What if we told you that you should drink to stay healthy? You would be thinking about water, tea, or coffee, right?
But we are talking about beer! Wait, wait - not beer exactly, but a probiotic-rich drink similar to beer that’s rich in health benefits due to its low sugar content.
Before you stop reading further because we might have upset you, know that we are talking about the “tea of immortality.” This isn’t some hokum; we’re about to share details of a 2000-year-old drink called Kombucha!
Trust us; read the rest of this article, and you won’t be disappointed. Chinese emperors can vouch for us!
What’s So Great About Kombucha?
Hanging out by the water cooler and catching up on the office gossip is so yesterday. Nowadays, office beverages are in vogue when spending time in the cafeteria or having a cold glass of your favorite drink while working.
But what’s your guilty pleasure? Is it tea, coffee, or other non-alcoholic beverages? While these are fine, they don’t offer the same health benefits as probiotic-rich Kombucha. Wait! Don’t tell us you don’t know about Kombucha.
This fermented drink is highly popular and one of the fastest-growing options in the beverage industry. Grand View Research reported that in 2016 consumers purchased Kombucha worth $760 million, a sharp rise from $400 million in 2014.
And its popularity is showing no signs of slowing, with initial projections stating the beverage can show a further growth of 23% till 2025.
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha is an ancient Northeastern Chinese drink that has been around for more than 2,000 years. Emperors in China referred to Kombucha as the “tea of immortality,” owing to its healing properties.
It has only recently gained popularity in the United States due to its many health benefits, foremost among which is the low sugar content of kegged Kombucha. This green or black sweet tea is fermented with yeast, spices, sugar, and additional juices to amplify its taste.
Best of all is that you can pair the drink with other beverages and ingredients, such as citrus cayenne, blueberry vanilla, raspberry lime, or strawberry basil.
Why Kombucha From A Keg?
You will love that Kombucha is very similar to beer since the fermented product is carbonated. Use a short, direct draw system, like a kegerator, for dispensing Kombucha from a tap with CO2 pushing the drink through the system without affecting the carbonation recipe.
But instead of kegging and serving Kombucha on tap, wouldn’t it be easier to serve it in a bottle? You would think so; however, Kombucha served this way offers the following benefits -
A. Taste Sampling
In commercial spaces, like grocery stores, storing Kombucha on tap allows consumers to sample the beverage. This proves useful for comparing its taste with other beverages on the go to make a quick decision.
B. Sustainable
Using a tap to dispense Kombucha means reduced demand for aluminum cans and glass bottles. Moreover, it’s possible to reuse Kombucha beverage tanks and kegs, which makes it an eco-friendly option - a healthy choice for yourself and the environment.
C. Forced Carbonation
Instead of relying on priming sugars and natural conditioners, you can carbonate the Kombucha to your desired taste.
D. Rich In Probiotics
Kombucha can provide a healthy dose of probiotics because it contains several strains of lactic acid that have a probiotic function. But nothing has been conclusively confirmed by research, although many bacteria grow in the Kombucha mixture.
Supposing that it may have probiotics, Kombucha might improve gut health, reduce inflammation, promote better digestion, and lead to weight loss.
E. Antioxidants
When Kombucha is made with green tea, it infuses the formula with antioxidants to improve liver health. Scientists believe that antioxidants obtained from beverages and foods are better than supplements, which makes Kombucha unique.
Research on rats has shown that drinking Kombucha can reduce liver toxicity by eliminating up to 70% of toxic chemicals. Thus, Kombucha might prove beneficial for people afflicted with liver disease, even though we are awaiting evidence of clinical trials on humans.
How To Keg Kombucha?
If your office hasn’t yet welcomed Kombucha as a workspace beverage, tell them about KegForce - a provider of Kombucha on tap. But you can also keg Kombucha for small-scale purposes or at home by obtaining Cornelius kegs worth 5 gallons.
Ferment the Kombucha and add it to the keg after removing all impurities, including yeast sediment, flavoring agent residue, and SCOBY( Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria And Yeast). After pouring it into the keg, allow the Kombucha to carbonate naturally or use CO2 for forced carbonation.
This will further add to the taste of the drink, but forced carbonation requires a slightly different approach. Chill the Kombucha to 38 degrees Fahrenheit before connecting it to the CO2 tank and regulator. Be sure to adjust the pressure between 20 and 30 PSI and keep tasting the drink at regular intervals till it tastes just right!
How Long Will It Take To Keg Kombucha?
It will take around 4-5 days to complete kegging, so if this seems too much of a hassle, you can always contact KegForce. The next step is drafting the Kombucha, for which you will need a CO2 tank and regulator, an air line, a draft tower, and barrier tubing.
Drafting Kombucha involves the same process as drafting wine or beer, so you can get someone to help you.
Kombucha Benefits
For now, know that the benefits of Kombucha are too good to ignore, and although you may not feel “immortal” like ancient Chinese Kings, improved liver health is always welcome. Just place your glass underneath the tap and wait for chilled Kombucha to pour into the cup after flowing through the food-safe lines, thanks to gas pressure. Also, pour a cup for your boss or colleagues during a busy work day because there’s no better way to show you care than a nice, chilled probiotic beverage!