Tea, Kombucha, and health:
a review

Food Research International Volume. 33, 2000
Excerpts from Abstract: Kombucha is a refreshing beverage obtained by the fermentation of sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of acetic bacteria and fungi, consumed for its beneficial effects on human health. Research conducted in Russia at the beginning of the century and testimony indicate that Kombucha can improve resistance against cancer, prevent cardiovascular diseases, promote digestive functions, stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammatory problems, and can have many other benefits.

Effects of origins and fermentation time on the antioxidant activities of kombucha

Food Chemistry Volume 98, Issue 3, 2006
Excerpts from Abstract: Effects of kombucha origins and fermentation time on their antioxidant properties were investigated using in vitro free radical scavenging assays. Kombucha from various sources demonstrated different antioxidant activities, and most showed the time-dependent characteristics. The average antioxidant potentials of kombucha after fermenting for 15 days were raised to about 70%, 40%, 49% determined, respectively, by the assays of DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation, while the ferrous ion binding ability was inversely diminished by 81%. The total phenol content increased up to 98% which implied that thearubigin might be subjected to biodegradation during fermentation, resulting in the release of smaller molecules with higher antioxidant activities.