Kombucha. Combucha. Manchurian Mushroom. Tea Kvass. Cainogo Griba. Champignon de longue vie. Japan gomba. Tea Mould. Whatever name you’ve heard of it by, it all boils down to one thing- An excellent and praised new trend for all you health and fitness buffs, as well as for any of you Average Joes just looking for a way to boost your health. Best known as Kombucha Health Tea, it has numerous beneficial effects including the ability to stimulate the immune system, help prevent cancer, cure skin conditions, lower cholesterol and many more.

Kombucha Tea dates back to the Chinese Qin Dynasty of 221 B.C. The people of that time referred to it as "The Elixir of Life", while the spiritual Zen Masters associated its consumption with "chi". Later on, when trade routes expanded beyond the Far East, other countries such as India, Russia and Eastern Europe were introduced to Kombucha, and it finally arrived in Germany at the turn of the 20th Century. When WW II started, the two essential ingredients of Kombucha- tea and sugar were rationed, making its consumption less popular. In the early 1960’s Kombucha’s popularity was once again on the rise.

Now, the tea itself isn’t something you can just go out and buy in a bottle or a bag. If you want to try the tea and see the miraculous results for yourself, you’ll need to brew a batch of your own at home. By doing so you’ll be one of the many drinkers flourishing from all the health benefits that are associated with Kombucha Tea. Brewing the tea will take a bit of work and some patience to wait for the finished product to be completed. Below you can find a simple recipe for Kombucha Tea.

Step 1: Brew 2 Quarts of either Green Tea or Black Tea. (2 TBS of tea per quart of water).

Let it steep for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2: While the tea is still warm, add 3 oz of sugar and mix until dissolved.

Step 3: After tea cools to room temperature, pour it into a large china or glass container. (Do not put in a ceramic or lead crystal container). In addition, add the culture and the liquid it came in.

Step 4: Cover your container with a paper towel and secure with a rubber band. Place it in a warm place, with no direct sunlight.

Important! Do not move the container while it is fermenting. Temperature should remain around 68-86°F.

The fermentation process needs to go on for about 8-12 days. When your tea starts to bubble, and develop a tarter flavor, it means that the yeast in the starter has broken down the sugar and that CO2 has been created.

Step 5: Place your acid testing strip in the container to test for acidity level. When it reads around 2.7-3.2 pH, you are tea is ready!

Step 6: Pour the finished tea into bottles (straining if necessary), and make sure to cap them off. Let it sit for 4-5 more days to finish maturing. Store in a cool place.

Enjoy!