Care rules and maintenance
Having studied the benefits and contraindications of kombucha, you should familiarize yourself with the secrets of its home maintenance. First of all, it is necessary to correctly provide comfortable conditions for the life of this organism. For this purpose, strong black sweet tea, prepared in filtered water, is ideal (1 tablespoon of tea is poured with a liter of water and 100 g of sugar is added).
There are different recipes for how to make kombucha. For example, some drinkers believe that green tea should be used, and sugar should be replaced with honey. However, this entails changes in the composition of the drink, the effect of which on the body has not been sufficiently studied. In order for the drink to bring only benefits, there are some rules for its preparation:
water must be purified through a filter;
the drink should be infused in a transparent container with a wide neck with a volume of at least two liters;
in order not to disrupt the growth of the mushroom, it is important to monitor the level of the finished infusion, it should not rise to the neck of the container;
the tea that is used for infusion must be sweetened in advance, only the mushroom can be placed in this medium;
to prevent the death of the fungus, it is important to ensure that no grains of sugar (causes burns) or tea leaves (contributes to the formation of mold on the surface of the fungus) fall on its surface;
the neck of the dishes is tightly closed with gauze folded in several layers.
The dishes in which the mushroom is placed should be stored in a dark place at a temperature not exceeding + 25 C. Tea is changed weekly, and the drained infusion is placed in the refrigerator for storage. When changing tea, the mushroom should be washed with water (in the summer, once a week, in the winter, once every three weeks).
You can grow a full-fledged tea jellyfish yourself from a very small piece. To do this, take its bottom layer and fill it with clean water at room temperature. For three days, the jellyfish can lie on the bottom of the dish, and then rise to the surface and begin to grow. At the same time, it looks like a thin slimy film.
At this time, you can start preparing a mushroom drink, the readiness of which comes after a week. Its taste should be sweet and sour, there may be a slight carbonated effect. You should not drink a drink if it has an unpleasant odor or has a specific smell of alcohol. The growth of the fungus can be observed in the form of the appearance of thin mucous layers on it, which appear every 8-10 days.
You can also grow a new medicinal mushroom in this way: pour the infusion, the production time of which is at least 1.5 weeks, into a transparent jar and remove it in a dark place. After two weeks, a thin film formed on the surface of the infusion can be seen, which, as it develops, will turn into a full-fledged kombucha.
Features of the preparation of the infusion
So how to care for and consume kombucha? How to brew it correctly? It's pretty simple: focus on your own taste. You can make kombucha from tea leaves with sugar. To do this, simply brew black tea, dissolve sugar in it to taste, let it cool and you can pour it into the pre-washed fungus. To ensure the active life of the mushroom, it is necessary to add up to 10 g of sugar per 100 ml of tea leaves.
Cooking infusion of kombucha takes a little time. Don't make it hard for yourself by boiling rinse water. The boiled mushroom is washed after a period of "hibernation", when it stands for a long time in the tea leaves, which have practically turned into vinegar.
How much to insist
The mushroom is usually infused for several days. As he grows, he will give "babies". They need to be separated and used to obtain additional beverage.Keep in mind that the older the mushroom, the faster it will acidify the tea leaves. Therefore, it is better to regularly replace the old mushroom with a young one. So you will always have a slightly acidic and safe drink, which, by the way, perfectly quenches your thirst in the heat.
How to drink kombucha
As soon as the drink is ready, it is drained for further consumption, and the mushroom is washed and poured again with cooled tea with sugar. Usually 2-3 days are enough to prepare the infusion, but this depends not only on the age of the fungus, but also on the volume of liquid. No one will tell you exactly how to drink kombucha correctly. I believe that due to the presence of acetic acid in the composition, several glasses of the drink per day are enough. Remember that it contains sugar, which is contraindicated in excess for overweight and diabetes.
The mushroom can be infused with herbs, but it will grow worse.
Important additions
Kombucha is rich not only in acids, but also in vitamin C. I often read in reviews from people that the drink can increase the sensitivity of the teeth. If your neck is bared, there is a painful reaction to cold and hot drinks, it is better to drink the mushroom infusion through a straw or rinse your mouth thoroughly after drinking the infusion.
In the summer, it is problematic to grow kombucha at room temperature - midges start up. Therefore, nothing terrible will happen if you put a jar of mushroom in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. The mushroom will simply take longer to "cook" the infusion.
How to store and care for kombucha
Kombucha is unpretentious in care and storage. For growth and development, he needs a glass container, clean water, food, warmth and a place hidden from direct sunlight. The optimum temperature for growth and development is from +21 to + 23 ° C. At + 25 ° C and above, the drink turns sour.
At low temperatures, algae appear in the jar. The place where the jar with the mushroom stands should not be dark. He needs daylight sunlight for at least 7-8 hours a day. Drafts should be avoided - he does not like them.
Choose a clean glass container, a three-liter jar is best. It is covered with gauze or a thin cloth to keep out dust and insects. For constant air access, the jar is not closed with a lid.
Avoid contact with metal objects, because they cause an oxidative reaction, and the drink loses some of the nutrients. When filtering it, use a plastic sieve or gauze.
Kombucha is a symbiosis of two microorganisms: yeast and acetic acid bacteria. They create a colony that resembles a jellyfish, hence the name "jellyfish". The upper part is dense, and the lower one consists of layers representing the growth zone and hanging filaments.
Ordinary sugar tea turns into a medicinal drink - kombucha. As it grows, the fungus builds up new layers that separate it. New mushrooms are grown from the separated layer with proper care.
Contain jellyfish in a solution of tea with sugar. On a can of 3 liters, take 2.5 liters of water, 1 tbsp. l. leafy black or green tea, 6 tbsp. l. Sahara. Tea is chosen without aromatic additives. It is brewed in a cup for 10-15 minutes. Then it is filtered, diluted with clean boiled water, sugar is poured in and stirred until complete dissolution.
Then it is cooled to room temperature. Before the mushroom is dipped into the solution, it is washed in cool water. A little old mushroom tincture is added to a fresh solution and the jellyfish is lowered.
After 4-5 days, the infusion is drained and used. New sweet tea is poured into the jar. To get a cool drink, the infusion is placed in the refrigerator.
Periodically, the medusomycete is washed with cool drinking water. In the summer, in the heat - once every 5-7 days, in the cool season - once a month. To do this, water is poured into the container, the mushroom is lowered there for 2-3 minutes, then gently washed
It is washed carefully under running water so as not to damage it. The jar is also periodically washed and sterilized.When growing kombucha, remember the basic rules:
When growing kombucha, remember the basic rules:
- do not forget to look after him;
- do not make too concentrated nutritional solution;
- do not block the air;
- rinse the mushroom and jar periodically.
The resulting infusion is stored at room temperature for about five days. At + 18 ° C and below, the shelf life increases to 7-8 days. In the refrigerator in a hermetically sealed container, the infusion is stored for three to five months. The fermentation process in the refrigerator continues, so the lid can be ripped off and the drink spilled. If the neck of the bottle is not corked, but tied with several layers of gauze, then the infusion will last up to one month.
Lovers pour the infusion into bottles and leave it in a cool dark place to ripen. If it ferments, it turns into vinegar.
If it becomes necessary to freeze the infusion, it is poured into a glass jar. It is not filled to the brim, since the liquid expands when it freezes. Place in a freezer for quick freezing. With gradual freezing, the product loses its useful qualities.
Skin care with kombucha infusion
Kombucha massage
Add to a liter of water two to three tablespoons of 1 month old kombucha infusion and, after washing with soap, wipe the whole body with this infusion. This procedure will remove any soap residue. For some time, the infusion of kombucha will act as a natural deodorant. If you do not have the opportunity to do massage with kombucha infusion every day, be sure to do it at least once a week.
Shared bath
While taking a bath, add a quarter liter of monthly extract of kombucha to the water. Stay in the water for at least 15 minutes to let the acid work on your skin. Infusion baths have a lasting regenerating effect on tired and dull skin.
Natural deodorant
In order to get rid of the unpleasant smell of sweat, first wash your armpits with soap, and then wipe with a towel dipped in a monthly infusion of kombucha. This is a very effective remedy. The infusion destroys bacteria that cause unpleasant odors, refreshes and tones the skin without disturbing its natural acidic environment.
Eau de toilette for face
In the mornings and evenings, cleanse oily skin with eau de toilette prepared from equal parts of mineral water and a monthly extract of kombucha.
Facial cleansing with infusion of kombucha
This procedure, which is suitable for all skin types, removes the top dead skin cells from the skin. First cleanse your skin with a mild cosmetic milk. Then soak a small terrycloth towel in warm water, squeeze it lightly and apply it to your face for one to two minutes.
Soak a linen napkin in a month-old infusion of kombucha and squeeze lightly. Place a tissue on your face and cover with a warm towel over the top. Remove the napkin and towel five minutes later, wash your face with warm water and rub it vigorously with a damp terry towel. As a result, dead skin cells will be removed. The facial skin after the procedure will be mouth-watering and fresh. It is recommended to do this gentle method of cleansing your face once a week in the evening.
Kombucha: how to care and consume?
You can also grow a kombucha at home - it's not as difficult as it seems at first glance. It is better to start self-cultivation with the filing of friends - from a ready-made layer of kombucha, for which appropriate proper care is carried out. In the absence of such an opportunity, it will be useful to learn how to grow a mushroom from scratch.
How to grow kombucha from scratch?
Cooking kombucha at home is carried out in the following sequence:
- prepare the ingredients and items that will be required for growing kombucha - a 3 liter jar, cheesecloth, teapot, sugar, boiling water, large leaf tea without any impurities and additives;
- brew tea in a teapot - pour 5 tablespoons of tea leaves with 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave to cool completely;
- in the meantime, wash a three-liter jar with plain baking soda;
- as soon as the tea cools down, add 7 tablespoons of sugar to it and filter the composition;
- the sweet tea leaves are poured into a jar, covered with gauze and left in a warm place for a month and a half.
Some time after the procedure, you can notice a thin film on the tea leaves - this is the Kombucha. It will grow constantly. As soon as a dense layer is obtained, it is transferred to a new clean jar and poured over with tea. Tea is prepared in a standard way - the tea leaves are poured with boiling water and sugar is added to it at the rate of 5 tablespoons per 2 liters of tea. Ready and self-grown kombucha is left in a jar, covered with gauze.
There are no other ways to make kombucha. Some sources only advise rinsing the grown layer of kombucha in table vinegar, but not necessarily.
Care
Kombucha is carefully cared for so that it does not die. There is nothing complicated here:
- grow a mushroom in a jar - two or three liters;
- the jar is not closed, but only covered with gauze;
- the jar should be glass for good light transmission, but not sunlight, therefore the vessel is placed in the shade;
- the infusion should be drained every 2-3 days, and in winter - every 5-6 days;
- the finished infusion can be stored in the refrigerator or in the cellar;
- the solution for pouring a new portion of kombucha is prepared from the already used tea leaves - the prepared solution is filtered from the tea leaves;
- the solution is already made sweet and poured into a kombucha - you cannot put sugar in a jar with a mushroom, otherwise it will die.
When caring for a kombucha, people have important questions, among which are:
Pomegranate: useful properties and contraindications. - here is more useful information.
How to Divide Kombucha? The jellyfish stratum will separate itself into strata. As soon as this happens, the mushroom is taken out of the jar and divided into parts under warm running water - the old layer is removed, and the new one is placed in a new clean jar and filled with sweet tea solution.
Why did the kombucha sank to the bottom of the can? This often occurs when changing the solution and additional manipulations should not be carried out. The mushroom will climb up on its own in 2-3 days.
Mold has appeared on the mushroom, what should I do? This is rare and is largely due to impaired care. To get rid of mold, you need to remove the mushroom from the container and clean it from the bottom layer. The container itself is cleaned and boiled or sterilized.
The peeled mushroom is placed in a clean jar and filled with new sourdough.
How to rinse kombucha? This is carried out under running water, but with completely cleaned hands - it is important to remove all gold jewelry from your hands so as not to damage the structure.
There should be no other difficulties in caring for a kombucha.
You will be interested in this article - Sea buckthorn: useful properties and contraindications.
How to drink kombucha?
Since the infusion has warnings in its use, it is important to indicate how to drink the kombucha. Take the infusion of kombucha should be "outside" of the meal - you can not drink the drink before, during or after meals
An exception is a person's overeating - in this case, on the contrary, the drink will help to cope with the heaviness in the stomach.
The most useful infusion techniques are in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening an hour before bedtime. Drink should be in a glass, no more. In the morning, a drink of kombucha will trigger the start of metabolism, and in the evening it will promote sleep.
The article describes in detail the benefits and harms of kombucha, which everyone determines for themselves.It is useful to take the infusion, but in small quantities so that it does not harm your health. Do not pour overly strong tea leaves - the infusion should be of medium concentration.
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The use of kombucha in cosmetics
The versatility of kombucha lies in the fact that it is used for various purposes, including cosmetic.
This is an improvement in the condition of hair, skin. The use of the drink helps get rid of blackheads, acne, dandruff, normalizes oily skin. Using it on hair helps to strengthen its roots, accelerate growth, and make hair thick and shiny.
How to use kombucha for hair
To strengthen the hair roots, a mixture of the drink with honey is prepared. We heat the liquid and dissolve a spoonful of honey in it. This mixture is applied to the hair roots, cured for a while, and then washed off.
It is considered beneficial for hair if consumed regularly. However, you can use it as a mouthwash, applying it three times a week.
Hair rinse
To rinse the hair, a decoction is prepared, but in addition to kombucha, it is advisable to add various herbs to it.
To prepare the broth, a very strong infusion of the mushroom is taken (in particular, it should ferment for about a month). Then the infusion is diluted in water in a ratio of one to two. After that, add herbs to the solution: nettle, sage, chamomile, put on fire and bring to a boil. Then the liquid is cooled down and is already applied.
This broth is especially useful for those with oily hair. It is necessary to use the broth often enough, within a week up to five times.
Hair masks
For hair, you can also use masks. So, for example, the following mask is used for dandruff, which is well suited for all hair types.
Strong tea is brewed in a jar, about 1/7 of the volume of a jar, 300 g of sugar are put in the tea leaves. Then, while the tea leaves are still hot, a mushroom is placed in it. The jar is closed with a lid and infused for a month in a warm, not too lit place. The finished infusion is filtered and rubbed into the hair, after washing the head with shampoo. The mask is kept for 30 minutes.
Another universal mask designed for all hair types is prepared from a monthly infusion of kombucha. A tablespoon of honey, 10 drops of sage and lavender aromatic oils are placed on a third of a glass of liquid. The finished composition is rubbed into the hair roots, kept for an hour, then the head is washed in warm water.
If the hair is dry, then the same amount of vitamin E and olive oil is added instead of herbs.
For oily hair, you must first brew herbs in 0.5 cups of boiling water - sage, horsetail, thyme and rosemary. All one teaspoon at a time. Then the liquid is filtered and mixed with the same amount of mushroom infusion. For use, this solution is diluted in two liters of water and the hair is rinsed every time after a shower.
From brittle hair, an infusion helps, to which are added a teaspoon of chamomile, nettle and rosemary. Infused for 15 minutes, and then applied as a rinse.
Benefits and uses for facial skin
The fungus also has a wonderful effect on the skin. These are antiseptic, anti-aging and firming properties. In addition, the mushroom helps to restore the alkaline balance, remove acne and various irritations.
The easiest option is a regular wash with kombucha. For acne and blackheads, you can prepare a mixture of two parts of the mushroom infusion and one part of onion juice. This mixture must be washed before going to bed.
You can simply put the mushroom itself on your face for 15 minutes. This mask will moisturize the skin and even out its complexion. In general, various masks can be prepared on the basis of kombucha.
One of the interesting masks is the banana one. To prepare it, you will need half a glass of mushroom infusion, two tablespoons of crushed banana, olive oil and two yolks. All this is mixed well with a blender.The mask is applied before going to bed for half an hour, then it is washed off and the cream is applied.
Another interesting mask is a mask with cottage cheese and cosmetic clay. Three tablespoons of drink and cosmetic clay are mixed. Then 200 g of cottage cheese is added here. The whole mixture is well mixed to a creamy state. Then the mixture is applied to the face, waited until it dries, and then washed off with warm water.
If bruises or bags appear under the eyes, then you can safely remove them with the help of kombucha. For this, cotton pads are taken, moistened in the infusion and placed on the desired areas of the skin. Very well suited for poor eyesight, when you often have to strain your eyes.
Admission rules for diseases
In case of mild poisoning, they follow a hungry diet for 2-3 days and drink 1 glass of infusion 3 times a day 45 minutes before meals. After 2-3 days, they begin to eat fully, but they do not stop drinking tea.
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Gastrointestinal disease is also treated with kombucha. Refuse to use is only in the acute form of the disease. If pancreatitis is a chronic form, then the amount of tea you drink should be limited to 0.5 liters. It is introduced into the diet gradually and, if unpleasant sensations are felt, the reception is stopped. In the first few days, the dose per day should not exceed 150 ml. Medusomycete helps to establish bowel function and improve the general condition of the body. You can drink mushroom kvass only in the stage of stable remission and use a minimum amount of sugar for its preparation.
Oncology
In folk medicine, it is believed that if kombucha is brewed together with dry birch leaves, it will help in the treatment of oncology. For cooking, you need to mix a couple of tablespoons of sugar with 2 liters of boiling water and add 4-5 g of black tea, as well as 20 birch leaves. After the drink is left overnight, then filtered, kombucha is poured in and after a week the infusion is ready. It is believed that this version of kvass requires yellow birch leaves, collected in August-October.
Slimming
Despite the large amount of sugar in the drink, jellyfish is an excellent aid in losing weight. Weight is normalized with good digestion. When fighting obesity, you should drink at least 1.5 liters of drink per day on an empty stomach or half an hour after a meal to speed up metabolism. You cannot drink more than 200 ml for 1 reception.
For greater efficiency, add 2 tbsp to 200 ml of tea. l. flaxseeds and 1 tbsp. l honey. It is taken 2 times a day.
HOW TO PREPARE TEA MUSHROOM DRINK AND TEA MUSHROOM CARE
The benefits of kombucha. Kombucha recipes
Kombucha benefits and harms
For children
Children are shown infusion only from six months of age. It helps well in the fight against angina, chronic tonsillitis and inflammation of the larynx. In addition to being taken orally, they are gargled or buried in the nose. For this, 2 drops 3-4 times a day are enough.
The amount of its consumption for children should be half that for an adult. It is better to start with volumes of 20-30 ml 1-2 times a day. Children can only drink a fresh drink, and a concentrated one should be diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio.
Dry kombucha: storage method
If the drink is tired, there is no strength, the ability to maintain the vital activity of the culture, it can be dried so that in the future it can be put back into the solution at any moment.
The tea jellyfish should be transferred to a dry plate and turned over every day to prevent the body from growing moldy.
It is important to store it in a place where it is cool enough, free of dust and insects. Gradually, the mushroom will dry out and become a thin plate, it can be stored in the refrigerator or any similar cool, clean place
At any time, the "sleeping" culture can be taken out, placed in a solution of sweet tea. The mushroom will come to life and start working within a week.
