Sometimes I wonder about the sanity of most Americans. It seems they will drink or eat anything that arrives pretty on a plate or in a fancy bottle. I read a piece this morning that said Lindsay Lohan and other Hollywood types like Madonna, Kirsten Dunst and Halle Berry are into this new (but old) synergy drink called Kombucha.
Kombucha Home Brew
No one knows for sure where this fermented tea originated but recorded history says it started in Russia during the late 19th century. Promotional material says the drink comes from ancient China or Japan. In fact, some say that kombucha, known as the Godly Tsche, dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and was “a beverage with magical powers enabling people to live forever”. Since the first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, didn’t live forever, we can discount that claim.
I asked my wife about this tea and she said that as a child she saw it being fermented and that the stuff floating around inside the jar reminded her of dead cockroaches. Once someone like Pepsi or Coke gets hold of something old like this there is no telling what kind of chemicals will be added. If you want to make this tea, click Kombucha Tea for the home brew recipe.
If you believe the health claims for this tea, you may want to learn about the Chinese “Chong Cao“. Remember, the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) hasn’t evaluated any of this stuff yet.
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Lloyd Lofthouse is the author of the award winning novels My Splendid Concubine and Our Hart. He also Blogs at The Soulful Veteran and Crazy Normal.
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I’ve tried many funky Chinese herbal drinks which contain “unusual” ingredients but I have never got the gut to try this one!
😀
Whole Foods Markets actually sells this drink, but I haven’t tried one yet. :o)
However, I’m into another drink I buy from Whole Foods and that’s called Kefer. I’m lactose intolerant, and it may come as a surprise that Kefer, sort of a dairy product, doesn’t bother me. In fact, it seems to improve digestion and boost the immune system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8VBshh1uE0
Kefer… I don’t think we have that here in North Sumatra. 😀
I’m lactose intolerant too (sort of, I still can handle some milk products) and I’d love to try kefer.
Maybe you can make your own Kefir. YouTube has how to do it videos.
I’d have to find the kefir grain first! 😀
I’d look for it in the imported-food stores.
If you find the kefir grain, let me know how it worked out.
I will! 😀
Do you make your own kefir? or do you purchase some ready to drink kefir product?
I buy organic plain Kefir from a locale Wholefoods market. They sell several brands—even from goat milk.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
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