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Feature Do-It-Yourself Fermented Foods Fizzy Fermented Drinks by Nechama Wachsman PART THREE This week we will get a taste of some delicious fermented drinks. There are an array of cultured beverages and tonics (aside from beer!) that you can make yourself with little effort and enjoy on a daily basis in place of the usual fruits juices and soft drinks. Besides being tasty and refreshing, these sodas and drinks are packed with health benefits, from aiding in digestion to battling a cold. Soda, you ask? How can anything with the name “soda” be even remotely healthy? Believe it or not, the modern day sugar and chemical laden soft drink originated as a healthy homemade beverage that was not just sweet and tasty but beneficial for you as well. Fermentation causes a natural carbonation in these homemade sodas which can be prepared with any flavor your heart desires. It’s so much fun, so little work, and perfectly appropriate for the Shabbos table as a treat for both kids and adults. Let us begin with my favorite, kombucha. Kombucha Pronounced com-BU-cha. Exotic and foreign sounding, the word itself can either pique your curiosity or make you turn your nose away. It’s hard to imagine fermented black tea tasting so good, but this fizzy, fruity, slightly alcoholic, and energizing 36 THE ENGLISH UPDATE drink is sure to become a family favorite. It is made with black and/or green tea, sugar, water, and a special kombucha culture starter, called a SCOBY. Kombucha tea originated in Asia, spread to Russia and Europe, and is now popular around the world. It has always been treasured as a health enhancing elixir and credited by the ancients as a cause for their longevity and excellent health. What is so amazing about kombucha? First of all, much like other fermented foods, it has many strains of probiotics and good bacteria which balance the gut and help with digestion. It is recommended to drink a little bit with each meal for better digestion. Kombucha also stimulates the metabolism and can help with weight loss. Full of antioxidants, kombucha boosts the immune system which enables the body to overcome illness. It is high in glucaric acid, which recent studies have shown can help prevent cancer. Russian scientists notice that the people of certain regions seem to be immune to cancer, and believe that kombucha, which is drunk plentifully there, may be the reason why. Kombucha is also fortified with glucosamines, which are needed to maintain strong and healthy joints, and therefore helpful for treating