To me, brewing Kombucha is about empowerment. I brew it for myself and any of my friends who will drink it. I know what goes into it and I know that it is alive with good bacteria that benefit my gut. I have seen too many healthful products suffer once food manufacturers get them out on the market.

Dannon yogurt used to be yogurt. Now, at the local grocery, I can't even buy plain yogurt anymore. Every yogurt on that shelf contains high fructose corn syrup, artificial color and flavor. I can't do dairy anymore but if I could, I'd make my own yogurt. It's easy.

Food marketers think every product has to have sugar in it to satisfy the consumer. I have to believe this is/will change as more and more science is available that shows the unhealthful effects of sugar. When Kombucha was first available in the health food stores it was just Kombucha. The last time I looked most of the bottles contained sweetener in the form of juice. So the Kombucha is essentially diluted. Sure, you can search around for the plain one, but most consumers are going to go for the "berry flavored". I see this as the beginning of making another healthful product essentially useless.

Many yogurts on the shelves don't even have live cultures. Grocery store Sauerkraut is pastuerized... the bacteria is dead. Most people aren't aware of this and can't remember why these foods are supposed to be good for them. The value and art of making a live ferment at home is mostly forgotten through the convience of buying it from someone else. Producers change it to suit their profit margins or to conform to the laws for storage and shipping.

Take the time to make it for yourself. Share it with those you love. It is a gift! You're worth it. Ss

people are strange, they like to put their views paramount to the realities of others. Buy, grow, sell but most importantly ENJOY:)

Its a lot of work growing this stuff and it does smell, i could see why someone would not want to grow it even though i find it so gratifying. Please buy your kt if you need, you are keeping someone employed doing something neat and that they probably believe in.

rock and roll