Kombucha is a delicious and healthy drink that is becoming increasingly popular as a healthy alternative to soda and high sugar drinks. It is made by using an age-old traditional process of fermenting tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, which gives it a unique taste and a host of health benefits.
However, make no mistake, like a lot of products in our food supply chain there are “variations” of kombucha appearing which are made using artificial ingredients (mainly to increase the shelf life, disguise the natural vinegary flavour and make it more commercial).
By doing so, unfortunately the authenticity of that product has been lost and with it, the health benefits of kombucha can also be reduced.
As a Nutritionist and a kombucha connoisseur, I can tell you without a second thought how bad this is. I started Twisted Kombucha to not just sell organic, fresh kombucha, but to also educate my audience on its extensive nutritional health benefits. And to truly understand the benefits of your kombucha drink, you must also understand why artificial sweeteners and flavouring completely ruins it.
I’ll explain just that in this blog. And if you’re looking for a fun way to drink kombucha without ruining its quality, I’ll be leaving my favourite pineapple floaty recipe here as well!
Let’s get into it, then.
Mistakes People Make When Creating Kombucha Cultures
These days, you’ll find loads of branded kombucha drinks in the supermarket. But, how do you know they’re safe to drink? One big red flag is added sweeteners.
Kombucha can be extremely good for your gut health, but the wrong kombucha drink can actually negatively affect you. Especially if you already have underlying health issues.
- Artificial sweeteners, such as stevia glycosides, aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose, are often used in kombucha to make it taste sweeter without adding sugar. However, these sweeteners have been linked to a variety of health problems, including gut issues. Studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, leading to inflammation and other problems flavouring in Kombucha.
- For people with underlying gut health issues, such as IBS, IBD, Candida Overgrowth, and Leaky Gut, artificial sweeteners can exacerbate these conditions, causing symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. They can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients, leading to nutrient deficiencies.
- Artificial sweeteners can also disrupt the gut-brain connection, leading to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. They also have been linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
- Artificial sweeteners cause you to crave more sweet foods, and in the long run contribute to an overall higher intake of sweet foods leading to weight gain. You can read more about it here. For a more in-depth look, you can watch this video. It’s highly informative and Dr. Tim Spector gets into all the details, making it easy to understand.
Other Reasons You Don’t Need Extra Flavouring
Aside from health implications, there are other reasons to avoid unnecessary sweeteners in kombucha. For one, it detracts from the natural taste of the drink. Kombucha has a unique taste that is acquired by the fermentation process, and adding unnecessary sweeteners can mask that taste. Additionally, it can be more expensive to buy pre-flavored kombucha and it doesn’t give you the freedom to experiment with different teas or fermentation times to find a taste that you like flavouring in Kombucha.
Instead of turning to artificially sweetened kombucha, consider drinking the naturally fermented version and getting used to the natural taste over time.
If you really want to mix things up, but keep it healthy… you can always consume kombucha in different ways. We have many amazing kombucha drink recipes here at Twisted Kombucha. You can even make amazing food and salad dressings with kombucha. For daily recipes, follow us on Instagram!
Kombucha Pineapple Floaty
Our favourite recipe so far has got to be the Kombucha Pineapple Floaty. It’s super easy to make, and gives you that added kombucha twist you need to your everyday pineapple floaty.
Here’s how you can make it at home!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of unflavored kombucha
- 1/4 cup of pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup of coconut milk
- 1/4 cup of pineapple chunks
- Ice
- Optional garnish: pineapple wedges, mint leaves
Instructions:
- In a blender, combine the pineapple juice, coconut milk, and pineapple chunks. Blend until smooth.
- Add ice to a glass and pour in the blended pineapple mixture.
- Slowly pour in the kombucha, being careful not to disturb the pineapple mixture too much.
- Garnish with pineapple wedges and mint leaves if desired.
- Enjoy your kombucha pineapple floaty!
- Note: You can adjust the proportion of pineapple juice, coconut milk, and pineapple chunks to your taste. Also, if you want to make it sweeter you can add natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
This recipe is a fun and refreshing way to enjoy kombucha. The pineapple and coconut milk give it a tropical twist, while the kombucha provides a unique taste and a host of health benefits. Plus, the pineapple chunks add a fun, “floaty” element to the drink. Enjoy this recipe and let me know if you have any questions.
Conclusion
Kombucha is a delicious and healthy drink that should be enjoyed in its natural state. Adding unnecessary sweeteners in kombucha can harm the beneficial bacteria in the culture, disrupt the fermentation process, and detract from the natural taste of the drink flavouring in Kombucha.
It’s always best to keep it natural so you can really enjoy all the benefits of your kombucha drink. That’s why we believe in making small batches of high-quality kombucha. That way, you know the culture has set right and the drink is full of natural fermented goodness.
If you’re looking to buy a natural raw, unfiltered and unadulterated kombucha, look no further. Twisted Kombucha has what you need. Check out our online shop for more!
