What is Kombucha?

Kombucha originated in the Far East, where it has been consumed for at least two thousand years.  The first recorded use of kombucha comes from China in 221 BC. During the Tsin Dynasty it was known as ‘The Tea of Immortality’.

It has been used in Eastern Europe, Russia and Japan for several centuries.  It’s from Japan in 415 AD that the name ‘Kombucha’ is said to have come.  A Korean physician called Kombu treated the Emperor Inyko with the tea and it took his name ‘Kombu’ and ‘cha’ meaning ‘tea’. 

Russia has a long tradition of using a healing drink call ‘Tea Kvass’ made from a ‘Japanese Mushroom’.  From there it spread to Prussia, Poland, Germany and Denmark, but it seems to have died out during World War Two.  After the war Dr Rudolph Skelnar created renewed interest in kombucha in Germany.  He used the drink to treat cancer patients, metabolic disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Recently, kombucha has become extremely popular in America, which in turn fuelled an incredible interest in the UK.