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Whether you call it ‘booch, fizzy tea, or mushroom tea, you’re not alone if you’re crushing on kombucha. Not only is this fermented beverage pleasingly tangy with bubbles galore, but regular drinking it may boost your health.
As for using kombucha, simply drinking it as a refreshing mid-day sip or evening cocktail alternative are great ways to imbibe. But you can, of course, get more creative by whipping up a kombucha smoothie, freezing it in popsicle molds, or even adding a scoop of ice cream for a kombucha float.
Types of Kombucha
Raw
Think all drinks must be pasteurized to pass food safety exams? Surprise! Most commercially available kombuchas are not pasteurized. This is because theheat from pasteurization actually kills the beneficial bacteria in kombucha, defeating the possible purpose of consuming it in the first place. If gut-friendly microorganisms are what you seek from kombucha, you’ll likely want to reach for a raw variety, such as Synergy Trilogy Organic Raw Kombucha (Buy It, $4, target.com).
Pasteurized
While most popular kombucha brands serve up their products raw, pasteurized kombucha does exist, making it a particularly good option for those who are pregnant or have a compromised immune system. (ICYMI above, drinking unpasteurized beverages can be dangerous for people in these health categories, as they can contain potentially-harmful pathogens.)
If you do opt for a pasteurized product, fear not: All of the potential health benefits of kombucha are not necessarily lost, as pasteurization doesn’t typically destroy a significant amount of nutrients, according to the FDA. And while there might not be as many probiotics, if any, as the raw variety, treated kombucha can still have some antioxidants.
Alcoholic
Most hard kombuchas have an alcohol content comparable to beer but can go as high as a glass of wine at about 5 to 11 percent. Despite its “hard” name, this hard tea goes down quite easily. So if you’re not a fan of the usual bubbly adult beverages, hard ‘booch, such as that from JuneShine (Buy It, $66 for 24, juneshine.com), might be up your alley.
Homemade
So you wanna set up a kombucha brewing station in your basement? More power to you! Crafting your own fermented tea can be a fun hobby that yields totally customizable results. Just be aware that food safety is a serious matter when brewing your own kombucha, as Webster mentions above. Simply put: Always follow a recipe's directions exactly.
Depending on the size of your batches, you might also shell out more cash by DIY-ing than purchasing it pre-made. But if you don’t mind spending a bit of time and money (with some trial and error along the way), you’re going to want to snag a kombucha brewing kit to get started. Try: The Kombucha Shop Kombucha Brewking Kit (Buy It, $45, walmart.com), which includes the culture and starter you need to make the SCOBY along with other essentials for making at least a gallon of ‘booch.
Whether you're looking for another reason to try kombucha, or want to swap out a soda or cocktail for the fizzy probiotic-rich drink, kombucha can be a surprisingly satisfying alternative.
Sarah Garone is a nutrition and dietetic technician (NDTR), licensed nutritionist, and freelance writer based in Mesa, Arizona.
