffles! While I am still doing the research on whether it’s considered safe to introduce to kids, my research so far shows it to be okay in moderation for kids age 4 and up. In my opinion I think I will introduce it from time to time with my kids as well as in the form of some kid-friendly Kombucha recipes.
Have you tried Kombucha? What are your favourite flavours? What do you think about Kombucaha and kids?
Natalie Grant (Founder + Creative Director of BOOMBALOO).
Photography Credit: www.frenchpressphotography.com
