Kombucha ~Pronounced kom- boo – cha~

I’m sure by now you have seen or heard about Kombucha. It is sold in most retail shops, including Dischem, Spar, Wellness Warehouse, Clicks, Woolworths, Heal Health Warehouse and Dodo Zero Waste.

Kombucha is a delicious, transformative brew that has recently been growing in popularity.  It is, however, nothing new. It has been documented as early as 221 B.C. in China, Japan and parts of Europe. 

What is Kombucha really?  In short, Kombucha is a powerhouse probiotic drink.

Kombucha is actually a fermented sweet tea. The fermentation occurs when a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) is added to a sweet tea mixture and then left to ferment from 7 to 21 days, which impacts on the flavour and the sweetness thereof. Upon fermentation Kombucha becomes a probiotic-rich drink which boosts immunity, supports good gut health, aids digestion, supports body alkalinity and improves liver function, to name but a few of the benefits. 

Charlie’s Personal Experience From personal experience, the homemade, small batch brews are best and far better tasting. I struggled with good gut health for the longest time and then I discovered Kombucha. A friend of mine came back from South African in December and her dad had given her a batch of his freshly brewed Kombucha to try. Her dad also shared with her a SCOBY, so she can now brew her own.  She graciously gave me some of hers to try and the relief I experienced was almost instant.

Where can we get it in Swakopmund? KombuchJA is a brand of Kombucha that is locally brewed in Swakopmund.  It is available from both Heal Health Warehouse and Dodo Zero Waste (Trendhaus). The range of flavours are all 100% natural and deliciously good for you. 

Exclusive allthingscharlie information:  KombuchJA is in the process of launching a Kombucha brewing kit, with all the needed goodies and instructions, as well as adapted local ingredients. Watch this space!  Keep an eye on their social media here: @kombuchJA #getbooched 

Some Extra Fun facts:  Brewing your own Kombucha is something that just about everyone can do if you have enough time. Although very simple, it takes time to figure out what works in your climate, for your taste buds and how to work with the ingredients readily available. If you have the will and the want, there is a way!

Brewers Tips:

1. Never stop researching. Ever.
2. Consult your doctor if you have a compromised immune system 
3. If you are consuming pure Kombucha (like KombuchJA), it is wise to limit yourself (as delicious as it is!) to 125ml a day, and maximum 250ml a day.  More than this can lead to an overgrowth of yeast in the body. Let’s try to avoid this :).

Health Benefits of Kombucha: Adapted from KombuchaKamp

• Rich in Antioxidants
• Boosts energy
• Good for your Joints
• Aids weight loss by helping balance gut bacteria 
• Detoxifying
• Immune Support 
• Lowers cholesterol 
• Improves digestion/digestive health 

Article by Shereez Martin – Guest Contributor