What is in Kombucha?

Kombucha cultures (SCOBY) are made up of yeast and bacteria, living together in a matrix of bacterial cellulose. The culture’s fermentation also varies from location to location, depending on the local organism and conditions. But what is in Kombucha tea when people examine it in a lab? According to the wide variety of Kombucha Research conducted around the world, there are certain identifiable acids, vitamins, and enzymes which are common between all Kombucha brews. Research all of the Kombucha benefits to gain a more in-depth understanding.

Find Out What is in Kombucha!

THE FAB FIVE

The fab five are a collection of beneficial acids (plus vitamin D) that are present in all Kombucha brews. They each offer unique support to the functions within your body, from maintaining a healthy stomach lining and PH, to aiding in detoxification and providing the essential building blocks to proteins within your body.

VITAMIN C
Vitamin C, also known as Ascorbic Acid, is the #1 vitamin of the Western World, winner and still champion! We all know and love vitamin C for being a fantastic detoxifier and immunity booster. Vitamin C is necessary for many biosynthetic pathways, including the synthesis of collagen. Deficiencies in Vitamin C can cause diseases such a scurvy. The body needs a sufficient amount of Ascorbic Acid for survival!

ACETIC ACID
Produced right away in the brewing process, it is antiseptic, meaning it inhibits or kills harmful bacteria and pathogens and is commonly found in vinegar. If you have ever heard of the purposed health benefits of apple cider vinegar, acetic acid is thought to be responsible! It’s what gives Kombucha its signature sweet/sour punch.

LACTIC ACID
Lactic acid is the type of energy that your body creates when it is deprived of oxygen. It has also been heavily discussed in the scientific community as the preferred source of energy in the brain, though the research that supports this hypothesis is currently ongoing.

When consumed from Kombucha, lactic acid is crucial to getting your gut working right for normal digestive action, plus helps prevent constipation and protects the walls of the bowels against decay. Found in its most potent form within Kombucha, known as “L-lactic(+),” it also may aid in the prevention of cancer by regulating blood pH levels.

GLUCONIC ACID
Effective against many yeast infections. It is created by the bacteria and later breaks down to Caprylic acid in your gut, which is naturally anti-microbial and is very effective at battling fatty bacteria.

AMINO ACIDS
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The human body uses all 20 amino acids found in humans to create everything – from molecules, to DNA, to cells and organs. Because of their role in the creation of molecules and cells, amino acids are crucial to your body’s chemistry. Of the 20 amino acids found in humans, 9 are essential, meaning your body cannot produce them. Instead, we must consume them from an outside source, like Kombucha.

THE DYNAMIC DOZEN

Malic acid spurs detoxification.
Oxalic acid, an effective preservative that activates your cells to action.
Usnic acid, containing selective antibiotic qualities.
Nucleic acids (like RNA and DNA) which send signals to cells to function properly and rebuild.
Carbonic acid, regulator of blood pH levels, keeps you in the right range for health.
Folic Acid, may help heart disease, aging, Cancer, Crohn’s, Alzheimer’s and Osteoporosis.
Thiamin (B1), stimulates the immune system, may aid in prevention of skin, joint and bone aging, cancer and stroke among others.
Riboflavin (B2) suppresses allergies.
Niacin (B3), promotes healing skin tissue and is a natural aphrodisiac.
Pyridoxine (B6) helps battle obesity, rheumatism and stroke.
Cobalamin (B12) improves memory and learning.
Powerful Enzymes, which push your body’s metabolic functions into overdrive.

Can’t I take get these in a pill?

Let me emphasize here, the vitamins, acids and enzymes which are reported to be what is in Kombucha are alive within the culture. They are not dead, crushed into a pill and lifeless. The bacteria and yeast create them for you. This facilitates absorption into the body, unlike any supplement you buy over the counter- even from a pharmacy or a health food store. By ingesting biologically-active forms of these acids, enzymes and vitamins, you are giving your body the freshest and most potent versions. So, what is in Kombucha? Active compounds that will help your body function and thrive, created from a living culture for a you.

Benefits of Brewing Kombucha Tea at Home

Not only will you find that commercially available brands of Kombucha contain these wonderful compounds, you’ll be surprised to find that you can replicate this at home at a fraction of the cost. There are several benefits to brewing Kombucha tea at home but here are just a few of my favorite reasons to brew your ‘Booch at home:

Costs Less
Some of the commercially-available brands like GT/Synergy can be a bit expensive. At $3-$5 per bottle, that can be an expensive habit! By brewing your own Kombucha at home makes it so that you’re able to save on some of the costs that come with the store-bought brands while also reducing the amount of waste that comes with all of that packaging.

More Control
Since you’re the brew master, you get to have more control over your recipe. You get to call the shots on any adjustments you make whether it’s with the flavor, your desired level of tartness and even the carbonation! You can change the amount or type of sugar you use and even use different types of tea to brew your sweet tea from.

It’s Fun!
Really! It’s not all work; a lot of people who brew Kombucha at home find the entire experience to be loads of fun. Of course, if you’re using the Continuous Brew Method, you streamline the whole process so it’ll feel more like an experiment and less like work.