Kombucha Book Author Visits Oskaloosa

Hannah Crum

Oskaloosa, Iowa – For many, the first question is, what is kombucha? The fun name is really a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea.

Each batch of kombucha starts with a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), which, in turn, generates a new SCOBY for your next batch. That new SCOBY helps to protect the kombucha from outside molds and other bacteria.

The yeast makes the CO2 and the ethanol during the fermentation process. Bacteria then convert the ethanol to organic acids that are said to help detoxify the liver and support the immune system.

Hannah Crum, a nationally recognized author and teacher of kombucha, was at the Book Vault in Oskaloosa this week to demonstrate the benefits and the ease of making it for yourself.

Oskaloosa News asked Crum how she got involved with kombucha. “Kombucha found me”, says Crum. “A lot of people come to kombucha because of a health concern. Some of the ancient names are tea of immortality, tea of long life. So clearly, people have been drinking it for a long time.”

“I wasn’t looking for it at all”, says Crum of kombucha. “A friend who had moved to San Francisco happened to be brewing some in his apartment. Even though we didn’t taste it, that word kombucha just sticks in your mind.”

Back at home in L.A., Crum tried a bottle of kombucha, “and it was love at first sip”.

Crum was back home of sorts. Crum was born in Des Moines, and moved to Illinois when she was 7 years old. She has called L.A. home for over a decade now.

The demonstration and book signing event are just one of many events that take place at the Book Vault. You can keep up with all the events taking place there by visiting their website http://www.bookvault.org/