The American Club Magazine Feb - Mar - Apr | 2020

ESSENTIALS

NEW KID ONTHE BLOCK

Fermented foods are touted as useful, inexpensive and effective for increasing probiotic strength. Kombucha is an example of a fermented product that has gained tremendous popularity in recent years for its energizing and digestion-boosting properties. By Anne Jones

category, such as cold-pressed juices and for tified waters. This new super-drink has been steadily gaining momentum worldwide with its naturally occurring effervescence and mild alcohol content (<0.5%), and even sparked new cocktail trends in bars. WHAT DOES KOMBUCHA TASTE LIKE? “It’s a bit tart, a bit sweet and a bit vinegary,” says Adam Vanni, who runs London’s first Kombucha tap room, Jarr Bar in HackneyWick.“It’s an acquired taste but one that is a flavor profile that we’re moving towards right now, which is drier and more sour than sickly sweet.” Refreshing and hydrating, Kombucha drinks are best served chilled – perfect for Singapore’s weather.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS KOMBUCHA AND WHAT DOES IT DO TO OUR BODIES? Kombucha is a sugar sweetened fermented green or black tea that is mixed with SCOBY, also known as Symbiotic Community of Bacteria and Yeast. SCOBY floats on the top of the tea and allows it to ferment. This is called the mother starter and with each batch, the bacteria will continue to multiply and grow. The result is a probiotic beverage, filled with live bacteria, which helps promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria created during the fermentation process is safe to consume. The drink has roots in Chinese culture dating back over 2,000 years and was once considered the “tea of immor tality” according to ancient myths. However, it’s only in recent years that the drink has exploded onto the consumer market as the probiotic craze goes mainstream. Touted for its variety of health benefits including detoxification, joint health, digestion / gut health and immune-boosting proper ties, Kombucha joins other beverages in the health

Drop by Essentials and grab a bottle of Kombucha for a healthy start to your day!

37 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE