Kombucha is a beverage made up of slight sweetness and is often acidic. It is quite popular in various health communities, and it has been consumed now for more than thousands of years. People say that it is a potion that has the magic of healing. Experts have observed it to be healthy in terms of the provision of various benefits like digestion improvement, lower cholesterol, and better management of the blood sugar level.
Despite all these benefits, people still look at it with doubt due to the alcoholic content as an ingredient.
What is Kombucha Tea?
Kombucha is a fermented tea which is believed to be originated in China. It is perhaps called a beverage due to the process of fermentation. People form it by the addition of various strains of bacteria, sugar, and yeast to black or green tea.
Then the mixture is set free in a room at room temperature for the process of fermentation for a few weeks. In the process of fermentation of the tea, the bacteria and yeast that were added to the mixture formed a film like the mushroom on the surface of the tea.
The film is also called a living symbiotic colony of both bacteria and yeast. This colony is also termed SCOBY. The process of fermentation gives uniqueness of traits to the Kombucha tea because it adds up the carbon dioxide, acetic acid, alcohol, and various other compounds in it. These compounds also include probiotic bacteria.
Alcoholic Concentration
The process of fermentation includes the breakage of sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This means that Kombucha tea would contain alcohol. The commercial tea of Kombucha is said to be non-alcoholic because they contain 0.5% of alcohol in them.
In order to meet the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau rules, the concentration is kept minimum. But those Kombucha Teas, formed at home, are said to be brewed with more alcohol and can contain alcohol up to 3% and sometimes even higher than that.
Health Effects
This small amount of alcohol concentration in Kombucha tea isn’t much effective for people, but those women who are pregnant or breastfeeding their children should avoid the consumption of Kombucha tea as it can be deliberately containing higher amounts of alcohol if brewed at home.
Many agencies have recommended women not drink Kombucha Tea throughout their pregnancy. The reason behind this is that Kombucha tea is unpasteurized and can also increase the risk of a miscarriage. Similarly, women should also avoid it if they breastfeed their babies because the babies can consume alcohol along with the milk.
Concerns about Kombucha Tea
As mentioned earlier, many people ferment the Kombucha Tea at their homes and this increases the amount of alcohol within the tea to 3% or higher. The consumption of alcohol is harmful to health and can have adverse effects on the person consuming it, even if someone is taking it in very little proportion. Certain other risks also get imposed upon people who consume Kombucha tea, and the risks include:
Unpasteurized Varieties
Not every tea of Kombucha is pasteurized. Some forms are unpasteurized and unsafe for people to consume. The process of pasteurization includes the provision of high heat to the food and liquids in order to make them clean and healthy.
The main purpose behind this is to kill harmful bacteria inside the tea. This process is important because it has been recorded that it can kill diseases like tuberculosis, listeriosis, diphtheria, and many others. Most of the varieties of Kombucha tea, mostly those brewed at home, are unpasteurized and have harmful bacteria residing in them.
The experts have advised these people to stay away from consuming Kombucha Tea when it is brewed at home; old people, children, and pregnant women. This is strictly advised for them not to consume even a sip of Kombucha Tea, as it can be fatal for their health because it contains harmful bacteria and germs.
Caffeinated
Caffeine is present in Kombucha Tea. The tea is made up of either green or black tea, which is naturally caffeinated. We agree with this point that there are several benefits of consuming coffee, but still, some people prefer to stay away due to the various side effects of coffee. People who consume coffee might feel restless and anxious, have insomnia, and have recurrent headaches. So, if you want to refrain from these outcomes, stay away from Kombucha Tea.
Headaches and Migraines
It is observed by experts that Kombucha Tea constitutes a very high amount of tyramine, which is a naturally occurring amino acid. Still, it is a mystery why migraines and headaches occur after taking Kombucha Tea; some people link it with the concentration of tyramine. So, if you are facing recurrent and frequent headaches and migraines, control or abstain from consuming Kombucha Tea.
Contamination
When you buy Kombucha Tea from the stores, it is said to be more beneficial as compared to what you brew at home. The contamination level of homebrewed Kombucha Tea is higher than that found at the stores. The bacteria in the homebrewed ones can cause harmful problems to health, which can also lead to death. If you want to drink less contaminated Kombucha Tea with less alcohol concentration, you should refrain from drinking the one brewed at home and try the one present at the stores.
Benefits of Kombucha Tea
Everything mentioned earlier leads the passage to the way which shows that Kombucha Tea is very injurious to health and one should never drink it. Well, we all know that nothing in this world is perfect, and every single bit of thing has flaws and beneficiaries; the same goes for Kombucha Tea. The following table shows the benefits of Kombucha Tea that are observed by the experts and the drinkers of the tea;
| Benefits | Description |
| Probiotics’ High Concentration | Improves the health of the digestive system, helps in losing weight, and reduces feelings of depression and anxiety. |
| Blood Sugar Levels Management | After the entrance into the bloodstream, it reduces the blood sugar level. |
| Lowers the Risk of Heart Diseases | Protects the cholesterol against oxidation. |
| Lowers the Risk of Certain Cancers | Suppresses the growth and spread of various kinds of cancer. |
| Support Liver Health | Protects the liver against harmful substances. |
Conclusion
The article above shows that Kombucha Tea contains alcohol, whether it is fermented at home or at factories. Only there is a change in the concentration level of the alcohol in both of the forms. Many experts have advised people of old age, children, and pregnant women not to consume Kombucha Tea because it can be injurious to health leading to restlessness, insomnia, and anxiety.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
