Health
Kombucha Vs Kefir! Who’s the winner?
What is the difference between Kombucha and Water Kefir? And which one is better for you?
Well, in a nutshell, they are both fermented probiotic beverages but they use different cultures to start the fermentation process. For kombucha, the starter culture is known as a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) which is held together by polysaccharides giving it the appearance of a mushroom. Water kefir starts with gelatinous grains, which are small and translucent colonies of beneficial bacteria and yeasts.
Both fermented drinks start off with a sweet liquid base: Kombucha uses a sugar tea (normally black or green tea) while water kefir uses sugar water.
Water kefir has a shorter fermentation of 24-48 hours which usually results in a sweeter yeasty-style drink. Kombucha is fermented for 2 -4 weeks and when made traditionally it has a vinegar-like taste. However, most commercially made kombucha sold today is brewed with a sweeter style to make it more consumer-friendly.