Go! Kombucha

Kombucha is a culture that ‘digests’ complex sugars and produces a drink full of live enzymes, probiotics and nutrients.  When I looked at recipes for making it, I quickly decided not to try because it seems complicated and far too much trouble for someone of leisurely inclination.  But since the nice people at Go! Kombucha have already done the hard work for me, I had a taste and…zing!  It has a refreshing tongue-tingling tanginess, reminiscent of cider with a slightly vinegary bite.  But unlike cider, it has some very cool benefits.

Kombucha is nice to sip in the evening as a healthier alternative to a glass of wine, and I imagine it would be lovely on a summer’s day.  It is described as ‘effervescent’ but don’t expect it to come foaming out of the bottle like cola, it’s much more subtle.  Very similar to kefir in both its taste and its benefits – although sugar is used in the making, it is safe for candida sufferers and those of a sensitive disposition sugar-wise.  In fact it’s apparently a good anti-candida drink.  It provides a useful probiotic and enzyme boost, has vitamins and minerals in it (and anyway is more fun than taking a pill).  Tastes even better with a bit of fresh ginger grated into it, and also yummers with a squirt and/or a slice of fresh lime.  For a tall drink, I’d dilute it with sparkling spring water because you don’t need much – a serving should be about the same as a glass of wine.  We’re told it’s unwise to overdo it when you’re not used to it, presumably because there’d be an uncomfortably thorough cleaning-out effect.  So like wine, one bottle should get you six glasses.

One really excellent benefit that I haven’t seen written up in the product info is kombucha’s ability to kill 99% of sweet cravings dead.  If sweeties are your downfall, I highly recommend it.  I heard Truth Calkins talking about drinking a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a little water to kill sweet cravings, and wondered if kombucha would do the same thing.  Well, I can report that it does, very effectively.  Which means I might be able to stick to my New Year raw chocolate rationing pledge after all.