Kombucha Tea?

Question

Where can I buy Kombucha tea? Any stores carry this? I'm in DC. Should I try and make it? If so, where can I buy the mushroom?

Answer 1

You can buy Kombucha starter kits online. You can find them at some health food stores, but it is more widely available at your asian naturalistic stores. We make our own, and personally I prefer that so that I know it's done properly.

Second, although it is called a mushroom, it is not a mushroom at all as it does not produce spores or "fruit." The "mushroom" or SCOBY can be describe as a light brown or creamy white disk that grows on top of the liquid tea/sugar mixture and will take the form of the container that is in, which is why most look circular in the pictures you may see. Again, it is not a mushroom at all, but really a yeast culture that has a symbiotic relationship with various bacteria, which duplicates itself during each brewing cycle. The correct name for the "mushroom" is a S.C.O.B.Y - a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The culture may look fragile, however, it is really thick and leathery in consistency. The finished brewed tea should be regarded principally as a live food unusually rich in nutritive properties. The finished fermented product taste something like cider with a nice fizz. As with yogurt or miso, the bacteria and cultures in the tea are a great source of nutrition, aiding in metabolic function and balance.

I wrote a blog on Kombucha that gives an in-depth analysis of what it is, what it does, and what is has done for people we know. You can read that here: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-5ksVjU47eqs_12qDwPwirmLXqHA-?cq=1&p=1797

This site will tell you how to make Kombucha Tea: http://www.organic-kombucha.com/detailed_brewing_instructions.html

And here is one of many sites that you can buy a starter kit from: http://www.organic-kombucha.com/kombucha_starter_kit.html

Good luck to you! Kombucha has been very beneficial to my family and to many!

Answer 2

You can buy it online I know that much. Just google Kombucha tea and there are alot of places that sell it.

Answer 3

It's a lot of bother to keep making it, unless you just enjoy the ritual. It's now available in most health food stores, in the refrigerated section. Ask your local store manager to order if they don't carry.