Kombucha is a fermented tea with a light and fizzy composition made by mixing black or green tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), feeding sugar to these cultures which produce acetic acid and other compounds for flavor; furthermore, carbonation occurs from fermentation by means of the SCOBY itself. Kombucha has been enjoyed for over 2000 years in East Asia as a staple food; more recently it has gained widespread interest as a functional health elixir in its Western counterpart.

Kombucha’s origins can be traced to various stories. One theory suggests that Emperor Qin Shi Huang sent his court alchemist, Xu Fu, on an expedition in Japan searching for immortality and found people living simple lives yet being remarkable healthy and long-lived – it is thought they drank special tea named after “kombu,” Japanese for mushroom.

Another theory suggests that tea was introduced to the West by Russian military during the Russo-Japanese War, when soldiers brought it home with them after receiving it as souvenirs. Russian biologist A.A. Bachinskaya studied SCOBY, publishing her findings comparing its flavor profile to mushroom tea; she coined its moniker of “tea kvass” or “Volga mushroom.”

Genghis Khan and his army may have used kombucha as an energy drink during their conquest of Asia, seeing it as an effective energy boost that may have helped extend warriors’ endurance on battlefield.

Kombucha first made its way into American households via hippie communities during the 1960s, during the Earth Day movement which advocated a return to nature through plant-based ingredients like tea. Most kombucha was manufactured at home using the brewing process at this time.

GT Dave created the first commercial kombucha brand in 1995 after watching his mother Laraine recover from breast cancer by drinking this highly fermented tea drink. However, no scientific evidence exists to back its claims of therapeutic benefits.

Today, kombucha is produced both at home and commercial scale. Marketed for its digestive, cardiovascular and immune system benefits, kombucha can be found for sale both at health food shops as well as mainstream grocery stores across the US. As an alternative to soda that many consider unhealthy, this drink remains contentious among experts with some experts touting its many health advantages while others caution about possible risks; to make an informed decision when purchasing or drinking this tea it’s wise to research claims made about its health advantages as well as consult your healthcare provider prior to doing either one.