Everything You Need To Know About "Чайный Гриб" (Kombucha)

Cheetahshop

December 20, 2022

Introduction

If you're a fan of fermented drinks, you're likely to have heard about "чайный гриб" (pronounced chai-nyy grib) - a popular Russian drink that has gained popularity around the world. Known as Kombucha in English, this drink is made by fermenting sweetened tea with a culture of bacteria and yeast. The result is a fizzy, slightly sour drink that's packed with probiotics and other health benefits. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the ingredients, instructions, and nutrition of чайный гриб.

Ingredients

To make чайный гриб, you'll need a few key ingredients: - Water: You'll need clean, filtered water to brew the tea. - Tea: You can use any type of tea you like, but black or green tea works best. You'll need around 8-10 tea bags or 2-3 tablespoons of loose tea per gallon of water. - Sugar: You'll need white granulated sugar to feed the bacteria and yeast. You'll need around 1 cup of sugar per gallon of water. - Kombucha culture: This is the "гриб" or mushroom that ferments the tea. You can buy a culture online or get one from a friend who brews Kombucha.

Instructions

Making чайный гриб is a simple process, but it does require some patience. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Boil the water: Bring the water to a boil and add the tea bags or loose tea. Let it steep for around 10 minutes, then remove the tea bags or strain out the loose tea. 2. Add the sugar: Stir in the sugar until it dissolves completely. 3. Cool the tea: Let the tea cool to room temperature. 4. Add the Kombucha culture: Carefully place the Kombucha culture into the cooled tea. 5. Cover the jar: Cover the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel and secure it with a rubber band. This will keep out any dust or bugs while allowing air to flow. 6. Ferment the tea: Place the jar in a warm, dark spot and let it ferment for 7-10 days. The longer you ferment, the more sour the tea will become. 7. Taste the tea: After a week, taste the tea. If it's too sweet, let it ferment for another day or two. If it's too sour, you can dilute it with some fresh tea. 8. Bottle the tea: Once the tea is to your liking, carefully remove the Kombucha culture and set it aside in a clean bowl. Pour the tea into clean bottles or jars and store in the fridge.

Nutrition

Чайный гриб is a low-calorie, low-sugar drink that's packed with nutrients. Here's a breakdown of the nutrition: - Calories: 30 per 8 ounces - Sugar: 2-3 grams per 8 ounces - Probiotics: чайный гриб is loaded with good bacteria that can improve your gut health and boost your immune system. - Antioxidants: The tea used to make чайный гриб is high in polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can help fight inflammation and disease.

Conclusion

Чайный гриб is a delicious and nutritious drink that's easy to make at home. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you can brew your own batch of this fizzy, probiotic drink. Give it a try and see how it can improve your health and wellbeing!