Comments on: Homemade Kombucha: What I’ve Learned (part 1)

by: seth

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:41:26 +0000

Caragh, “not good evidence”? “No direct evidence”? I drink kombucha because I believe in the umami hypothesis, evidence for which I have posted.

You make a good point about lead leaching from ceramics. I use glass containers.

by: Caragh

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:26:06 +0000

As with any dietary supplement, it’s critical to do your homework before considering using Kombucha tea. First, determine the level of evidence supporting the health claims. In this case, Kombucha tea’s benefits are based on personal reports, and lab and animal studies. To date, there hasn’t been a single human trial reported in a major medical journal. This doesn’t mean that Kombucha tea can’t possibly have health benefits; it just means that at this time there’s no direct evidence that it provides the benefits it’s reported to have.

The next question is whether there have been any reports of harm or illness caused by the product. In the case of Kombucha tea, there are reports of adverse effects such as stomach upset and allergic reactions. More worrying are the reports of toxic reactions and metabolic acidosis. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration cautions that the risk of contamination is high because Kombucha tea is often brewed in homes under nonsterile conditions. Lead poisoning also may be a risk if ceramic pots are used for brewing — the acids in the tea may leach lead from the ceramic glaze.

In short, there’s not good evidence that Kombucha tea delivers on its health claims. At the same time, several cases of harm have been reported. Therefore, until definitive studies quantify the risks and benefits of Kombucha tea, it’s prudent to avoid it.

by: Brody

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:16:33 +0000

Regular heating pads are usually 1) way too warm, and 2) don’t maintain a constant temperature for hours….and aren’t designed to be left on so long. The seed mats are just about the right temperature not to bake your kombucha/yogurt to death, and maintain a very constant heat for days.

Also, a reptile-cage heating mat works too, I bet those are more expensive than seed mats, but who knows, someone might have one lying around.

by: seth

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:19:14 +0000

Thanks, Rachael.

Good idea, Brody. I notice that heating pads are sold by drugstores for as little as $17.

by: Rachael

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:16:53 +0000

I had been wondering when you would mention Kombucha. I have a wicked Kombucha habit, I literally don’t feel well unless I have at least 16 oz. a day. But I have hesitated to ferment my own. Please keep us updated on your progress, and any tips. I had good luck making sauerkraut last fall, though it turns out 30 pounds was more than my family could eat in one winter.

(I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and have been reading your archives. Well done! I enjoy your writing a lot.)

by: Brody

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:37:35 +0000

I use a Seed Starter mat (basically a lower-temperature big flat heating pad) that I got at Orchard Supply Hardware, and I set my wide-mouthed 1-gallon glass kombucha container on that. It does wonders to speed up the process!

(Side note- it also works well to set my pot full of yogurt mix on, when I’m making homemade yogurt and leaving it to sit overnight…I use the removable crock from my crockpot, set it on the Seed mat, and then wrap it in a beach towel. Perfect temperature for yogurt-making!)

by: JLD

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:01:52 +0000

I may add another piece of advice.
Beware of potted plants nearby, mold from the pot soil will poison the kombucha and grow on the scoby.
I never succeeded to keep a clean scoby for more than 2 or 3 runs and finally gave up.