Kombucha
Fermented tea beverage / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kombucha (also tea mushroom, tea fungus, or Manchurian mushroom when referring to the culture; Latin name Medusomyces gisevii)[1] is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black tea drink. Sometimes the beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of bacteria and yeast.[2] Juice, spices, fruit or other flavorings are often added.
Type | Flavored cold tea drink with fermentation byproducts |
---|---|
Country of origin | China |
Alcohol by volume | <0.5% (commercial) |
Proof (US) | <1 (commercial) |
Color | Cloudy, commonly pale or dark brown and sometimes green |
Flavor | Fermented, effervescent |
Ingredients | Tea, sugar, bacteria, yeast |
Variants | Fruit juices or spices added |
Related products | Water kefir, kefir, kvass, beer, iced tea |
Kombucha is thought to have originated in China, where the drink is traditional.[3][4] By the early 20th century it spread to Russia, then other parts of Eastern Europe and Germany.[5] Kombucha is now homebrewed globally, and also bottled and sold commercially.[1] The global kombucha market was worth approximately US$1.7ābillion as of 2019[update].[6]
Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a "mother" or "mushroom". The microbial populations in a SCOBY vary. The yeast component generally includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with other species; the bacterial component almost always includes Gluconacetobacter xylinus to oxidize yeast-produced alcohols to acetic acid (and other acids).[7] Although the SCOBY is commonly called "tea fungus" or "mushroom", it is actually "a symbiotic growth of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic yeast species in a zoogleal mat [biofilm]".[1] The living bacteria are said to be probiotic, one of the reasons for the popularity of the drink.[8][9]
Numerous health benefits have been claimed to correlate with drinking kombucha;[10] there is little evidence to support any of these claims.[8][10][11] The beverage has caused rare serious adverse effects, possibly arising from contamination during home preparation.[12][13] It is not recommended for therapeutic purposes.[10][14]