Have you tried ... kombucha tea
BY NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON World Scene Writer
Thursday, December 13, 2012
12/13/12 at 6:26 AM
If you are interested in trying one of the kombucha teas sold in stores, it's best to remember that this drink is an acquired taste.
Kombucha (pronounced com-BOOCH-a or com-BOOK-a) is a fermented tea that is sold in a variety of flavors. It contains live bacteria and yeast similar to yogurt.
And like yogurt, the probiotics in the drink are said to aid in digestion.
The drink dates back thousands of years, but it has gained popularity in the past few years in the U.S. and has become trendy in the celebrity scene. Sales of the beverage have skyrocketed in recent years.
There is a definite vinegar taste to the drink that can be off-putting if you are not expecting it or if you aren't a vinegar fan. Different brands can be stronger than others.
Kombucha is also somewhat effervescent.
With all of the sugary sweet soft drinks and oversweetened teas available, it grew on me as a welcome alternative.
Kombucha has been somewhat controversial because alcohol can develop over time in unpasteurized versions because the yeast is still alive.
A report published in September by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau shows that testing of kombucha in the marketplace revealed that many of these products contain at least 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. Those products are considered alcoholic beverages and are consequently subject to regulation.
However, some kombucha contain less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume and may continue to be marketed as nonalcoholic beverages.
The tax agency is coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that the kombucha currently on the market complies with federal laws.
We found many recipes for making kombucha at home, but instead we wanted to share this recipe for a sangria that uses kombucha.
KOMBUCHA SANGRIA
1 bottle kombucha
2 cups red wine
3 cups fruit juice, such as cranberry or raspberry
6 ounces pineapple juice
About 2 cups sliced pineapple
About 2 cups sliced strawberries
Optional: replace some of the strawberries and pineapple with fruits of your choice, such as apples, raspberries, blueberries, etc.
1. Stir all ingredients together. Chill at least 1-2 hours.
Have you tried ...
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