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
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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