Where to Buy Kombucha Around Boston, MA - Part II

I am very excited about this new Google Map that I created with locations that sell kombucha tea around Boston!!! With Google Maps, it will be much easier for me to update new locations that sell kt as I find them. For a link to the map, click here. And if you know of any other locations that I have left out, or if you have any suggestions for my map, please let me know! I'm sure others would appreciate it. :)



On another note, I have now relocated my kombucha brews to my kitchen cabinet.

For whatever reason, it has already been getting colder lately around Boston. (*sigh.* I wish it were still the middle of summer!) Since I tend to open my windows every now and then for the fresh air, my room can get chilly at times, too- which also makes for a slower kombucha ferment.

Because my kitchen tends to be warm, it is a good location temperature-wise for my kombucha brew. However, keeping your ferment in a cabinet in the kitchen is highly recommended- SCOBYs are not fond of smoke! And you might not want to keep your brew in too tight or small of a cabinet, either- kombucha mushrooms also like their oxygen!

Overall, keeping your ferment in a closet or cabinet can be very helpful if you would like to set it aside in an undisturbed spot. Just remember not to forget about your brew!

Cornell Study - Part II

Welcome to Part II of The Cornell Study! As mentioned in my last post, I will be discussing the finds C.J. Greenwalt, R.A. Ledford, and K.H. Steinkraus made from performing their research in their study "Determination and characterization of the anti-microbial activity of the fermented tea Kombucha."

Again, their MISSION for the study was "to determine and characterize Kombucha's anti-microbial activity" and also to see if drinkable levels of unfermented tea carry anti-microbial properties.

Some of the MATERIALS AND METHODS Greenwalt et al. performed involved the following:

• They tested both black tea leaves (Lovers Leap Orange Pekoe Tea and Pure Premium Ceylon Tea) and green tea leaves (Japanese Sencha Tea and Pure Premium Green Tea) from Metropolitan Tea Company Ltd.
• The tea leaves were steeped for 30 minutes and then removed.
• "The fermentation was terminated at the...pleasing [and desired taste and acidity] of about 33 g/L (3.3%)."
• "The fermentation time averaged nine days at 25°C [77°F]."

After the kombucha tea reach the desired end point, anti-microbial activities were tested against the following organisms:

1. Staphylococcus aureus NRRL B-1317
2. Staphylococcus aureus NRRL B-1318
3. E. coli serotype H10 (non-pathogenic) NRRL B-2207
4. E. coli serotype H48 (pathogenic) NRRL B-3704
5. Salmonella cholerasuis serotype typhimurium NRRL B-4420
6. Bacillus cereus NRRL B-14720
7. Bacillus cereus NRRL B-14725
8. Candida albicans NRRL Y-12983
9. Agrobacterium tumefaciens

"The bacterial species were chosen to represent the most common pathogenic and undesirable organisms associated with food."

The RESULTS of the study:

"The Kombucha colonies used in this investigation had a tendency to produce about:"

• 3.3% total acid
• 0.7% acetic acid
• 4.8% glucose
• 0.6% ethanol
• No lactic acid
• pH ~2.5

Greenwalt et al.'s OVERALL CONCLUSION:

"Kombucha may be a healthful beverage in view of its anti-microbial activity against a range of pathogenic bacteria. This may promote immunity and general well being."

I hope you found the Cornell Study as interesting as I did, and please ask me if you have any questions!

Source:

-Greenwalt, C.J., R.A. Ledford, and K.H. Steinkraus. "Determination and characterization of the anti-microbial activity of the fermented tea Kombucha." Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und-Technologie 31 (3) (1998): 291-296.

-Online article link here.