Bacteria+Yeast+Tea = Kombucha

A fermented tea for your health.

Kombucha is a fermented tea consisting of a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The dominant bacterium is Gluconacetobacter xylinus (formerly Acetobacter xylinum ), it can be paired with many genera of yeast: Zygo-saccharomyce s, Schizosaccharomyces , Saccharomyces , and Saccharomycodes .

Kombucha is made by adding the SCOBY to sweetened tea and allowing it to ferment. G. xylinus ferments the alcohols produced by the yeast into acetic acid. The high acidity and low ethanol content give the culture intrinsic resistance to contamination by most airborne molds or bacterial spores.  Within several weeks of adding a starter culture, the SCOBY will form a thick layer on top of the liquid (see photos).

The resulting liquid contains vinegar, B vitamins, and a number of other essential nutrients and chemical compounds.

The benefits of drinking a fermented tea are not well documented. Many epidemiologic studies were conducted in Russia in the early part of the 20th Century where doctors noticed a lower rate of cancer in regions where the tea kvass was popular compared to regions where it was not.  Recent research shows that regular brewed teas contain a variety of antioxidant properties, and that probiotic foods can help promote the growth of favorable microorganisms in the human gut microbiome. Yet, is it beneficial to combine the two?

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the main antioxidant found in green tea and in Kombucha fermented from green tea. EGCG may have some benefit in the treatment of AIDS and cancer as it has been shown to bind to the CD4 molecule on T cells and inhibit the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xl in vitro (Williamson et al. 2006). D-saccharic acid 1,4 lacton (DSL) and glucuronic acid are also found in Kombucha (Gunther 2003). DSL inhibits glucosidase activity, leaving glucuronic acid to neutralize carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, some nitrosamines, aromatic amines, and fungal toxins (Dutton 1980, Levvy and Conchie 1965). However, recent research shows that it is more likely that glucaric acid is the active component in Kombucha. Glucaric acid inhibits beta-glucuronidase activity in normal gut bacteria, thereby reducing the potential for toxin recycling and increasing the liver's efficiency.

There is limited research on the effects of Kombucha consumption in vivo . In one study published in the Journal of Food & Function , researchers fed Kombucha brewed for four days from black tea to mice with stomach ulcers. They found no significant difference in the effectiveness of treating the ulcers between the control medication, omeprazole, and Kombucha (Banerjee et al. 2010).

While many people who tried Kombucha have told tales of health transformation, some doctors caution against it without considering all the potential side effects. People with compromised immune systems should avoid interactions with live cultures, especially ones made in an amateur or home-brew environment.

However, if you are a healthy individual looking for a wholesome alternative to traditional nutrient-poor and sugary soft drinks, Kombucha may be worth trying.

~  Rianna Malherbe

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, said:

"Man.

Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.

Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.

And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present.

The result being that he does not live in the present or the future.

He lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Best of Breeds

What happens when you cross a....

Pointer x Setter = Pointsetter

A traditional Christmas pet.

Labrador Retriever x Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever

The dog of choice for lazy microbiologists.

Blue Terrier x Skye Terrier = Blue Skye

A dog for visionaries.

Great Pyrenees x Dachshund = Pyradachs

A puzzling and often misunderstood breed.

Pekinese x Lhasa Apso = Peekasso

An abstract dog whose eyes are often misaligned.

Irish Water Spaniel x English Springer Spaniel = Irish Springer

A nice smelling dog; fresh and clean as a whistle.

Newfoundland x Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound

A useful dog for financial advisers.

Terrier x Bulldog = Terri bull

A dog that makes awful mistakes.

Bloodhound x Labrador = Blabrador

A dog that barks incessantly.

Malamute x Pointer = Moot Point

Owned by... oh well, it really doesn't matter..

Collie x Malamute = Commute

A dog that travels to work.

Terrier x Shitzu = Bullshitz

A gregarious but unreliable breed.

Deerhound x Terrier = Derriere

A dog that's true to the end.