So its been about a month or so since Whole Foods took Kombucha off their shelves...Booo to that! People are so stupid sometimes...Seriously, the stuff goes through a fermentation process so of course there is some alcohol in it!
Anyway, so what is this Kombucha stuff and why are people drinking this stinky drink that tastes like vinegar? Kombucha is a fermented tea that originated from China and was thought to have medicinal healing purposes. Kombucha contains antioxidants, amino acids, probiotics, and other active enzymes that helps restore and revitalize the body's balance.
You can actually make the stuff at home by fermenting tea using yeast and bacteria, but the fermentation process can take a couple weeks and that stuff would totally stink up your apartment. Needless to say, I think my flatmates would probably kill me if I tried growing a Kombucha culture in our tiny little kitchen!
I drink the stuff every now and then, but since the summer humidity took on full force, I've kind of been on a raw food kick so started my hunt to find some Kombucha. I thought it would be difficult to find since the recall, but alas there are a couple Brooklyn neighborhood bodegas that are still carrying this Raw Fermented Tea! Saranac and Associated both still carry the drink, but the price you pay for is a bit steep.
If you haven't tried it before, I say give it a try--it's very different from any drink you've had before and doesn't smell all that appetizing, but it definitely gives you a little pick-me-up after consumption. My favorites are Guava and Strawberry.
It's hot out there so stay hydrated! Till next time--Drink up and Buckle up!
