No matter if it’s mushroom tea, kombucha or booch (my kids call it), this fizzy fermented tea has quickly become one of the latest health fads. But is kombucha as healthy as everyone claims it to be?

Drinks made using fermentation are created by adding a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast to black or green tea with sugar, then allowing it to ferment for several days. The end result is fermented tea that contains probiotics as well as B vitamins and other essential nutrients that will benefit you both inside and outside your body.

Kombucha tea is often mistakenly known as mushroom tea due to the appearance of its SCOBY when floating in its brew, yet despite this nickname it should be noted that while its appearance might resemble that of a mushroom cap it’s actually not one; rather it is actually an organism comprised of gelatinous filaments which vary depending on what tea variety was used and whether or not you use a glass container, reports Kombucha Brewers International.

Kombucha has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity, yet has been consumed for millennia. Thought to have originated in China and spread throughout Japan, Russia, and Eastern Europe over time. Filled with organic acids, enzymes, proteins, polyphenols, and B vitamins–probiotics–kombucha tea contains organic acids as well as B vitamins to aid digestion and immune function while also helping balance pH balance within your body and aiding weight loss as noted by Dr. Robert Barefoot (Calcium Factor).

Some claim kombucha can help with digestive disorders, joint pain and even cancer; however, not all research supports such claims. According to Keating, certain strains of probiotics have been linked with specific conditions like IBS or traveler’s diarrhea; however there has been limited research conducted on kombucha as a whole.

If you decide to brew your own kombucha tea, be sure to clean all equipment and utensils after each batch is made. Brewing can be messy; if any mold appears during brewing it’s best to toss the entire batch away as mold can contain harmful toxins that could pose risks for infection or illness.

Kombucha can be an enjoyable treat for both your digestive system and tastebuds! Not only is its bubbly texture and tart flavor refreshing, but if you can grow your own SCOBY it can be reused again for future batches of tea brew or given away as gifts to friends! So for an enjoyable yet nutritious alternative to soda try sipping some bubbly tea: strength like an ox, eyes of an eagle and youthful vitality may come through!