As you’re sitting down to enjoy a nice glass of refreshing kombucha, why drink it alone? This fizzy beverage pairs well with some of your favorite foods and can be the perfect complement to a meal. Since everyone’s taste preferences are different, you may want to have fun experimenting as you pair different foods and meals to discover what you and your family like best. Get creative and build new flavor combinations that highlight both the kombucha tea and the food.
Match Similar Profiles
One strategy you can use when pairing a kombucha drink with your next meal is to stick with similar flavors. For instance, if your meal is tangy or tropical, find a kombucha with similar notes. If you’re having a sweet or savory dessert, go with a lighter kombucha that offers the same general flavors or something complementary. A fruity kombucha can pair well with a salad or sandwich while a kombucha with spicier notes can go well with fermented vegetables like a pickled beet salad or kimchi.
Opposites Attract
You may also find that going with an opposite flavor profile works well. Again, it all comes back to taste preferences and everyone’s taste buds are unique! Let the tanginess of your kombucha drink offset the sweetness of a dessert or vice versa. For example, pair a pomegranate kombucha with a sharp cheddar cheese. Test out some different combinations to see what you and your guests find most appealing. You may want to give people options where they can either match similar or opposite tastes with the meal.
Using Kombucha in Food
In addition to pairing your kombucha tea with some of your favorite foods, you can actually use it in a variety of recipes as well. Since kombucha is naturally somewhat vinegary, you can use it as a flavorful replacement for vinegar in vinaigrettes or marinades. Whether you’re making a salad or preparing to grill meat, switch things up by adding organic kombucha and enjoy the unique flavors.
You can also use kombucha in popsicles for a refreshing and healthy treat to savor year round! Combine it with some coconut cream and fresh fruit, pop it in the freezer, and enjoy a frozen snack. Or, mix it in with your favorite cocktail or mocktail for a healthy twist to your usual happy hour drink. You can muddle some fresh fruit and herbs, add a splash of cold-pressed juice and you have yourself a delightful DIY mocktail or cocktail.
One tip to keep in mind is that many people find that kombucha does not pair well with foods that are already higher in acidity because the flavor can become lost or overpowered. So you may want to skip having a glass of kombucha tea after you finish your morning cup of coffee or simply replace your coffee with kombucha altogether! It’s best to wait a little while after consuming something highly acidic, like coffee.
Enjoying the Versatility of Kombucha
Because organic kombucha comes in so many different flavors and flavor combinations, it can make for a wonderful complement to any meal or addition to various recipes. Play around with the flavors and try something different – you may discover a new favorite meal pairing! And since Health-Ade Kombucha is certified raw, organic, non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, it’s a choice you will feel good about. Try experimenting with all of our flavors and elevate your dining experience to the next level.
Today's blog is written by our very own Daina Trout, MS, MPH
Daina is not just our Co-Founder, she is also a nutritionist that has spent her adult life dedicated to finding and sharing health and wellness through food. With 2 masters' degrees in nutritional biochemistry and public health, Daina has called upon her education often while leading the way at Health-Ade - from how we make every batch of kombucha, to how we talk about gut health to consumers, to even how healthy our employee workplace is! She even writes a few blogs here and there. Happy reading! :)
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Their tips for pairing kombucha with food encourage experimenting by pairing different foods and meals to discover what you like best. Like Brew Dr, they suggest playing with the 'similar/opposite' profiles of a spicy kombucha with fermented foods or the contrast of a sweet pomegranate with a tangy cheese.
Grilled fruit will be best paired with floral tasting kombucha. Try Brew Dr. Kombucha Love with grilled peaches, apricots, or cantaloupe or Brew Dr. Mint Lemonade Kombucha with grilled pineapple, papaya, or mango.
One tip to keep in mind is that many people find that kombucha does not pair well with foods that are already higher in acidity because the flavor can become lost or overpowered.
Should I Drink Kombucha With a Meal? Kombucha can be enjoyed before, during, or after a meal – it's the perfect accompaniment to a meal instead of wine, beer, or soda! Drinking kombucha before or during a meal is thought to aid digestion and make you full faster.
Substitute kombucha for vinegar: Kombucha, similar to a drinking vinegar, is tart and bright in its flavor profile. If a recipe calls for a little vinegar, like a pasta salad, try tossing in a little kombucha. For example, try substituting a little kombucha for vinegar in your favorite vinaigrette.
Kombucha contains alcohol. The body breaks down alcohol to get rid of it. Disulfiram decreases the break-down of alcohol. Taking kombucha along with disulfiram can cause a pounding headache, vomiting, flushing, and other unpleasant reactions.
Take it on an empty stomach . That's when you'll take full advantage of its probiotic and detoxifying properties. Recover with a glass of kombucha after training.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that four ounces of kombucha can be safely consumed one to three times a day. Overconsumption can lead to headache, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, or ketoacidosis.
Some people may experience digestive upset when drinking kombucha, or from drinking too much. Symptoms such as gas, nausea, and vomiting may occur. These side effects may be more likely in people who drink too much kombucha.
For example, some research suggests kombucha tea may support a healthy immune system and prevent constipation. But there are few valid medical studies of kombucha tea's role in human health. And there are risks to think about. Kombucha tea has caused stomach upset, infections and allergic reactions in some people.
For the most part, you can drink kombucha anytime, as it's considered a healthy soda alternative. Any limiting factor merely comes down to particular individuals with sensitivities. Kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol, caffeine, probiotics and can be acidic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that drinking approximately 4 ounces (oz) of kombucha per day “may not cause adverse effects in healthy persons.” Note that most kombucha bottles sold at the store are more than 4 oz. Check recommended serving sizes before chugging down a whole container.
Drinking kombucha may provide a variety of health benefits, from aiding in digestion to ridding your body of toxins and boosting energy levels. It's also said to help your immune system, help you lose weight, ward off high blood pressure and heart disease, and prevent cancer.
They also suggest using kombucha in foods: Since kombucha is naturally somewhat vinegary, you can use it as a flavorful replacement for vinegar in vinaigrette or marinades. Whether you're making a salad or preparing to grill meat, switch things up by adding organic kombucha and enjoy the unique flavors.
SHOULD YOU SHAKE KOMBUCHA? You shouldn't need to shake it, but as it's a natural brewing process, if you do find any settled sediment then we suggest a gentle 180 degree tilt back and forth before opening.
Can you eat the fruit pieces in kombucha? You can even eat the fruit that was used to flavor your kombucha! The taste and texture will have changed, becoming soft and taking on the acidic flavors of the kombucha. If that's not your thing, simply strain the fruit out before serving.
Valid medical studies of kombucha are limited. Some studies suggest that it may offer benefits similar to other probiotic foods like yogurt. These probiotic benefits include promoting a healthy immune system and relieving stomach and intestinal issues like diarrhea and constipation.
The obvious difference is that yoghurt is a food and kombucha is a drink. They both contain different bacteria so there is no reason not to enjoy both. The goal of eating fermented foods is to include a wide a range of beneficial bacteria, plus any extra nutritional benefits of the products themselves.
If it takes you a little while to get going in the morning, or you struggle with feeling sluggish, kombucha can provide you with a great natural lift to kickstart your day. It's a great low caffeine alternative to coffee or tea, so you can enjoy a little boost without the dreaded crash!
Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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