Kombucha

[chirp]

A co worker brought in a bottle and let me try it, pretty funky tasting, slightly carbonated, fruity vinegarish but slightly addictive and apparently chock full of plenty of good for your digestive system and other bodily magic.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha

 

Kombucha

 

I thought she had a bottle of pink Sobe, but nope. Am I way behind on this or is this something obscure?

 

The culture contains a symbiosis of Acetobacter (acetic acid bacteria) and yeast, mostly Brettanomyces bruxellensis, Candida stellata, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Zygosaccharomyces bailii. The culture itself looks somewhat like a large pancake, and though often called a mushroom, or by the acronym SCOBY (for "Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast"), it is clinically known as a fungus.Mission:It serves as an inhibitor of the beta-glucuronidase enzyme, a bacterial product from the gut microbiota that can cleave the glucuronic acid conjugates and send bodily wastes back into circulation, thus increasing the exposure time before the waste is ultimately excreted. Therefore, the active component of kombucha likely exerts its effect by preventing bacterial disruption of glucuronic acid conjugates and increasing the detoxification efficiency of the liver. Glucaric acid is being explored independently as a cancer preventive agent

 

Aside from any possible health benefits, it can be intoxicating. It is generally characterized by mild euphoria, relaxation, and an overall sense of physical and mental well-being. Kombucha contains variable amounts of alcohol and caffeine, though the effects felt in drinking the beverage are disproportionately profound in comparison with the amount ingested, suggesting something more at work.

 

Alcohol amounts vary from 0.5% to 1.5%, depending on anaerobic brewing time and proportions of microbe. Pasteur said that alkaline fermentation increases alcohol content. Commercial preparations are typically 0.5% for distribution and safety reasons.

 

Another possible cause of these effects is the psychoactive amino acid L-theanine, which is naturally present in tea. Stimulation of the circulatory and immune systems, and associated glandular releases, may also account for some of these effects. Some reports of more intense effects could be explained by toxins resulting from contamination of the culture

[chirp]

Just got a SCOBY and some starter and a basic recipe. Does anyone out there have any tips or methods that they use?

Just curious.

[G-spotter]

It's like the Jonestown kool-aid, but IT'S A FUNGUS!

[chirp]

It's like the Jonestown kool-aid, but IT'S A FUNGUS!

 

LoL... or simply put, a Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast.

 

[sobo]

WWSD? (what would Scoby do?)

[Stonehead]

That shat has beta glucans. Supposed to activate your immune system but works in a way dissimilar to other natural remedies such as echinacea which actually aggravate your immune system.

[111]

a number of friends are into this, but I think it tastes like shit! You can get the same goodness from eating a regular healthy diet, and that tastes better. If you want me to eat a crappy tasting fungus, it better stain blue!

[G-spotter]

That shat has beta glucans.

 

Were they the ones with the funky noses from TNG?

[sobo]

That shat has beta glucans.

Were they the ones with the funky noses from TNG?

I believe you are thinking about Betazoids, and they look just like humans for the most part.

Think Counselor Troi... mmmmmmmmmmmm... 8D

[rbw1966]

Have you tried out that new 16-sided die yet? Sick, bro.

[sobo]

16??? That is sooooo D&D, man.

I'm onto the 24-sided one. ToTaLlY cOlD SmOkE sIcK