Top 5 Fermented Drinks

People have been drinking fermented drinks for a really long time, almost forever (or at least for the past 9000 years or so). When there was no refrigeration, people tried to find different methods to keep food fresh and prevent it from going bad. Fermentation is a very common way that all cultures use to preserve things.

No one wants to fall victim to the plague, of course. However, I think our "war on bacteria" is to blame for a wide variety of "modern illnesses," both mental and physical, that have never been seen before. We have thrown the (bacterial) balance of our society way off. The purpose of fermented drinks is to restore that equilibrium!

So, let's do that by checking out some exotic drinks from different cultures. The fact that so many of these age-old drinks have endured because of their widespread appeal shows how effective fermentation is. Baby, it's scorching outside!

How Fermentation Works

In essence, alcohol is made when yeast breaks down sugars and turns them into molecules that create ethanol and carbon dioxide. Alcoholic fermentation happens naturally in nature. It occurs in fruit that is too ripe or has been damaged.

Yeast really likes to live on the skins of fruits and plants. Yeast is a type of fungus that consists of single cells and can be found in large quantities everywhere. Fruit juices, plant sap, and raw honey have simple sugars. When they are in the right environment, they can turn to alcohol on their own.

Humans have learned over a very long time how to control things by using different kinds of yeast to make different things. The yeast that most people know about is called Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This special yeast helps make lots of different foods and drinks, like beer, wine, and baked goods. It's really good at fermenting them.

Top 5 Fermented Drinks

Let's check out the popular five fermented drinks:

1. Kombucha:

Kombucha is a type of tea that is believed to have come from China over 2,000 years ago. It was called 'the tea of immortality'. People used to call it the 'Elixir of Long Life' because it was believed to be very good for your health. It's a type of tea called kombucha that is made by fermenting and sweetening black or green tea using a group of bacteria and yeast called SCOBY.

The drink is fizzy and good for your digestion, detoxifying your body and giving you more energy. They also say it can help you lose weight, manage high blood pressure, avoid liver damage, and maybe even prevent cancer. Kombucha usually tastes a little sour and looks yellow-orange. You can try kombucha lemon drink from Mountain Tribe, the best kombucha brand in India! 

2. Ginger Beer:

Ginger beer is a bubbly, sweet and spicy drink that doesn't have alcohol. It's made by using a mixture of sugar, ginger, and wild yeast called ginger bug. It tastes more like ginger than ginger ale and is really refreshing on a hot summer day. In 1855, the British Excise Regulations said that the drink couldn't have more than 2% alcohol.

Usually, ginger beer had even less alcohol, so kids liked it. Fermented ginger beer is good for your health. It can help with things like calming an upset stomach, reducing inflammation, and getting rid of toxins in your body.

3. Bouza Or Boza:

Boza is a traditional fermented drink that dates back to 8000–9000 B.C.E. in Mesopotamia. It consists mainly of millet that has been hulled and boiled in water before being spread out in huge, shallow pans. After cooling, the liquid is filtered through a fine mesh sieve, and sweetened water is added.

Besides Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, and Romania are other major producers of boza. Ancient Egyptians may have been drinking a precursor to beer called bouza. Boza is fermented using a combination of natural yeast and lactic acid bacteria and can be created using a number of different cereal grains.

4. Water Kefir:

Most people are familiar with kefir made from milk, but did you know there is also kefir made from water? If you haven't tried this fruity substitute before, here's all you need to know. A bacterial and yeast culture called water kefir grains, which includes lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria, ferments sucrose to produce water kefir.

This leads to what? A fizzy drink loaded with probiotic bacteria. Kefir's beneficial effects include tumour prevention, better digestion, faster healing of wounds, and even antimicrobial properties.

5. Sima:

Finnish culture centres around the drink known as sima. Vappu, the Finnish celebration of May Day, requires its preparation and consumption. Vappu is the one time of year when the generally reserved Vappu lets their guard down. The customary observance of May Day is a Pagan holiday.

With just lemons (AMZ), sugar, and yeast, you can make a quick and easy ferment called sima. The alcohol content is lower because of the brief fermentation period (the end of which is signalled by the floating raisins added after bottling). Even though it's typically consumed by adults, several cultures also provide it to youngsters in very small amounts.

Benefits Of Kombucha:

Why are drinks that have been fermented beneficial for your health? Drinking fermented, probiotic beverages is really good for your body. It makes your digestion better and has good effects on your whole body.

When we eat probiotic foods, the tiny organisms inside them make a protective layer in our intestines. This layer keeps us safe from bad things like salmonella and E. coli. They could also help lessen the bad effects of gut dysbiosis.

Drinking fermented drinks is good for making antibodies stronger and helping the immune system. These drinks can make you less hungry and reduce your desire for sugary and processed foods.

Actually, consuming cultured or probiotic beverages can assist in treating candida overgrowth in the gut as a component of a candida diet.

Another good thing is that lacto-fermentation makes food healthier and helps our bodies absorb minerals from cultured foods more easily. Fermenting food produces vitamins and enzymes that aid in digestion and maintain gut health thanks to the bacteria present.

A study in a science journal says that recent research has shown that probiotics are important for a healthy diet for both humans and animals. Masks can keep you safe from getting sick, and they are a good choice because they are not expensive and made from natural materials.

Guess what? Fermented drinks might be able to help with feeling less anxious in social situations. The University of Maryland, School of Social Work found that social anxiety disorder is related to the health of our gut.

Our feelings are affected by the nerves in our stomachs. Microbiota seems to affect how the gut and brain communicate, control mood, and influence behaviours. This explains the term "gut-brain connection."

Scientists found that when animals feel sad, it can affect their brain and gut health. They also discovered that individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome can experience improvement by consuming probiotics.

Conclusion:

Humans have been using fermentation for a really long time to help keep food fresh, make it more nutritious, and stay healthy. Due to modern society's overreliance on disinfectants, people have lost touch with the beneficial bacteria found naturally in the environment.

The microbial equilibrium can be restored in a tasty way by drinking fermented beverages like Classic Kombucha Original, Ginger Beer, Bouza, Water Kefir, and Sima. Let's embrace these traditional practices and enjoy the tasty results of fermentation for our health and our connection to nature. We love the amazing process of fermentation!

FAQs

1. Why are drinks that have been fermented good for your health?

Drinking fermented beverages can help with digestion and keep harmful bacteria away. They not only lower blood pressure but also act as antioxidants and form a protective layer in the gut.

2. Do fermented drinks help make the immune system stronger?

Yes, they make more antibodies and make the immune system stronger. They control hunger and reduce cravings for sugary foods.

3. What are the advantages of fermented drinks for the gut?

They assist in absorbing minerals, decrease the growth of candida, and provide vitamins and digestive enzymes. Probiotics keep your tummy healthy and protect you from getting sick.

4. Do fermented drinks affect mental health?

The gut-brain connection is very much real. Drinks with probiotics have been shown to increase mood and reduce social anxiety by modulating signals between the digestive system and the brain.

5. What's the historical significance of fermentation in human health?

People have been using fermentation for a long time to make food last longer and be healthier. It's a nice way to reconnect with helpful tiny organisms in today's world.