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Move over kombucha there’s a new gut health superstar drink on the block
The Federal University of Ceara has created a brand new probiotic drink that they claim performs as well as kombucha and tastes better.
Gut health has become a hot topic in recent years as people seek to flush impurities and toxins from their systems. From understanding how healthy your poop is to downing bitter foods in an attempt to flush your system, there are a plethora of tips, tricks, and hacks out there for your digestion.
The new kombucha is made from passion fruit and apple
We know that gut health has a knock-on effect on many other bodily systems and it can even affect unborn babies. But exactly how do you infuse your gut with vitality?
With gut health in mind, researchers in Brazil developed two new probiotic beverages using passion fruit and apple juices and SCOBY, the traditional mix of bacteria and yeast that is used in kombucha. The team, led by Socorro Vanesca Frota Gaban, sought to provide consumers with a drink that packed the punch of kombucha but with a softer flavor.
Their findings were published in the ACS Agricultural Science & Technology journal in September.
To make the drinks, they combined the traditional green tea base with either apple or passion fruit juices. SCOBY was then added and allowed to ferment for 10 days at room temperature.
Once properly juicy, the two drinks were put through a bunch of tests to understand the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and sensory characteristics compared to traditional kombucha.
The drinks were packed with nutrients
Through careful analysis, the team highlighted how all three drinks contained beneficial compounds, though there was a clear winner in the form of the apple beverage.
The apple probiotic drink matched traditional kombucha’s phenolic and flavonoid count, both of which are known for their antioxidant properties, and also outperformed kombucha in some areas.
During the taste test portion of the study, the apple drink was again highlighted as the clear winner thanks to its “pleasant, cider-like flavor” and citrus notes. The study group was not a fan of the passion fruit which they described as too sour and bitter.
The team said that further research is needed to explore the aspects of probiotic drinks, but their initial study does provide insight into the many possibilities.
