Alas, today many of us, in the hope of quenching our thirst, give preference to advertised soda and juices of dubious quality, forgetting that our ancestors drank delicious and healthy tea kvass made from kombucha. Of course, the appearance of a three-liter jar with a "jellyfish" floating in it is not as presentable as a bottle or a bag with a beautiful label. So after all, not all that glitters is gold …
COME FROM NIOTHERE
Until now, no one can unequivocally answer the question of how and where the kombucha came from, since it does not occur in the natural environment. For its growth, sweet tea is necessary, which is impossible to obtain except at home.
Scientists suggest that the fungus could only appear in any body of water with algae capable of imparting tea properties to water. But this assumption can be refuted by the fact that the Mexicans grow kombucha by placing fig fruits in the water, which means that it could appear in any fermented drink.
According to legend, one monk predicted to the dying emperor that an ant would bring him medicine. After some time, the emperor saw that an ant had fallen into his cup of tea, who said that he had brought an invisible medicine to the eye. Just to see it, you need to wait until the jellyfish grows in the cup, it will give the tea medicinal properties. And so it happened: the emperor took medicine and recovered.
Some consider the sacred lands of Tibet to be the official homeland of the kombucha, they say, it was from there that he got to India, and then to China. But, according to other historical sources, the mysterious mushroom appeared in China during the reign of the Qin dynasty in 221-207 BC. e. The ancient Chinese called the kombucha drink kam-bu-ha and endowed it with divine power that prolongs life, and the recipe was kept secret. Only the upper class was allowed to drink it.
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However, the land is full of rumors, and in 414 a Chinese physician arrived in Japan to heal the dying emperor, who brought with him a miraculous mushroom. Perhaps this fact formed the basis of the legend about the ant.
Well, from Japan, the mushroom continued its journey to Korea, Manchuria and Eastern Siberia. And already in the 19th century, almost every house in Russia, Belarus and the Transcaucasus was growing kombucha.
PR Stantsevich, visiting Irkutsk in 1835, recalls: “In this city they drink tea in a very strange way: not only hot, but also cold. Moreover, the cold one is prepared like kvass, insisting on a slippery cake resembling a mushroom that grows on rotten stumps. Kombucha became so fashionable in the second half of the 19th century that it was customary for them to treat guests during social visits, and it practically supplanted mead.
In the 20th century, Europe learned about the healing properties of tea kvass, and the mushroom itself became very popular, it is still sold in European pharmacies to this day.
FLORA OR FAUNA?
Ever since kombucha became widely known, people have been wondering: what is this plant? Or is it not a plant? In 1913, the German mycologist Lindau was the first to give a complete scientific description of the fungus and named it medusomycete, although only external similarity unites it with jellyfish.
According to Lindau, kombucha is a symbiosis of two microorganisms: yeast and acetic acid bacteria. And together they create a huge, fast-growing colony that looks like a jellyfish, but is yellowish-brown in color. The fungus floats on the surface of the liquid, similar to a multilayer yellow film with processes that resemble the tentacles of a jellyfish.
Being in a sweet tea infusion, the mushroom transforms it into a healing and tasty drink containing vitamins C, PP, D and B, organic acids and enzymes. It is believed that tea kvass is not inferior to antibiotics in its medicinal properties, only without side effects.
FROM ALL INSANES …
The Chinese called it the elixir of health and immortality, believed that it balances qi energy and helps digestion. First of all, tea kvass is used to prevent various diseases - this is its main effect. With its help, you can insure against colds during cold weather, make up for the lack of vitamins in the spring, restore the intestinal microflora, which was disturbed by illness or exposure to antibiotics. A drink with kombucha improves tone well, increasing efficiency and activity.
Kombucha is able to cure diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular constipation, hemorrhoids, gastritis. Also, taking an infusion of kombucha, you can get rid of hypotension, tonsillitis, dysentery, enterocolitis and scarlet fever. Kombucha acts as an antibiotic for acute respiratory infections, angina, flu.
He also treats diseases of the ear, throat, nose, eyes (conjunctivitis). Infected wounds heal faster if they are treated with this infusion. Surprisingly, the magic mushroom is able to cope with such a serious disease as tuberculosis, it greatly facilitates the course of the disease. When drinking a drink from kombucha, cholesterol levels are reduced to the required norm.
In addition, tea kvass is a guarantee of no hangover in the morning after the holiday (if, of course, you start drinking alcohol with it). The effect of kombucha in hangover is due to the neutralization of toxins in alcoholic beverages. This is due to the complete balance of essential substances of natural origin. The kind of harmony that is found in kombucha cannot be achieved synthetically.
The magic mushroom is actively used in cosmetology for skin and nail care. The medicinal properties of Kombucha are widely used in the treatment of scalp diseases and hair strengthening. It is enough to rinse the hair with infusion of kombucha after each wash to make it shiny and healthy. But keep in mind: the mushroom must be aged for at least three weeks. You can rub this infusion into the scalp, which will give a good result in the fight against dandruff.
For people suffering from excessive sweating, kombucha with its antibacterial properties will definitely help. To do this, you need to take a monthly infusion of the mushroom, moisten a towel in it and wipe your armpits after washing.
GOLD FISH
But few people know that kombucha also has miraculous powers. Magicians and sorcerers use it for their divination. They know how to speak mushroom at the request of a person. But that's not all, everyone can do it on their own.
It is believed that Kombucha hears requests and grants wishes. The ritual is very simple: it is enough daily for a week in the morning and before going to bed, addressing him, in a whisper pronounce your request. But so that no one but the mushroom can hear you. In this case, a bank with an unusual tenant should always be at the head of the bed. When you want to talk to the mushroom, pick it up.
Many will smile skeptically after reading this strange advice. However, bacteriologists believe that bacteria are capable of absorbing and storing information, as well as transmitting it from person to person.
Want to get rid of wrinkles? Talk about this constantly to your friend at the bank. The bacteria will certainly respond to your request and begin to produce substances that will help smooth your face.
CAUTION DOES NOT HINDER
By itself, tea kvass does not have any contraindications, unless, of course, it reaches fanaticism in its use. It should be used with caution by people suffering from a disease such as diabetes and those who have problems with excess weight, due to the fact that the mushroom likes a very sweet solution.
People with high acidity of the stomach can drink the mushroom infusion only on the basis of black tea, and instead of sugar it should be fed with honey, as it neutralizes the acidic component of the drink. And, of course, one should not forget about an allergic reaction in case of individual intolerance to one of the components of the drink.
Also, doctors do not advise taking an infusion of the mushroom immediately before meals (5-10 minutes before meals), during or immediately after it. The infusion of tea kvass actively interacts with food in the stomach, and you will almost immediately feel hunger again. To prevent this from happening, it is better to drink the drink 2 hours after eating plant foods and 4 hours after eating meat.
Observing certain rules when using tea kvass, you can only get benefits from it.
Galina MINNIKOVA