kombucha

Linas · #1 01-21-2009, 10:22 AM

Anybody drink or brew their own kombucha?

For those who dont know what it is... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha

I just got a kombucha mother from my friend and am going to brew my first batch today. Im pretty excited. I love the stuff but paying $3 for a bottle at a health food store isnt worth it.

MakiSupaStar · #2 01-21-2009, 10:24 AM

Looks like someone hawked a loogie into some tea.

AlembicPlayer · #3 01-21-2009, 10:26 AM

mmmmoldy gooey flem drink
ME WANT!

sarcastro83 · #4 01-21-2009, 10:27 AM

looks like something the extremely smelly hippy I used to work with would drink...

think I'll stick with PBR.

disenchant · #5 01-21-2009, 10:37 AM

I drink it. But I prefer the flavored stuff in the store. Fizzy, fermented tea flavored tea just doesn't sound so good.

It is very good for you, and excellent for digestion. Just don't shake the bottle before you open!

**Eric Perry** · #6 01-21-2009, 10:38 AM

I've tried some. A guy I work with drinks loads of it. It tastes like utter crap.

wabbit · #7 01-21-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disenchant

Just don't shake the bottle before you open!

yeah but where's the adventure in that?

Blueszilla · #8 01-21-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

I've tried some. A guy I work with drinks loads of it. It tastes like utter crap.

I have a friend who made his own for a couple of years, it was a labor of love as he had numerous sun tea jars with different 'ages' of tea. Some get be quite strong (crap?) with more aging, others were milder. I've got to admit I grew to like the taste. It gave a sense of a vinegar sharpness to the more aged batches. It's supposedly a cure for lots of things.

I will say I've imbibed worse tasting concoctions. I'd characterize it as an unusual taste rather than crap, but certainly not for everyone.

Linas · #9 01-21-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disenchant

Just don't shake the bottle before you open!

LOL!!! I was in whole foods once, and this woman with 2 kids sat down at a table to eat lunch and she shook up a bottle of kombucha and it sprayed all over her and her kids. I felt bad and helped her clean up, but ...

**Eric Perry** · #10 01-21-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueszilla

I have a friend who made his own for a couple of years, it was a labor of love as he had numerous sun tea jars with different 'ages' of tea. Some get be quite strong (crap?) with more aging, others were milder. I've got to admit I grew to like the taste. It gave a sense of a vinegar sharpness to the more aged batches. It's supposedly a cure for lots of things.

I will say I've imbibed worse tasting concoctions. I'd characterize it as an unusual taste rather than crap, but certainly not for everyone.

I'll have to try some other ones then. The one I had (from Whole Foods) was not even drinkable. Maybe I got a bad one?

superbassman2000 · #11 01-21-2009, 11:04 AM

what are the health benefits in it?

Blueszilla · #12 01-21-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

I'll have to try some other ones then. The one I had (from Whole Foods) was not even drinkable. Maybe I got a bad one?

Maybe, maybe not. I admit I have never had any made by a retail manufacturer, so your experience may be normal. I would think the stuff available in the store would tend to be a milder version of the homemade variety, but I could be wrong. In any case, IME, it's an acquired taste.

FYI, Eric, we'll be in Snowmass on Valentines Day weekend for 2 shows.

**Eric Perry** · #13 01-21-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueszilla

Maybe, maybe not. I admit I have never had any made by a retail manufacturer, so your experience may be normal. I would think the stuff available in the store would tend to be a milder version of the homemade variety, but I could be wrong. In any case, IME, it's an acquired taste.

FYI, Eric, we'll be in Snowmass on Valentines Day weekend for 2 shows.

Thanks! Is that an open to public show? if so, I might venture out to it!

bongomania · #14 01-21-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

what are the health benefits in it?

Puts hair on your chest, keeps your blond dreds from unraveling, and reduces your carbon footprint.

WeightedWings · #15 01-21-2009, 02:54 PM

And those are just the health effects for women. You don't even want to know what it does to men.

On topic: Having wikied it, its not something I'd seek out, but I'd be pretty eager to try it if someone offered. Sounds interesting.

Brad Maestas · #16 01-21-2009, 03:18 PM

The mother of GT's brand founder was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer and she was able to suppress it effectively with the drink. She eventually sought out traditional methods of treatment and remains cancer free to this day.

In 1995, Millennium Products founder GT Dave's life came crashing down when he heard that his mother had just been diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer. After a week of emotional turmoil, he was relieved to find out that her breast cancer had not spread and that the pungent tasting cultured tea that she had been drinking was part of the reason why.

More: http://gtskombucha.com/larainedave.html

Here's some more info from their site:

"There is an extensive literature (some 300 books and research papers) dealing with the analysis of Kombucha Tea and its therapeutic effects. The independent medical research has been conducted principally in Russia and in Germany over the whole of the 20th century. Among early reports were those listing the benefits of Kombucha for stomach, digestive and intestinal disorders. One of the most famous of the later researchers was Dr. Rudolf Sklenar of Oberhessen who recognized the detoxifying properties of glucuronic acid in Kombucha for removing waste matter such as cholesterol and toxic deposits. He developed a biological cancer therapy based on Kombucha, and it is his recipe which is still generally used today and for the production of the commercially bottled brew. He became a champion for the remedy, which he found helped invigorate the entire glandular system and the metabolism. He successfully treated arthritis, constipation, obesity, arteriosclerosis, impotence, kidney stones, rheumatism, gout and significantly, cancer, especially in its early stages."

from: http://gtskombucha.com/faq.html

I have brewed it myself in the past. It is delicate and can be somewhat sensitive to your environment. The most important thing is that you use a good fiber filter for the top. Cheese or tea cloth is often used. I have tried other fabrics (like t-shirt fabric) and most were not able to filter smaller contaminants and mold spores were able to settle on the top of the brew. If you catch it early you can remove the mold and return the mother to the brew.

Another thing is that they are very, very sensitive to tobacco. If you are exposed to smoke and it lingers on your clothing or hair, it is possible to kill the cultures or at the very least ruin the brew. I'm sure you were aware of this but just putting it out there for some that might not be.