Kombucha is also called “zooglea” or “medusomycete”. Strictly speaking, it is not really a mushroom. This is a mix of yeast and probiotic bacteria culture. Kombucha loves sugar very much. Over thousands of years of preparing this drink, people realized that it interacts best with tea, so they began to combine medusomycetes with it.
Together with the chef, we tell you how to prepare kombucha correctly and what subtleties will help you make a delicious drink. We present step-by-step instructions.
Chef's Tips
Chef Aidar Khaloev has been preparing kombucha-based drinks in his establishments for more than ten years. We asked an expert to share useful tips to ensure the drink turns out just right.
- Everything must be sterile during the preparation process. Someone may have a stereotype that a mushroom lives in a dirty jar and is happy there. This should under no circumstances be allowed. If you can, handle the mushroom with clean gloves or at least wash your hands thoroughly. All dishes must be boiled.
- Use a regular glass jar. In their work, cooks use stainless steel containers. But such packaging is expensive, takes up a lot of space - there is no point in buying it specifically for home. Therefore, a glass jar remains the ideal place for kombucha to exist. It is not recommended to use plastic dishes.
- There should be nothing foreign in the tea. Leaves of tea leaves, small debris, paper, sugar crystals - none of this should be there. Pour the liquid over the kombucha through a clean sieve or cheesecloth. Otherwise, the mushroom may get sick.
The drink made from kombucha is kombucha. Photo: pixabay.com
- If you want a more varied taste. Supplements should not be used directly with kombucha. Only when you have drained the infusion after 5-10 days, add to it whatever your heart desires. Try jam, fruit purees, coffee syrups, freshly squeezed juices - apple or exotic fruits. Add mint or other herbs to taste. An excellent combination of drink with ginger and lemon.
- Kombucha only gets along well with “pure” tea. Black tea is best. Avoid tea with thyme, bergamot and other flavorings. You can also try pure green tea or pu-erh. I tried making a drink based on sweet coffee. It turned out to be an interesting cocktail, but the mushroom itself died after the second infusion.
- A drink based on kombucha contains tenths of alcohol. Like kvass or kefir. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink the infusion while driving in order to avoid misunderstandings with traffic police officers.
- When producing kombucha for sale, the drink is pasteurized. Heat it to keep it longer. It will not be possible to follow the technology at home. Therefore, try to drink a ready-made infusion of kombucha in the first week after draining.
Care and storage of kombucha.
Not only the taste, but also the chemical composition, as well as the beneficial properties of the drink, depend on how you care for your kombucha.
Medusomycete (this is the scientific name for kombucha) looks like a thick film of white-yellow-brown-pink color floating on the surface of the nutrient liquid - the infusion of sweet tea. The sugars in the liquid can be different (glucose, sucrose, fructose), the type of tea also does not matter.
Researchers noticed that Medusomycete practically does not consume the components of tea infusion (aromatic, tannin and other substances), but is extremely sensitive to its absence. For example, without tea, it does not synthesize ascorbic acid, which is necessary for the life of kombucha.
If favorable conditions are created for kombucha, then on the fourth or fifth day of growth it begins to produce a pleasant-tasting and very healthy drink, reminiscent of strong, highly carbonated kvass (“tea kvass” or “kombucha”). The carbon dioxide bubbles in which the drink is saturated and acetic acid are jointly produced by yeast and acetic acid bacteria. Tea and some types of yeast give the drink a specific aroma.
Reproduction of medusomycetes at home
In order not to wait a week, or even more, each time for the drink to be ready, you can propagate kombucha. Thus, we can establish almost continuous production of kvass.
The older the mushroom, the thicker it is and visually it can be divided into more layers. As a rule, the substance occupies the entire width of the jar, so to get it out without damaging the delicate body, carefully roll it up like a roll. You can understand that the body is ready for division by looking at the top layer. It should separate easily and without injury from the main body.
You can also propagate kombucha by leaving a jar of ready-made kvass in the cabinet for a longer time. After two weeks, you will notice a film on the surface of the drink - this is a young jellyfish, which, with proper care, will not be difficult to grow.
Kombucha: beneficial properties
Being a fermented product, tea kvass contains prebiotics. These are bacteria that support the intestinal microflora and help digest food. Therefore, speaking about the benefits of kombucha, nutritionists note its beneficial effects on digestion. Plus, after drinking the drink, elements are produced that reduce the risk of developing ulcers and gastritis.
The proven beneficial properties of kombucha also include an antibacterial effect. After fermentation, acetic acid is formed in the drink. It precisely prevents the development of pathogenic microorganisms if they did not get into the infusion from the very beginning of preparation. In addition, the drink reduces the content of bad cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The antitumor effect of kombucha on the body has been less studied. Indian scientists were able to prove a decrease in the survival rate of cancer cells under the influence of kombucha enzymes. However, research needs to be continued. It is worth noting that the benefits of kombucha for humans were observed when the drink was consumed regularly.
How to drink the drink correctly
It’s worth listening to advice on how to drink kombucha correctly. Large amounts of this drink can disrupt the gastrointestinal tract. The first sign that your body is not accepting fluids is heartburn. In this case, you should stop taking it. Recommendations for use are as follows:
- to maintain body tone and improve overall health, it is advisable to take 1/3 glass per day;
- a similar amount should be drunk after eating meat and meat dishes;
- In the morning on an empty stomach, you can drink half a glass to improve digestion and lose weight.
The question of whether it is possible to drink kombucha while driving is asked by many lovers of fizzy kvass. During yeast fermentation, ethyl alcohol is formed, albeit in small quantities. If there is a need to drink the infusion before you get behind the wheel, dilute it in a 1:1 ratio with plain water, or wait a couple of hours before driving.
How to care
There are several basic rules for keeping and caring for medusomycetes:
- The only correct container for keeping it is a glass jar. Usually this is a classic 3-liter or 5-liter container.
- It is advisable to keep the jar with your pet in a dark place. Do not leave the container in a draft or windowsill; direct sunlight and cold will destroy the product.
- The optimal air temperature should be around 25ºС; below 17ºС is harmful to the body. An incorrectly chosen temperature regime can cause the development of blue-green algae on the surface of the substance.
- It is best to cover the container with clean gauze or a cotton towel. Lids and cellophane cannot be used for this purpose.
- The nutrient substrate should be prepared from boiled water with tea and sugar already dissolved in it. You cannot sprinkle sugar on the body of the mushroom, as this causes severe burns and death. The same can be said about seagulls, which form ragged “wounds”.
- It is necessary to wash the jellyfish regularly. It is better to do this in spring or settled water, but if this is not available, you can wash it under the tap.
- Do not use hot nutrient substrate. Place your hand in the liquid; it should be slightly warmer than the air temperature.
- If you notice that a dark film has appeared on the surface of the mycete, this indicates a violation of the maintenance rules. Most often this happens when the mushroom is in the same solution for a long time, or you neglected to “bathe” it regularly.
Please note that in summer the fungal body works much faster than in winter, and the nutrient mixture needs to be changed much more often. To propagate the mushroom, you need to pour the drink into a separate jar and place the container for two weeks in a warm place, protected from sunlight. As a result, a mucous film can be seen on the surface of the liquid, which will later become a young organism.
Recommendations for diseases
Kombucha has long been known for its medicinal properties. This drink can and should be drunk by adults and children. For the latter, it plays a particularly important role in the process of healing from illnesses.
- According to mothers, kvass works great against any inflammatory processes, in particular it is effective as a folk remedy for chronic tonsillitis, sore throats, and colds in children. The solution must be slightly warmed, diluted with the same amount of warm boiled water, and gargle with it every hour.
- To heal the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, drink kvass for a week. Before drinking, add 1 teaspoon of honey to the glass. If you ate more than the norm at night, drink half a glass of drink before going to bed.
- An eight-day infusion will relieve stagnation in the large intestine. When treating diarrhea, to normalize the bowel movement process, you can drink 100 g of kvass before meals.
- It has long been proven that the infusion perfectly helps to quickly heal burns and wounds on the skin. Take a piece of mushroom and place it on the affected areas, wait until the substance dries, and apply the next layer on top. The procedure can be carried out at least 7 times a day. The duration depends on the complexity of the injury.
- For diabetes mellitus, the product increases the tone of the body and helps fight the disease. It is enough to drink half a glass every three hours.
It is not advisable to prepare a composition from green tea. It contains a large amount of caffeine, which has a destructive effect on the stomach and intestines. Before using mushroom kvass as an auxiliary folk remedy, it is advisable to consult with your doctor. During pregnancy, refrain from drinking kvass.
Instructions for preserving mushrooms for a long time
Different things happen in life. It happens that you need to leave for an indefinite amount of time. Or you just want to take a break from taking the infusion. How to properly preserve it so that you can prepare kvass again at any time?
Everything is very simple. Remove the jellyfish from the jar, rinse in clean water, and place on a plate. Do not forget that it should be protected from midges and other insects, so it would be a good idea to cover it with a clean napkin made of natural fabric so that the jellyfish can breathe. Turn your pet over periodically to avoid mold. When the jellyfish looks like a thin, dry film, you can put it in a cabinet. Store dried mushrooms in a cool, dark place.
The substance will again become the same and will again perform its functions as soon as it gets into warm tea.
Negative factors
Despite all the benefits of kombucha, it also has contraindications for use. Due to the high acidic environment, the drink is not recommended for people with ulcers or gastritis. You need to be extremely careful with it if you have diabetes, low blood pressure and a weakened immune system. It is better to discuss the use of kombucha with your doctor first.
Tea kvass will cause uncomfortable sensations in those with sensitive tooth enamel. Organic acids in the drink are quite a test for the oral cavity. In addition, kombucha is considered an allergen and is therefore excluded from the diet of pregnant and lactating women.
