Ginger Kombucha: Health Benefits & Zesty Fermented Tea

What Ginger Brings to the Table: The first sip of a freshly opened bottle of kombucha can make an impact. The famed fermented tea's sour flavor and fizzy mouthfeel may take a moment to adjust to, but it quickly becomes craveable. Kombucha has become popular over the last few decades and isn’t expected to go out of style. One market report stated that the global kombucha market size was valued at 2.64 billion USD in 2021 and is forecasted to be worth 9.7 billion in 2030! While it feels like kombucha has recently taken the spotlight, it has a storied history as a medicinal beverage.

If you own a natural food and health store or make your own kombucha, you’ve probably explored ways to put your own unique twist on the bubbly beverage. There are a number of fruits, botanicals, herbs and spices that you can combine to bring your own flavor to the forefront. One herb that offers the perfect blend of distinct flavor and potential health benefits is ginger.

While ginger (Zingiber officinale) is known for its warm and pungent flavor in a number of cuisines and beverages across the globe, it may also offer potential health benefits for the individual consuming it, making it a perfect pair for kombucha. Let’s take a look at the history of kombucha and see why ginger is the right flavor for your next fermented tea recipe.

Kombucha Backstory

Kombucha can be traced back several thousand years to ancient China. As it traveled west toward other parts of Asia and Europe, it maintained its status as a healthy drink. Today, we label kombucha as a functional beverage due to the active cultures that it contains.

Does Kombucha Have Caffeine?

Kombucha does contain caffeine, primarily because it’s brewed from tea leaves such as green, white, or black tea, all of which are natural sources of caffeine. The caffeine content in kombucha, however, is typically lower than that found in regular tea. This reduction happens during the fermentation process, where some of the caffeine is metabolized by the bacteria and yeast in the SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). The exact amount of caffeine in kombucha can vary based on the type of tea used and the duration of brewing and fermentation. For those sensitive to caffeine or looking to limit their intake, it’s important to consider this when consuming kombucha. Despite its caffeine content, kombucha is still regarded as a healthy beverage option, especially due to the probiotics it contains, which can contribute to overall gut health.

Is Kombucha A Healthy Alternative To Coffee?

While kombucha does contain caffeine, its lower levels compared to regular tea or coffee make it an excellent choice for those seeking healthy alternatives to coffee. As a naturally fermented beverage, kombucha not only offers a unique flavor but also serves as a beneficial coffee alternative, especially for those looking to reduce their caffeine intake while still enjoying a mildly stimulating drink. Its probiotic properties and diverse taste profile provide a refreshing and health-conscious option in the world of beverages.

Is Kombucha Good For Gut Health?

Whether you’re producing kombucha at a retail scale or just for yourself, it can be an extensive process and requires patience and a little bit of experimentation to get the perfect flavor. After reading kombucha recipes or watching how-tos, you may wonder, “Is kombucha really that good for your gut health?”

There have been some positive signs from a number of studies on kombucha’s effect on the digestive system and other parts of the body. These positive effects all start with the probiotics in kombucha. The microorganisms derived from the SCOBY are lauded for their digestion-supporting abilities. Some strains of a commonly found probiotic in commercial kombucha, Bacillus coagulans, have shown the potential to help with GI issues and aid in the digestion of daily meals. However, when marketing your kombucha products, t’s essential to note that research is ongoing.

Now that we’ve had a chance to take a quick glance at the merits of the fabulously fermented tea, let’s look at why you should consider ginger for your next kombucha flavor.

What Ginger Brings to the Table

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is well-known across the globe, so it’s no surprise that it can give your kombucha recipe extra pop whenever you’re crafting your fermented brew. It has a flavor that can be described as lemony, woody, earthy and warm.

In addition to its sharp taste, ginger may offer a number of health benefits, which makes it an enticing addition to kombucha as a functional ingredient. So, what are some of the benefits of ginger in tea?

Now that we’ve had a chance to take a quick glance at the merits of the fabulously fermented tea, let’s look at why you should consider ginger for your next kombucha flavor.

• Anti-nausea - Ginger has been used for thousands of years to help calm upset stomachs. While the interactions are still being studied, there has been some evidence that it is an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting.
• Antimicrobial - An underlying active ingredient in ginger,gingerol, is known for aiding the disruption of bacterial and microbial activity. To learn more about herbs that offer immune system support, check out our blog on stellar antibiotic herbs.
• Antioxidant - We’ve talked about a number of herbs in previous blogs, such as hawthorn, with antioxidant effects and the importance of keeping the free radicals in your body in check. In various studies, Shogaol, an active compound in ginger, has exhibited an ability to limit these oxidizing agents.
• Antiflammatory - Inflammation is a necessary immune response. However, it can be painful or damaging over time if there is too much inflammation in the body Ginger for inflammation has been connected to the suppression of pro-inflammatory substances in the body.