Delicious and healthy kombucha is present in the kitchens of many housewives. The taste of the drink compares favorably with the unattractive appearance mushroom. The product improves digestion, helps to get rid of insomnia and treats many diseases. If you started at home beneficial organism, you need to know everything - how to properly care for it and use it.

Where to begin?

Take a glass 3 liter jar. Do not use a metal container for growing mushrooms. Next, your actions are as follows:

• pour about 2/3 of the warm tea leaves into the jar. Prepare tea beforehand in a separate pot. Brew, let it brew and strain. The strength of the brewed drink corresponds to the tea you drink every day. Make the tea solution clear, impurities will injure the mushroom;
• add sugar to the tea leaves. Take 2-3 tablespoons per liter of water. sugar and stir well. Do not use a sweetener;
• leave to cool to room temperature;
• carefully place the kombucha in the jar. Cover the jar on top with clean gauze, pre-folded in layers. Place in a secluded spot.

The best temperature for mushroom propagation is 25 degrees. He doesn't like the dark, but don't put him in the sun either. You will see that the surface of the infusion in the jar will be covered with a film that grows in size. IN finished product the thickness of the looking film is 1 mm, and from the can it smells thin and pleasant aroma vinegar. The drink is ready in about four days.

Properly caring for kombucha

The product needs to be looked after, otherwise it will die. If it sinks to the bottom of the can, you are doing something wrong. The care is as follows:

• rinse the mushroom itself under clean cool water. Rinse once a month in winter and once a week in summer. Do not direct a strong stream of water from the tap, the mushroom will be damaged. Wash the jar too. Put the washed mushroom on a clean plate while washing the dishes;
• change the nutritious sweet solution every week in winter and 2 times a week in summer. Otherwise, brown spots will appear on the mushroom. Pour a new portion of the sweet solution immediately after using the old one. To speed up the fermentation process, add to fresh composition a glass of the present product;
• touch the mushroom clean hands, spoons and remove all rings. Otherwise, infect the mushroom, and the drink will deteriorate;
• use plastic or wooden spoons. The product does not like metal;
• protect the infusion from dust and insects. Do not cover the jar with a lid, the mushroom needs to "breathe". Cover the container with gauze and secure with an elastic band;
• strain the finished drink through cheesecloth. Drain it once a week or more. Then add a new sweet tea solution. Do not pour out all the liquid, leave about a liter.

Propagating Kombucha correctly

Do not tear pieces off the mushroom - it will die! Carefully remove its top film and transfer it carefully to a clean container with warm water... Do not put any tea leaves or sugar in the water - put the mushroom in the sweet solution when it gets stronger. This will happen in a day or a little more. You will see that the film has risen to the surface of the vessel and began to flake off - gently move the mushroom into the tea sweet environment. It will grow soon.

We use kombucha correctly

Drink the drink one hour after meals two to three times a day in an amount of 200-500 ml. Drink cool and strain before taking. People drink a sharp, cool drink at any time. But it is better to drink it for the first time a day before eating in the morning. It prepares the digestive tract for eating. After a month, stop for three weeks so as not to irritate the stomach.

A useful organism has practically no contraindications. But it is better for pregnant women, hypertensive patients, lactating mothers, diabetics and children under 12 years old to refrain from using it.

After straining the drink, pour it over glass bottles and store in the refrigerator. Don't throw away the extra mushroom - share it with your friends and family. Use as a fertilizer in your garden. To do this, cut into pieces and bury them in the ground.

Caring for a useful living organism is simple. A little effort - and it will be useful on your table every day, invigorating drink... And if the above rules are observed, the mushroom will last a long time and give the body a charge of vigor, health and good mood.

The mushroom looks like a jellyfish that floats on the surface of the liquid. This is a huge colony of yeast and acetic acid bacteria, which are held together by cellulose cells. Scientific name colonies - jellyfish.

The photo shows an enlarged image of its surface under a microscope. The balls are yeast. Rods are bacteria. The rest of the binder is cellulose.

From above, the colony looks smooth, flat. Below - loose and multi-layered, with hanging threads and new layers formed. It is from the bottom that most of the active microorganisms are located, which process sweet tea and form kvass.

The top microorganisms are produced by vinegar. The method of obtaining vinegar with the help of medusomycetes was called "Orleans". It was used in the 19th century in industrial scale.

For the primary formation of a colony, a donor organism is not needed. The fungus is formed as a result long fermentation brewed sweet tea (in the presence of acetic bacteria, several types of yeast microorganisms). The bacteria themselves enter the brew from the air. However, more often the kombucha is passed on to each other by dividing the jellyfish-like colonies into layers.

The environment for the vital activity of yeast and bacteria is indian tea, which appeared in Russia only in the 19th century. Therefore, kvass itself appeared in various Russian provinces at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 30-40s, he was on the wave of popularity. After the war - forgotten, and again returned to widespread use in the 80s of the last century.

In the countries of the East, where tea has been known for a long time, jellyfish were well-deserved respect. They treated the sick, maintained the tone of the healthy.

What was this drink used for:

• China - only noble wealthy families drank tea kvass. The drink was not intended for commoners. He was given the following qualities: to maintain clarity of thought, tone, rejuvenate, as well as improve digestion, cleanse blood vessels.
• Japan - tea kvass was popular among geisha, who used it for harmony and removal of spots and warts from the skin.
• India - the drink was added to the bath for bathing babies with skin problems.
• Europe (England, France and Prussia) - Kombucha was recognized in the 19th century and began to be used for the production of vinegar. For this, the medusomycetes were kept in large wooden barrelswhere he reached enormous proportions.

The benefits and harms of kombucha

The medicinal properties of kombucha are determined by the components formed during fermentation. What does a colony of microorganisms release during its vital activity?

Part of the dissolved sugar is fermented by yeast bacteria. Ethyl alcohol is formed, which other bacteria process into acetic acid. Another part of sucrose is processed into gluconic, oxalic, citric, and grape acids. A number of enzymes are formed (lipase, catalase, protease, amylase), some vitamins (C, B), caffeine is retained (comes from brewed tea).

The therapeutic benefits of kombucha are determined by acids, vitamins, and enzymes. Invigorating and toning effect - with caffeine.

Why is kombucha useful to humans

• Disinfects and stops the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Destroys dysentery bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, typhoid fever.
• It removes toxins, which means it eases the condition in case of various poisoning - food, industrial, alcoholic, with toxicosis of pregnant women.
• Improves digestion, cleanses the intestines, treats diseases of the gallbladder and liver.
• Forms the microflora of the digestive organs, restores the balance of microorganisms after chemotherapy, a course of antibiotics.
• Counteracts infections in various inflammations: dental (gingivitis and periodontitis), skin (acne, abscesses, fungus on the skin or under nails, dandruff), ENT inflammation. With this treatment, tea kvass is used externally - for rinsing and rubbing.
• Normalizes the state of blood vessels (dissolves sclerotic plaques and increases the elasticity of the vascular walls).
• Reduces blood pressure.

The beneficial properties of kombucha are more noticeable than others reflected in the work of digestion. Tea kvass removes bloating and colic, normalizes the movement of digestive juices (bile), removes congestion. By suppressing the growth of pathogenic flora, it heals inflammation. Forming a normal intestinal flora, it creates conditions for full assimilation of food.

Kombucha contraindications

When can a fermented beverage be harmful?

• When peroxidized - if it has a strong pungent taste. There is too much vinegar in this drink. Not a large number of acetic acid acts as an antiseptic, used as an antidote. Too much vinegar burns the gastric mucosa, acidifies the blood, and destroys red blood cells. In addition, acetic acid destroys enamel. Therefore, it is better to drink acidic drinks through a straw.
• When aging - dead layers supply toxic components. To prevent this from happening, the jellyfish colony is washed with water once a week and the old dying layers are removed in a timely manner.
• While receiving a row drugs (antibiotics, paracetamol, analgin). Between drinks tea kvass and these medications must pass at least 2 hours.
• Diabetics - due to the high sugar content.
• People with high acidity, with a stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer - take tea kvass only in limited quantities.
• You can not take the fermented drink to motorists while driving (kvass contains up to 2.5% alcohol, which is contraindicated for drivers in any dose).
• For the same reason, you should not take tea kvass during pregnancy, breastfeeding.

How to use kombucha for weight loss

The slimming effect is explained by the following factors:

• Tea kvass stimulates cleansing processes, including the intestines. Many people with overweight the intestine resembles a clogged pipe. Active biological substances clean the inner walls from fecal deposits and remove them outside. It looks like a loosening of the intestines and frequent urge to use the toilet.
• Tea kvass enzymes (lipase /, protease) stimulate the breakdown of fats.
• Components tea drink reduce hunger.

How to use kombucha for weight loss? Here are some popular recipes:

• Insist jellyfish on green tea.
• Insist on herbal decoction (nettle, raspberry and currant leaves, buckthorn bark, dandelion roots, fennel fruits, parsley and caraway seeds, mint leaves, corn silk).
• Insist jellyfish on compote.

Drink ready-made kvass 1/2 or 1 glass (200 ml) half an hour before meals (3-4 times a day). You can also drink it in the morning right after bed to stimulate bowel cleansing.

Is it possible to eat kombucha during pregnancy

Is kombucha good for pregnancy? Content ethyl alcohol (2.5%) causes controversy about the benefits of the tea drink. Nai large quantity alcohol drink contains at the beginning of fermentation (up to 2.5%). In addition, tea supplies caffeine, which is also not healthy.

Alcohol and caffeine - active substances... Even in small concentrations, they are able to cross the placenta. Therefore, despite the low content of these substances, it is not recommended to consume kombucha during pregnancy.

In the 19th century, a carbonated drink was obtained on an industrial scale. In the 21st century, it is drunk and bred at home. Making kombucha at home is easy.

For growing jellyfish use glass jars with a volume of 1 to 5 liters (depending on the size of the jellyfish). If the thickness of the colony is more than 1.5 cm, take a jar of at least 3 liters. To accelerate fermentation - leave ¼ part of the ready-made drink.

Tea is brewed, cooled and filtered. Brewing proportions: for 3 liters of water - 6-8 tablespoons of sugar and 2-3 tea bags.

When using tea bags, the tea does not need to be filtered. If you brew tea without tea bags, then after 20 minutes it is necessary to filter the brewed liquid. Sugar can be added immediately.

Filtered sweet tea is poured into a glass container and a jellyfish mushroom is placed in it. The neck of the jar is covered with gauze and placed in a dark place for fermentation. Direct rays of the sun should not hit the surface of the glass container. Bubbles appear as fermentation progresses. You can determine the readiness of the drink by the bubbles and a slight sour smell.

The fermentation time for kvass takes 2-4 days in summer and 5-7 days in winter.

How to care for kombucha

Proper care of kombucha at home determines the quality of the drink. After all, it is a living organism, and in response to care it gives a tasty and healthy drink.

What is contraindicated with proper care:

• A tightly closed bank or other container. Bacteria and yeasts need to breathe. Without oxygen, they die.
• Hot water. Bacteria and yeast die in boiling water and just hot water (like other living organisms, protein structures). Therefore, before adding the mushroom to tea, it is cooled to room temperature.
• Sugar - a colony of microorganisms feeds on sugar dissolved in water. If you pour sugar directly on the surface of the mushroom, burns (holes, depressions) will appear.
• The sun's rays heat up the liquid in which the mushroom floats, and this leads to the partial death of its colony. Therefore, it cannot be kept on a sunny windowsill.
• Metal containers without enamel, ceramic surfaces. The mushroom must be stored only in containers made of inert material (glass jars).
• Smoke from cigarettes. In rooms where people smoke often, the jellyfish grows moldy.

A fungus or a colony of microorganisms must be stored in a glass container, under a gauze bandage, in a darkened corner of the kitchen. Colony health is the position of the jellyfish on the surface of the liquid. If the medusomycete does not emerge for a long time, it is necessary to examine it and remove the dead layers.

Like any living creature, a jellyfish colony needs periodic washing. The mushroom is rinsed once every 7-10 days in clean cool water. To do this, the jellyfish is taken out of the container with tea, put in enameled dishes (bowl, saucepan), into which water is poured and drained several times. After that, the mushroom is examined for old yellow layers (if any, they are removed). The washed mushroom is put back in the jar of brewed sweet tea.

Where to get or how to make kombucha

Where can I get kombucha? And is it possible to grow it at home without a donor colony? It turns out, yes. If in the circle of your acquaintances there is no person who could offer you a mushroom, grow it yourself on the basis of ordinary tea leaves and sugar. How to grow kombucha at home?

• To grow a colony, you need a regular leaf tea without aromatic additives.
• We prepare a glass container (jar) - with my soda or mustard (you can not wash it with synthetic degreasers, they leave a mark on the surface and do not allow microorganisms to collect in the colonies).
• For half a liter of boiling water, take 5 tablespoons of tea leaves and 7 tablespoons of sugar. Brew, cool and filter. Pour into a glass jar. Cover with gauze on top.
• After 7-10 days, a vinegar smell appears. After it passes, and a thin film of mucus forms on the surface. This is the rudiment of the future fungus. The time required for the formation of a primary colony is 1.5-2 months.

For growing kombucha, you can also use green tea, rosehip broth, sweet compote.

Growing a kombucha at home is available to everyone. The cultivation technology is simple and accessible even to a child. The finished colony is a thin film of living bacteria that will eventually grow into big mushroom and will bring you health. In order for it to only benefit you, you can not use the old sour drink.

Tea is very important for the life of the kombucha: it practically does not consume the components of the infusion (tannins, aromatic and other substances), but at the same time it is very sensitive to its absence. So, without tea, he is not able to synthesize ascorbic acid, which is so necessary for his full life.

Tea mushroom or medusomycete, when favorable conditions are created, on the 4-10th day of growth, it begins to produce a drink similar to strong and highly carbonated kvass. Gas bubbles and acetic acid are formed due to the activity of acetic acid bacteria and yeast, and gives a specific aroma to kvass tea infusionas well as some types of yeast.

If you do not have any way to get the kombucha, you can cook from the usual rye bread, with added sugar and yeast.

How to grow kombucha

Cultivation of a medusomycene is a simple procedure, but in order for it for a long time delighted you with a healthy and tasty drink, some nuances should be taken into account. Medusomycete has layered structure and multiplies only by separating one layer from another. It is strictly forbidden to cut the body of the mushroom into two halves or cut off pieces from it.
It is very susceptible to mechanical damage, thus it can be damaged and it will hurt. First, you should separate one layered film and, placing it in a glass container, carefully pour warm water - (always use only boiled water.). Place the separated film in another container and, also filling it with warm water, leave at room temperature.

The cultivation of the fungus is carried out only by separating one of the layers from the mother fungus, and this must be done with extreme caution.

Mushroom feeding

Medusomycete feeds on a weak sweetish tea solution, which must be prepared as follows. Sugar should be added to a 1% tea solution in a ratio of 1:10. Kombucha should be placed in this solution. It should be noted that the solution should not be too strong - this will slow down the growth process.

The jellyfish drink is rarely consumed in its original form. In order to reduce the concentration, it must be diluted boiled water in a ratio of 1: 2. Ultimately, the drink should have a slightly sour taste.

Top dressing and replacement of the solution should be done systematically - about once every 2-3 days. In the cold season, you can reduce the amount of dressings and change the solution every 5-6 days. If you want a less concentrated drink, you can feed the mushroom daily.

About once every 2-3 weeks, the mushroom should be washed with boiled water at room temperature. This should be done very carefully so as not to damage the structure. After rinsing, it must be placed back into the container, filling it with the usual tea solution. A slightly sweet tea solution is an ideal breeding ground for kombucha. When correct preparation solution, you will get a tasty and healthy drink.

Drink preparation rules

What can Kombucha insist on

It turns out that kvass can be obtained not only on the basis of black tea tincture. There are several options for preparing a delicious tonic drink. So, kombucha, the care of which cannot be changed, is often insisted on green tea, which contains a large amount of vitamins and caffeine.

Medusomycetes can also be infused with tea with the addition of various medicinal herbs: oregano, chamomile, lemon balm, mint, bergamot, etc. Just do not throw herbs directly into the mushroom - it will quickly die from such a neighborhood, first you need to prepare an infusion.

Healing herbs will not only add a number of useful properties, but also give it unique taste and flavor. Before use, you can add a teaspoon of honey to the finished tea kvass, which will enrich it with a large amount of minerals, enhance its antibacterial and tonic properties.

The stronger the infusion of tea or herbs, the more vitamins and nutrients will be contained in ready drink... The following proportion is considered the most optimal: 2 teaspoons of tea leaves or herbs and 100 gr. sugar to get 1 liter of drink.

Tea mushroom. How to take care of all the rules

• Medusomycete is able to live only in glasswarethat will fit him in size. As a rule, a regular 3 liter can is used. But dishes made of metal (except for stainless steel) cannot be used for making kvass, since the acids produced by the mushroom react with metals.
• The jar with the mushroom should be kept in a shaded place, with good ventilation and free of foreign odors. Direct sunlight and low temperature air inhibit the development of the medusomycete, and therefore it is not recommended to keep it on the windowsill.
• The optimum temperature for the full development of the fungus is 25 degrees Celsius. At lower rates, its activity is noticeably reduced, and blue-green algae can even grow in it.
• When preparing a drink, the can must be closed, but not with a lid, but with clean gauze or a napkin so that the kombucha can breathe, and insects, which are very partial to it, could not get to it.
• Water for kvass must be boiled, with tea leaves and sugar already dissolved in it. IN raw water contains a large amount of calcium salts, which react with gluconic acid, resulting in the formation of calcium gluconate in the form of a precipitate.
• If sugar is poured directly onto a kombucha or placed in a solution in which the sugar has not yet completely dissolved, this will cause burns in the form of brown spots on its surface.
• For the same reason, even small leaves or tea leaves should not be allowed to remain in the tea solution. Otherwise, wounds may appear on the delicate surface of the medusomycete.
• Periodically, it becomes necessary to rinse in clean water tea mushroom. How to care for him so as not to harm a living organism? It is necessary to carefully remove it from the jar and carefully clean it under water (you can use it from the tap, but it is best to use pure or spring water). In winter, this procedure is carried out every 3-4 weeks, and with the onset of summer, this should be done more often - once every 1-2 weeks.
• If you notice that the upper part of the mushroom begins to turn brown, then this is the first sign of the beginning of its death. To preserve the life of the medusomycete, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse it, separate it and discard it. upper layer, trying to take better care of your pet in the future.
• IN summer time Kombucha is more active than in winter, and therefore the solution will have to be changed much more often.

If you pour the infusion of kombucha into a free container, and leave it at room temperature, then after 1-2 weeks a thin translucent layer will form on its surface. This is a colony of living organisms, which eventually grows into a full-fledged adult mushroom.
If you notice that the mushroom has become too large, thick, multi-layered, and the drink becomes sour too quickly, you should separate a part from it and give a piece of kombucha to friends or relatives. Care and preparation of kvass from such a part of a jellyfish is no different from a whole mushroom.

Making vinegar with kombucha

Medusomycete can be used not only for preparing a drink. Kombucha can be used to prepare vinegar, which in taste and practical properties will not be inferior to ordinary table vinegar.

To do this, the kvass should be kept for a month, then drained and boiled for an hour. Tea vinegar ready. This vinegar is not suitable for conservation, but will become great alternative ordinary vinegar in the preparation of fish, meat and other dishes.

Tea vinegar is much softer than other types of vinegars, it gives the dishes an original, special taste.

Fermenting milk with a mushroom

Fermentation of milk with the help of kombucha is done as follows: for one liter of milk, you need to take 3-4 tablespoons of concentrated tea mushroom infusion (which is at least 4 days and up to 10 days).

The duration of fermentation depends on the air temperature (fermentation occurs much faster in a warm place), on average from 12 hours to 5-6 days. It is necessary to wait for a dense curd with a fermented milk smell and taste.

Next time, use some of the fermented milk instead of the leaven. In this case, the process will already go faster, and depending on the temperature, it will last - from 6 hours to 3-4 days. In the process of preparing a fermented milk product based on kombucha, after 24 hours, bacteria of the E. coli and staphylococcus group are completely destroyed.

When elevated temperature - more than 35 degrees - the fermentation process is much faster. As a result, it turns out fermented milk product, which has a dense consistency and a pleasant sweetish taste.

Kombucha is very healthy. With proper, skillful care, it will give you the opportunity to get not only delicious, healthy drinkbut also other useful products.

ABOUT healing properties Kombucha, or as it is also called jellyfish, Europeans learned a little less than a century ago. Since that time, it has spread to almost the entire continent. Today it is very popular with us, and not without reason. And the fact is that this mushroom has a unique miraculous power that allows the product to be used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. But in order for it to really benefit, it is important to know how to care for kombucha in a jar. In this article we will talk about just that.

Depending on the conditions in which the medusomycete is located, not only will change taste qualitiesbut also useful characteristics, and chemical composition... In order for the medusomycete to develop correctly, you should adhere to the following conditions of detention:

• Medusomycete can live well and develop in a spacious glass container, for example, in three-liter jar... But it can be other dishes, the main thing is that it matches the size.
• The container containing the mushroom should not be in a bright place. Direct sunlight slows down the growth of the mass, so it is not recommended to place the container on the windowsill.
• The required temperature for development is in the range of 23-27 degrees. If the temperature drops, the development of the fungus may slow down. This can lead to the emergence of algae and its death.
• After the jellyfish is ready, do not close the container tightly with a lid. In this case, there is a deficiency of oxygen, which is necessary for the respiration of the fungus.

Important! To prevent this from happening, you can fold clean cheesecloth 3-4 times and put it on top of the container.

• It is undesirable to pour kombucha raw waterbecause it is saturated with calcium. For these purposes, use boiled water.
• Dissolve the tea leaves and sugar in the water before adding it. Do not put the tea on top of the mushroom or place the mixture in water containing undissolved sugar. After such actions, the medusomycete can get burned and become covered with brown spots.

Important! The same applies to tea brewing - the granules or petals from the brewed tea must be completely removed.

• To ensure the normal development of the medusomycete, it is necessary to periodically wash the kombucha with clean water. Can be used tap water, but it is still better to do it with boiled or spring water.
• Care must be taken to ensure that the kombucha does not die. This can happen due to prolonged exposure to the same solution. A sign can be a color change on the upper part - it becomes a dark brown hue. In this case, remove the mushroom from the container, rinse with clean water, remove and discard the upper part.
• If you left somewhere for a long time or simply forgot about your “pet” and he was left without liquid, then he can be reanimated. To do this, fill it with tea solution or sweet water - the medusomycete has the property of being kept dry.

What and how to pour into it?

As the drink from the medusomycete is consumed, it becomes necessary to replenish the habitat in which he lives. Therefore, in order for him to be healthy, his proper feeding should be a regular procedure. You need to take care of kombucha in a jar like this:

1. Prepare a tea solution diluted with sugar. In a boiled 1% tea solution, dilute the sugar in a ratio of one to ten.
2. In this prepared solution, you can place the mushroom itself or add liquid to the one in which it is already located.

Important! Make sure that the prepared solution is not too saturated or strong. This can lead to stunted growth. The concentration can be reduced by adding boiled, cooled water.

Top dressing or replacement of the solution must be carried out regularly, about once every 3-4 days. When the room temperature drops, this procedure is reduced to once a week. However, in order for the drink to be richer, feeding can be done more often.

How to wash?

Medusomycetes need constant care and attention. It's not enough just to put it inside the container, drain healing drink and sometimes add liquid there. So how do you care for a mushroom in a jar? To prevent the mushroom from dying, it must be washed periodically:

• As a rule, he washes it under running, cool and clean water. Moreover, you need to wash it very carefully, because if the pressure is too strong, the structure of the fungus may be damaged. Upon completion of the “bathing”, the mushroom is returned to its usual environment and poured over with a sweet tea solution.

Important! During washing, the mass must be held very gently - any mechanical "injury" can lead to a violation of the integrity, and the medusomycete will die.

• In the summer, when more high temperature indoors, the mushroom is somewhat more active than in winter. Therefore, you need to wash the kombucha and change the solution more often.

Important! The washing process should preferably be carried out once every 3-4 weeks in cold weather and at least once every 2 weeks in summer.

• In addition to the fact that the kombucha needs regular care, it also needs a thorough cleaning of its "house" - the container inside which it is located. It must be washed thoroughly to remove all mucus, possible algae or other substances. Only after that, the jar is filled with another tea solution and a new product is prepared.

How to share?

Reproduction of jellyfish is very simple. For this:

1. Separate the top.
2. Move it to the inside of a clean container of lukewarm water.
3. Leave new mushroom in a dark place for a day.
4. As soon as the film begins to lift and flake off, transfer the young mushroom to the sweet tea solution.
5. After 2-3 days, it should noticeably increase in size, and the drink can be consumed.

Important! The period of life of a kombucha when it can produce quality drink, is a couple of months.

Beginner mistakes

The jellyfish drink is not only delicious, but also incredibly healthy. However, all medicinal and taste properties drinks are preserved if you properly care for the mushroom in the jar. Some novice mushroom pickers sometimes make mistakes that prevent the mushroom from producing a drink:

• Having placed a very young kombucha inside the jar, you should not wait for an instant result. It must have a period of growth and maturation. Be patient and give him the opportunity to grow up.
• It is impossible to tear off the lower layers from the medusomycete - it is here that the elements are produced, thanks to which it is obtained delicious drink.
• Make sure that the jellyfish float exclusively horizontally, with the smooth side up. Otherwise, there will be no drink.
• It is necessary to regularly refresh the mushroom liquid after drinking the drink. If the liquid is not refreshed, then the acidity in the solution will increase.

Important! If you do not want to drink the drink, then simply pour out a part and pour in a fresh solution.

It is difficult to find a Soviet family in the middle of the twentieth century, in whose kitchen there would not be a jar of tea in which a jellyfish-like substance was floating. She was carefully "fed" by adding strong tea, they talked to her, and many believed that this kitchen inhabitant fulfills cherished desires. Few people know that in a scientific way "jellyfish" is called "medusomycete", but a more familiar name - kombucha - has stuck among the people. Why is the jellyfish so fond of us? How to care for and use kombucha?

How is kombucha useful for the body?

Where did you first start using kombucha? It has not been established exactly, however, it is mentioned in the records of the ancient Chinese Han dynasty (250 BC). But some researchers believe that the mushroom was actively used by the ancient Greeks. In Russia, it appeared in the 19th century.

Medusomycetes have little resemblance to a mushroom, at least in the "classical" sense. He does not have a hat and legs, it cannot be pickled or fried. Slippery and dense from above, the body of the mushroom is covered with hanging threads on the inside. The filaments are colonies of living acetic acid bacteria, and the upper fungal part is formed by the same bacteria and yeast. The composition of the fungus can vary depending on the predominant strain of microorganisms. The mushroom itself does not go for food, the liquid in which it is contained and which is processed into a special drink called mushroom (tea) kvass is valuable.

How is kvass made? Sweet tea - a nutrient medium for a colony of microorganisms that form a fungus. By feeding on sugar, yeast ferments it, releasing acid and alcohol. Alcohol is oxidized by bacteria to acetic acid. It turns out a slightly carbonated sweetish-sour drink. The main components of the infusion are acids - gluconic and kojic, lactic, acetic, malic, citric and coal, as well as caffeine, sugars, ethanol and useful enzymes. The combined action of these substances helps to regulate the digestive tract, increase immunity, and prevent certain diseases.

How to grow kombucha at home from scratch - recipe

Where do they get kombucha? Mostly from “ good hands". It grows quickly, and the owners give it in pieces to those who wish. However, if there is no one to take the "mushroom baby", you can get yourself a medusomycete on your own. It is enough to know how to grow a kombucha from scratch, and soon a real micro-plant for the production of tea kvass will appear in your kitchen.

Ideal "living space" for the mushroom - glass jar... Remembering that jellyfish grows quickly, it is better to take a three-liter container. The bank must be sterilized.

To create a nutrient medium, only three components are needed:

• water (preferably spring water);
• regular sugar;
• tea leaves (black).

From these products you need to make tea. At first, it takes a little - about a liter. The brew is made a little stronger than ordinary tea, but you can't spare sugar - 100 grams of sand is taken per liter of liquid. Pour the tea into a jar, and tie the neck with gauze. We remove the container in a darkened place where the temperature does not go beyond the room temperature. After a few days, a thin film will appear on the surface of the tea: this is a fungus. In a few weeks, a full-fledged kombucha will grow from the film. To nourish it, you must regularly add freshly cooled tea to the jar: strong and sweet (for a liter of water - 3 tablespoons of tea leaves and half a glass of sugar).

How to care for kombucha so it doesn't darken

Like any domestic "pet", the jellyfish needs care and respect. It is worth noting that caring for kombucha at home is not difficult.

It is enough to remember a few rules:

1. It is important to add tea to the mushroom only when it has cooled down, otherwise the surface of the mushroom will get burned.
2. The jar with the mushroom must be covered with gauze - this will protect it from clogging. You cannot use the lid - the mushroom will suffocate.
3. In a jar, the liquid should occupy from 2/3 of the volume.
4. The fungus needs regular flushing. Clear signsthat the mushroom dies - its sinking to the bottom, darkening, the appearance of holes in the body. Boiled cooled water is suitable for washing.
5. After washing, the mushroom is dipped in a fresh brew! The jar is washed before this.

If it became noticeable that the mushroom peeled off and let the "baby" go, it is recommended to use the "young" for further kvass preparation. Why is it worth doing? The drink will be healthier from young mushroom, since the old one gives off too much acetic acid.

How and why to use kombucha:

The beneficial properties of medusomycete make it possible to use its infusion as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for a number of diseases.

Kombucha with the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract

The acids in the tea kvass help regulate the activity gastrointestinal tract... To do this, take half a glass of the drink half an hour before meals for at least a week. At the same time, digestion is improving, problems with stool disappear, bloating and gas formation cease to pester. This regimen allows you to quickly forget colitis, pain in the lumbar region due to the kidneys, and in the right hypochondrium due to the liver.

Do not forget! Kombucha is not a panacea for gastrointestinal problems, and in some cases it may even be contraindicated. Consult a specialist before using tea kvass!

Help with colds

Tea kvass is considered good remedy to increase the body's defenses, and in order to strengthen the immune system, it is shown to both adults and children, especially in the autumn-winter time, when viruses and bacteria literally attack. Pair of glasses have a nice drink per day make the body more resilient.

If you still get a cold, you can use a weekly infusion of the mushroom - natural antibiotic substances are formed in it. And with angina and to relieve inflammation, it is recommended to gargle with kvass every 2-3 hours.

Kombucha treatment of hypertension and atherosclerosis

If a kombucha lives in the house, on its basis you can prepare a unique drink against hypertension.

High blood pressure is gradually normalized if the following medicine is prepared:

• on a tablespoon of dried rhizomes of Eleutherococcus prickly and Leuzea safflower, mix with a teaspoon of St. John's wort and the same volume of grass bird Knotweed;
• fill the raw material with a liter of boiling water, darken it in a water bath for 1/4 hour, and cool the broth;
• mix the filtered broth with tea kvass 1: 1, leave in the refrigerator for three days.

It is necessary to apply the medicine three times a day, 50 milliliters before meals.

With such a disease as atherosclerosis, the drink is used according to the scheme:

1. week one: half a glass before going to bed at night;
2. 2-3 weeks: at night - a glass of kvass, in the morning on an empty stomach - half a glass;
3. break in treatment - a month;
4. repetition of the course.

Treatment of anemia

Kombucha drink is good for anemia. Anemia or anemia occurs due to a deficiency of iron in the body.

The treatment is carried out as follows:

• start the morning with a portion of grated raw carrots (100 grams) seasoned with olive oil;
• 45-60 minutes before lunch, drink a glass of tea kvass;
• after an hour after lunch, they drink juice from vegetables: carrot, cucumber, beetroot (proportions 3: 1: 1, respectively);
• in the evening, an hour before going to bed - a glass of mushroom drink.

Is it possible to lose weight by eating kombucha?

If you want, throw off a couple of extra pounds for a short period of time, you can include tea kvass in the diet. The result will not be long in coming without strict dietary restrictions. Of course, sweets and flour products it is desirable to exclude. The enzymes that make up the drink activate metabolic mechanisms in the body, promote the breakdown of fats. To lose weight, you need to drink a glass of kvass in the morning, and only then have breakfast. Taking a drink between meals can significantly reduce hunger, which will lead to a decrease in the portion eaten and faster satiety.

How to cure nail fungus?

Treat a fungus with a fungus? ethnoscience assures: it is effective! To get rid of mycosis, it is necessary to carry out such compresses for several days in a row: apply a piece of kombucha to the affected nail and fix it with a bandage. It is more convenient to do this at night. In the morning, the bandage is removed, the nail is washed, and keratinized particles are removed. This method of combating mycosis gives a positive effect with regular use.

Treatment of skin lesions, cellulite

Mushroom in the kitchen can be an effective remedy for minor skin lesions. To prevent the cut or wound from becoming inflamed, you can use kombucha kvass instead of hydrogen peroxide.

The use of tea kvass is also known as an anti-cellulite agent. Its action is similar apple cider vinegar... The mushroom infusion is kept for 1.5 weeks. Then a large lemon and 2 leaves of a golden mustache plant are crushed with a meat grinder. A glass of kvass is heated and the lemon-leafy gruel is poured with liquid. After an hour, the mixture can be used: steamed in a bath or hot tub a compress from the mixture is applied to the problem area of \u200b\u200bthe skin, wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and for the thermal effect - with a towel. The wrap is left for an hour and a half.

Who shouldn't eat kombucha: harm and contraindications

Despite its usefulness, medusomycete may have contraindications for use. Who shouldn't drink a drink based on it?

First of all:

• persons with high acidity of the stomach;
• those with diabetes;
• children under 3 years of age due to a tendency to allergies;
• pregnant women;
• with thrush in women.

Kombucha does not take up much space in the house, it is rather unpretentious to the content, and in response to the care it will thank the whole family with health, longevity and beauty.