Content
Kombucha (zooglea) appears as a result of the interaction of yeast and bacteria. Medusomycete, as it is called, is used in alternative medicine. With its help, a sweet and sour drink is obtained, reminiscent of kvass. You can get kombucha from friends; in Europe it is sold in pharmacies. You can learn about the origin, beneficial properties and varieties by reading the materials presented below.
What is “kombucha”
Zooglea is a unique symbiosis of acetic bacteria and yeast fungi. This large colony forms a layered structure that can take the shape of the vessel in which it lives: round, square, or any other.
From the bottom there are threads hanging down, similar to the threads of jellyfish. This is a growth zone that increases under favorable conditions.
It is best to grow medusomycetes in a three-liter jar
Where did Kombucha come from?
To understand where kombucha came from, you need to familiarize yourself with history. The first mention of zooglea dates back to approximately 220 BC.The drink, which gives energy and cleanses the body, is mentioned in Chinese sources of the Jin Dynasty.
The history of kombucha tells that the drink came to European countries at the beginning of the 20th century from the Far East. From Russia he made his way to Germany, and then came to Europe. The Second World War led to the fact that the popularity of the mushroom drink sharply decreased. The difficult financial situation and lack of food have affected the spread of medusomycetes. Many simply threw it away.
Where does kombucha grow in nature?
Zooglea is a mystery of nature that scientists are still trying to solve. The origin of kombucha is not known for certain.
One version says that if kombucha cannot live in ordinary water, it means that it appeared in a reservoir filled with special algae that gave the water certain properties.
According to another version, the medusomycete formed in the water in which fruits floated, because for its growth it requires not only tea, but also sugar. This version is more plausible; it can be confirmed by the example of Mexican farmers. They grow Zooglea in artificial ponds filled with chopped figs.
The origin of kombucha is not always associated with tea; it is believed that it could have appeared in fermented berry juice or wine.
Varieties
There are 3 varieties:
- Chinese tea;
- Tibetan milk;
- Indian sea rice
All of them are the result of the coexistence of yeast fungi and acetic bacteria. There were versions that these were the same mushroom grown in different liquids, but later it was proven that their origin and composition were different.
How is kombucha formed?
To obtain a young specimen, carefully separate the top layer of the adult. The film is placed in a glass container with clean water, and at this time a tea drink is prepared in which the medusomycete will grow.
When the sweet, but not too strong tea has cooled to room temperature, it is poured into a three-liter jar and a young film of zooglea is placed.
Every 2 days, a weak tea infusion is added to the container, the sugar content of which should be about 10%. After 21 days, the thickness of the young process will be 10-12 mm; upon careful examination, you can see that the structure has become layered, and hanging threads have appeared below. After another week, the infusion is ready for use.
People have noticed that kombucha appears in fruit juice. If you couldn’t buy it or borrow it from friends, you can grow it yourself from scrap materials. You will need a thermos of any size and rose hips. The container and fruits are thoroughly washed and doused with boiling water. Rose hips are poured with boiled water and left in a hermetically sealed thermos for 60 days. 0.5 liters of water will require 20 fruits. After 2 months, the thermos is opened, a kombucha should grow in it, the diameter corresponding to the container.
Young Zooglea is not yet ready to produce a tea drink. It looks transparent and not too thick. It is washed with cold boiled water, then placed in a three-liter jar and filled with a previously prepared and cooled tea drink. The tea should be strong, sweet, but without tea leaves. At first you will need no more than 0.5 liters of tea leaves; as the medusomycete grows, the amount of liquid is increased.
Where can I get kombucha
They take kombucha from friends who breed it.Medusomycetes can be grown yourself or purchased online. To prevent zooglea from dying, it is important to properly care for it.
Care instructions
To prevent the drink from peroxidizing and to bring benefits to the body and not harm, you must adhere to some rules:
- The mushroom should always be in liquid, because without it it dries out and may disappear.
- Air must enter the container with the tea drink, otherwise the mushroom will suffocate. It is not recommended to close the lid tightly. To prevent insects from getting into the container, cover its neck with gauze folded in several layers and tie it with an elastic band.
- The place to keep the jar with the medicinal composition should be warm and dark. Exposure to direct sunlight is unacceptable.
- High temperature leads to the death of the tea organism. Therefore, you cannot pour hot liquid over the mushroom. The prepared solution must cool at room temperature, only after that it is added to the jar.
- In order not to damage the integrity of the mushroom, it is necessary to monitor the quality of the prepared tea drink: it should not contain grains of sugar or tea leaves.
- The mushroom needs periodic washing. After 3-4 days, it is taken out of the container and washed in cool boiled water.
Proper care and timely separation of the young film allow you to enjoy a tasty and healthy drink all year round.
Conclusion
Kombucha is a community of acetic bacteria and yeast fungi. This union is born in the presence of two components: tea leaves and sugar. You can buy it from friends or through online stores. The beneficial properties and pleasant taste make the zooglea drink popular.
