Kombucha Much?

It’s definitely trendy; the drink, the health tonic, the weight-loss tool.  I wanted to understand or at least pierce the hype and decided to try it for myself.  I sipped my first fermented tea about one year ago and I must admit, I wasn’t so sure. The fizz made my eyes water but that same sizzle.pop. felt very nice going down. It was sweet, somewhat tangy, and gave me a slight lift.  Maybe it was the low alcohol content?

I tried it again. and again. and again.

Now I drink it once a day. It’s a spendy item at around $4.25 a bottle.

Photo: Inkdroid/Flickr

Photo: Inkdroid/Flickr

Despite some disturbing reports regarding home-brewed kombucha from the CDC, I decided to take on the challenge of producing a home brew.  It’s no joke and requires some serious concentration, focus, and diligence.    My “mother” or starting culture came from a friendly woman on Craigslist.  With the help of this SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast), I had the ability to start my own mini-kombucha empire–in my fridge.  In the process, I even learned about a worldwide kombucha exchange. Talk about passion.

I started brewing in early January and keep bottles chilled in my refrigerator.  I’ve even shared my mother with others. I wax and wane when it comes to my kombucha devotion.  Sometimes I love it and sometimes I need a break.  No matter what, I’m happy I gave it a try…and think you should too.

Do you drink this health tonic?  Do you produce a home brew?  Let PRK know if this Chinese drink has impacted your life—or  left you flat.

Curious?  Check out a home-brew recipe here.

Happy fermenting.

This entry was posted in Public Radio Kitchen on by .

About

Associate Producer, Here & Now Most recently, Jessica worked as an associate producer at WBUR's daily local program, Radio Boston. Jessica moved to Boston in 2008 and has lived many places since leaving her native Texas. After graduating from college, Jessica worked as a federal employee, documentary film festival producer, oral historian, university teaching assistant, traveling saleswoman and klezmer musician. Her work and projects have appeared in The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, Bust, Barnard Magazine, National Public Radio, Public Radio International (PRI), and the BBC. Jessica's freelance radio work has received various awards including accolades from the Religion Newswriters Association and the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. As a Fulbright Scholar in El Salvador, Jessica collected and studied oral histories from the Jewish Community based in San Salvador. Jessica received her B.A. in political science from Columbia University’s Barnard College and her M.A. in history from Indiana University. She learned how to make radio from the phenomenal folks at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Jessica lives in Somerville with her husband, twin son and daughter, and two cats. To learn more about Jessica’s projects, both current and past, please visit www.jessicaalpert.com.

One thought on “Kombucha Much?”

  1. Jennifer

    I buy a bottle of kombucha every couple of weeks and enjoy its fizzy healthfulness. I seem to crave it immediately after an intense yoga workout. I haven’t attempted to make my own. I admit, however, that the idea intrigues me.