We love Kombucha! This
fermented drink is not only delicious but has wonderful health benefits. Clarks Cultures has taken the area by storm since opening up shop about a year ago and
we’re so glad that they are vending at this year’s Arts on the Square.
Hello Ryan!
So what exactly is kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea!
Brewing kombucha starts out very simply: It begins with steeped tea and sugar,
the sugar being a food source for the culture that does all of the work.
Kombucha is fermented with a yeast & bacteria culture over a period of days
and weeks. The yeast eat up the sugar, which results in carbon dioxide
(effervescence!) and alcohol - the alcohol is then converted by the bacteria
into their own food so they can grow and multiply. So, after a brew
session is completed, we're left with a non-alcoholic, low-sugar, probiotic
drink!
Photo: Lawrence Braun
How long have you been brewing kombucha and when did you
start?
I have been brewing kombucha for
just over two years, and my business has been up & running for one year.
I discovered kombucha when I started working at Everything Natural about three
years ago. One of my co-workers gave me my first culture and instructions
on how to make my own brew, and I haven't stopped brewing since. I
literally began with one kombucha culture and now I have hundreds. Since
I picked up my first culture in Clarks Summit, I decided to name the company
after the town, Clarks Cultures!
Photo: Lawrence Braun
Do you have various flavors of kombucha?
Yes indeedy -- Naturally, I have an
Original flavor which is just kombucha, nothing added. Additionally, I
have six other flavors that are crafted using real, organic fruits & herbs
during a secondary fermentation -- BlūBerry, Turmeric & Ginger, I'm a
Ginger!, Raspberry, Slightly Strawberry, and Mango-Lime.
What are some of the health benefits of kombucha?
Basically, good bacteria in - bad
bacteria out. Since kombucha is a probiotic beverage, it helps restore
good bacteria in the stomach. As a result, bad bacteria have a harder
time taking hold within the digestive system and the body can more easily
eliminate. In turn, this helps promote a detox effect by restoring the
natural balances of the stomach, which can then contribute to overall, bodily
health. Sidenote: What I just said is what I have learned about kombucha
and hasn't necessarily been verified or approved by the FDA. (Have to
cover all of the angles...)
Where can our readers find your product?
Several different places around
Scranton: JJ McNally's, Zummo's Café, Terra Preta, eden- a vegan cafe, Mansour's, and the
South Side Farmers Market every Saturday! If you want to venture
outside of the Electric City, you can find my full line at Everything Natural
(Clarks Summit), and other places like House of Nutrition (Luzerne), The Mill Market (Hawley), and several more -- check the Clarks Cultures Facebook page
for the full list.
Learn more about Clarks Cultures:
Facebook:
Clarks Cultures
Instagram: @clarkscultures
Scranton Times-Tribune article: http://goo.gl/GXlSPJ
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