As a Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbalist I do not recommend alcohol - except in rare cases. Pure Pressed Kombucha Mushroom and Kombucha Tea are of the same. Alcohol Extracted Kombucha and Kombucha Tea are not the same. Many commercial vendors of kombucha extract add alcohol to their product. There is no medicinal need for alcohol as the acetic acid and the low pH (3.0 or less) are enough to wards off any pathogens. Some folks add 10-20% alcohol so that the fermenting SCOBY does not clog the bottle, stop up the pipette, or otherwise look unsightly. Low presentation of alcohol may serve that purpose while percentages over 20% does kill off the beneficial bacteria and yeasts. Yet there are numerous reputable reports of kombucha extract in over 25% concentration of alcohol as being highly effective. This is attributable to the remaining acids and not the probiotics of the SCOBY. We will add in the alcohol you like, or you can add it in yourself. Or simply keep refrigerated (SCOBY goes dormant) and shake often. Filter as needed. Another consideration is adding in equal parts of a healthy edible oil like flax seed, sesame or grape seed to name a few. Another health claim of kombucha is that kombucha helps balance the body's pH. This is achieved by the acidic kombucha becoming an alkaline forming food. This beneficial alkalinize forming food relies upon the synergism of the gastrointestinal tract and the whole kombucha. When these probiotics are killed off by the addition of alcohol that balance is disturbed.
Simply shake a few drops into a glass of warm water or a spoonful into a water bottle and sip throughout the day. Add to fresh fruit juice, sparkling mineral water or edible oils: add to soups, salads, & vegetables, rice, bakes potatoes, pasta or seafood.
Recommended for diabetics, and candidia or IRB sufferers who cannot tolerate the sugar of Kombucha Tea or the trouble of brewing their own. Safe and beneficial for all pets and children. Suggested dosage 15 drops (1/4 teaspoon) to a glass of fresh water. 2-3 times a day at mealtimes. Before meals to lose weight, after meals to gain weight. 2 oz = 12 teaspoons = 4 tablespoons = 912 drops* 15 drops 2 x a day = 30 drops per day = 900 drops * therefore 2 liquid ounces lasts 30 days as counted by http://www.megaconverter.com/mega2/
UPS CERTIFIED ORGANIC GRAPE ALCOHOL We proudly use only Alchemical Solutions' 190 proof neutral organic grape alcohol that is made from certified organic wine produced in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. We feel that grape sugars are unique, and because of their unique actions, grape alcohol does a superior job of extracting medicinal plant constituents. In addition, organic grape alcohol is hypo-allergenic and guaranteed 100% free of genetic modification. Alchemical Solutions' Spirits are double distilled in stainless steel and double filtered to assure the highest level of purity. Each lot is tested by an independent lab to assure us that it meets USP (United States Pharmacopeia) standards. Not all pure alcohol is certified as USP grade; only 190 proof and 200 proof pure ethanol, which meets or exceeds the stringent standards of the USP. In TCM alcohol is hot and toxic and contributes to the formation of phlegm. Therefore its use should be limited. The small amounts in herbal formulas are usually considered acceptable but there are times when even these amounts should not be used. And a good reason to only use those products that have quality alcohol. The amount of alcohol that we use in our extract is not enough to completely destroy the benfical probiotics/ though they are severly limited. The value for adding alcohol is in preventing bottled KT from bloating / exploding while traveling (a good precaution) and to prevent squidles (spent yeast cells) from becoming a nuisance. An alcohol extraction contributes to Polysaccharides, which are not water soluble, and are considerably healthy. This would apply to extracting the mushrooms themselves and to maintain the probiotic affect.
