Kombucha may resemble mushroom tea, but it’s actually a fermented beverage made of tea and sugar. To create it, kombucha makers utilize a culture of bacteria and yeast called a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast). This fungus is commonly referred to as the Kombucha Mother; this “mushroom” gives the drink its characteristic tart and bubbly flavors.

The SCOBY lives in a solution of tea and sugar where it proliferates and feeds on sugar, producing alcohol, acid, and carbon dioxide – acting like an active biochemical laboratory that contributes beneficial substances that end up in finished product.

SCOBYs offer many health advantages to those who drink their brew, not only producing it but also through its fermentation process that breaks down proteins, increases B vitamin levels, produces acetic acid that aids your gut and immune system as well as tasty drinks with longstanding praise for health-promotion properties such as delicious and refreshing beverages. For centuries they have been celebrated for this beverage’s healthful properties.

Are You Wondering Where to Purchase Kombucha? Your options for purchasing it range from natural food stores and online outlets, all the way through companies who make their own product and source their SCOBYs from home brewers with different cultural roots.

It is crucial that a kombucha SCOBY be carefully taken care of, free from mold or other contaminants, and be the appropriate size for your batch of kombucha. A too small or large SCOBY could hinder proper growth during fermentation process or make the final product too strong and potentially toxic for human consumption.

A healthy SCOBY should measure about 1/4″ thick and be opaque in appearance. It may have a soft or firm texture with rough edges and may even produce honeydew berries; it should never turn black or green which indicates it has outlived its useful lifespan and should be discarded immediately.

As part of creating kombucha, it is also crucial that the correct ingredients be used. Tea should contain caffeine since the SCOBY requires it for sustenance; black is recommended, although green or oolong tea will do just as well. Likewise, your brew must include enough sugar for feeding the SCOBY and flavoring the beverage – herbal teas may not provide enough; organic or natural sugars would work best; using tap water can damage its ecosystem significantly and should be avoided at all costs! Finally, use clean filtered or distilled water so as not to introduce chlorine which can harm its SCOBY ecosystem!