What homemade drink tastes like non-alcoholic apple cider, has its origins in Manchuria, is 2,300 years old and claims powerful healing effects? Kombucha tea is made from black or green tea, sugar and the magic Kombucha "starter" culture. It is left to ferment in a warm environment for about 10 to 12 days until all the sugar has been converted to a slightly sparkling, refreshing drink, containing vitamins, enzymes, minerals and healthy organic acids. It contains less than one percent alcohol by volume. The live culture contains a healthful mixture of yeasts and bacteria. It looks like a creamy pancake and with every new batch of tea, a "baby" culture is produced that can be passed on to others as a starter culture. Benefits of Drinking Kombucha Tea Regularly Kombucha appears to have a general influence on the healthy functioning of the body. It is claimed to boost the immune system, detoxify the body, encourage the growth of good flora in the intestines and balance the metabolism. Some of the conditions that people have found relief from include various symptoms of cancer, low T cell count, arthritis, candidiasis, chronic fatigue syndrome, blood pressure problems, obesity, psoriasis, eczema, PMS, poor digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and poor skin tone. Many of the above conditions are known to improve when the digestive system is purified, when helpful bacteria are reintroduced to the intestines and cells are oxygenated. Even if you are fit, other benefits of drinking Kombucha tea include increased energy, improved concentration and a greater sense of well-being. It can also be applied to the skin to make a compress for abscesses and ulcers, used as a cream for skin disorders and as a hair conditioner. It has also been used to treat animals. Recent studies in Germany have demonstrated that Kombucha has in vitro antimicrobial activity, enhances sleep, raises pain thresholds and has potent anti-oxidant and immune system stimulating effects. In studies of both male and female mice that drank Kombucha, they demonstrated enhanced cognition, decreased appetite, weight loss and lived longer than controls. For more information: Kombucha Tea for Your Health and Healing: The Kombucha Tea Network available on http://www.sulis-health....kombucha/handbook.shtml. For more information and sources of Kombucha: http://www.KombuchaTea.co.uk.

I've been drinking Kombucha off-and-on for 10 years. Love the stuff. Found it somewhat distasteful in my early 20's, but these days I guess my palate's dulled to the point that I kind of enjoy its tart pickle-juicyness. After having been off it for a while, it's always a treat to drink 6-8 ounces just before an exercise regimen. Not only gives you an oddly euphoric energy boost but you sweat like a PIG... gives you indisputable evidence of its liver-boosting toxin-spewing power. I wouldn't recommend the pre-bottled stuff that can be found pretty commonly these days... Highly diluted and one gets the impression that fresher = better results. Brewing your own is trivial and a nice weekly ritual.