Kombucha: The Origin and Benefits

Kombucha is a health or medicinal drink made by fermenting tea from a mass of microorganisms called kombucha culture or mushroom. The kombucha culture is a symbiosis of acetic acid bacteria and yeast. The culture looks like a large white pancake in itself. It often referred to as a mushroom, as a “mother of vinegar” or by the acronym SCOBY which means “Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast”. In science though, it is classified as a zoogleal mat.

Kombucha tea is made by combining the culture with a mixture of tea and sugar. This mixture is allowed to ferment from seven to ten days. There are several yet limited types of tea where the Kombucha culture can ferment because some may kill or badly affect the culture. Results in taste may vary depending on what type of tea will be used. It can either be black tea, oolong tea, green tea, or white tea.

The Kombucha culture feeds on sugar and then produces valuable substances such as glucuronic acid, glucon acid, lactic acid, amino acids, and vitamins. The resulting drink is well known for its health benefits.

Kombucha’s Origin

The first recorded use of Kombucha comes from China on 221 BC during the reign of the Tsin Dynasty. Back then, it was called “The Tea of Immortality”. Its name, however, came from Japan on 415 AD. The term was coined when a Korean physicial called Kombu treated Emperor Inyko with the tea or “cha”. It also has been a long tradition of Russia to use a healing drink called “Tea Kvass” made from a “Japanese Mushroom”. From Russia, the tradition spread to nearby countries such as Prussia, Poland, Germany, and Denmark. It seems to have vanished during the Second World War until it was used in Germany to treat cancer patients, metabolic disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Kombucha’s Impact on Health

Kombucha is being claimed to have many benefits on our health but there is little published research regarding these claims. A study administered to rats resulted in the finding that Kombucha protects against stress and improves liver function. Testimonials and experiential evidences propose that Kombucha affects health in positive and amazing ways. Among its reported benefits are improvements in energy levels, prevention and healing of metabolic disorders, allergies, cancer, hypertension, chronic fatigue, HIV and arthritis. It can also be utilized by external use for skin problems and hair washing among others.