This fermented and savoury infusion contains kombucha mother vinegar, horseradish, onions, garlic, ginger, cayenne, echinacea root, raw honey, positive energy, love. As with our kombucha, all ingredients in this drink are locally-sourced and completely organic.
This spicy tonic improves overall health processes of the body by boosting immunity and digestion, improving blood circulation, and fighting off infections.
Horseradish is known to be effective against cold and flu and other respiratory infections.
Ginger is used to treat arthritis, muscle pain, upset stomach (motion and morning sickness and general nausea), gas, upper respiratory tract infections, and cough.
Onion is used to boost cardiovascular health, bone, and connective tissue benefits, and as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Garlic is used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis, asthma, building the immune system, help level blood sugar, and is used topically to treat fungal infections.
Raw honey is an all-natural fighter of seasonal allergies.
Cayenne aids circulation, easing muscle aches and pains, reducing inflammation and congestion.
Echinacea root fights cold and flu symptoms, infections, and boosts immunity.
This old folk remedy and health tonic has been used many herbalists for a long time but was developed and popularized in the late 1970s by Rosemary Gladstar, an herbalist and founder of the California School of Herbal Studies. She fought a legal battle to prevent companies from trademarking this product that is meant for all people. Click on the link to watch a video of her talking about this magical elixir and how it should be available for the well-being of all people equally and for free.
https://freefirecider.com/rosemarys-story/
Fire Cider is traditionally made with apple cider vinegar and ingredients in season near the herbalist, but the base ingredients are apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers. Some people like to bury their fire cider jar in the ground for a month and then dig it up during a great feast to celebrate the changing of the seasons.
Bolster your body against the blustery cold season with a shot of spicy goodness!
Booch makes it easy to stay healthy and boost gut health with its array of tasty beverages. Booch also offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
]]>Click on the link below to read the full interview with Shannon where she shares her tips and motivations for all aspiring solo entrepreneur.
We are a small and growing company with fewer than 20 employees and providing a good wage has been a priority and an important HR policy since we started in 2015. As the company grows and makes more profits, sharing it with the employees whose hard work and loyalty led to the success is an important goal for Booch. We believe that employees who earn a good wage to support their family and enjoy a comfortable life are happier, and we want to do everything we can to retain hardworking employees and show our appreciation, starting with a fair wage policy.
While we will continue to provide better wages and more amenities to our people, we also have projects in the pipeline to achieve our other goals of helping our community of local retailers, farmers, and customers. In addition to our people and community goals, we also have projects in place to support the environment and reduce our carbon footprint. We want to be the company that lives its values through our actions and interactions.
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When we are born, our guts are brand new and sterile; over a lifetime, our guts are populated by diverse species of bacteria based on our genes, diet, antibiotic usage, and our environment. Adults have over 1,000 species of bacteria and the 100 trillion that live in the gastrointestinal tract are critical to health. And these bacteria aid digestion, extraction of nutrients from food, boost metabolism and immunity. In recent years, many scientific studies have shown the growing link between the gut and the brain, saying the gut bacteria produces hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate physiological and mental processes such as learning, memory, and mood.
So, it is evident that the brain and the gut are affected by the bacterial composition in the microbiota, and it is important to maintain a high level of good bacteria.
All this science talk proves that we need the presence of good bacteria in the gut to be healthy. The easiest way to improve our gut biome is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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We know that kombucha is yummy, fermented tea made with a starter culture (SCOBY), tea (black/green/oolong) and sugar; it contains vitamins and good gut bacteria to keep us healthy and happy. But to make a good batch of kombucha, we need a good SCOBY and create a good environment for the SCOBY to live and flourish.
SCOBY pellicles, like sourdough starters, can be used to start new batches of kombucha and continue the fermentation process. This can be attributed to SCOBYs ability to not only house the symbiotic growth, but a small amount of the previous media and product due to its ability to absorb water.
After all that scientific know-how about fermentation and SCOBYs, time to enjoy some tasty and healthy kombucha. For the summer patio season, Booch has conjured up some tasty cocktail combinations for you enjoy while being mindful of your gut health.
CITRUS BOOCH MIMOSA
Pour 1/2 bottle of Citrus Twist Booch or Ginger Booch into champagne flute glass. Top with sparkling wine. Add sprig of rosemary.
MUDDLED BLUEBERRY MOJITO
Muddle 3/4 bottle of Blueberry Holy Basil Booch with 1 oz rum, wedge of lime, frozen blueberries and fresh mint. Pour into sugar-rimmed glass. Serve with sprig of mint and lime wheel.
RED BOOCH SANGRIA
In glass pitcher add 1 bottle of Chaga Chai Booch to full bottle of red wine, 1 cup orange juice and 2 oz orange liquor. Add sliced oranges, apples and lemons. Serve in large wine glass. Garnish with ice and orange wheel.
GIN BOOCH SANGRIA
In glass pitcher add 1 bottle of Old Fashioned Booch to 1 litre of lemonade. Add 4 oz gin and 2 oz orange liquor. Add sliced cucumber, strawberries, fresh mint, and oranges. Serve in tall glass with cucumber wedge.
BOOCH BEER RADLER
In a frosted pilsner glass add 1/2 bottle Old Fashioned Booch and top with favourite Saison or IPA. For a fruity version substitute Old Fashioned Booch with Raspberry Lemonade Booch.
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Human microbiome is made up of over 1,000 varieties of helpful bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that live in the body—particularly in the digestive tract. These diverse microbes help us digest food, protect us against disease-causing bacteria and make vitamins such as B12, thiamin and riboflavin. Changes in the microbiome—resulting in too many bad bacteria and not enough good ones— can make it more difficult for the body to drive away illness. Modern lifestyle with its culture of excessive processed foods, antibiotics, and animal-based diets low in fiber have damaged this microbiome, leading to negative effects on the body, mind, and soul. Restoring the microbiome by eating foods rich in good bacteria is essential for a healthy body and mental well-being.
The easiest way to improve our gut biome is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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In this blog, we regularly talk about the gut and the trillions of bacteria that have a profound impact on our overall mental and physical health. But some of the scientific terms can get a little confusing. So, in this blog post, we explore the various technical terms used and understand their exact meanings and impact on the body. Let us start with some terminology and facts.
Gut - gastrointestinal system, also called the gastrointestinal tract, digestive system, digestive tract, or gut, is a group of organs that includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small intestine, colon, and rectum.
Microbiome - ‘Biome’ is an ecosystem made up of flora and fauna. ‘Micro’ indicates that this ecosystem is invisible to the human eye. Microbiome is made up of mostly bacteria, but also viruses, archaea (single-celled organisms), and fungi, which all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem’s stability. Gut microbiome refers to the genomes of microorganisms that reside in your colon.
Microbiota - they are a part of the microbiome, includes the different microbe populations present in the large intestine, including bacteria, archaea, and viruses. It has evolved alongside humans to get to where we are today, living in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Metagenome - The genes of microorganisms in a specific environment.
The gut does not offer as many biochemicals as some of the other environments in the body so the gut microbes must be adapted to certain lifestyles. In the gut, sources of energy are processes such as fermentation and sulphate reduction of dietary and host carbohydrates.
The density and composition of the microbiota are affected by our diet, immunity and the chemicals found in the gut. Small intestines have lower microbiota because of high levels of acids, oxygen and antimicrobials, and a short transit time (time it takes for ingested food to travel through the human gut). In contrast, the colon (large intestine) has a dense and diverse community of bacteria with the ability to break down complex carbohydrates which are undigested in the small intestine.
So it is safe to say that the food that we consume daily plays an important role in the diversity and density of the good bacteria in our body. The impact of the food consumed is seen within 24 hrs. Poor diet and lifestyle can drastically reduce the population of these bacteria, thereby impacting other organs and systems.
After birth, the GI tract is rapidly colonised, and life events such as illness, antibiotic treatment, and diet changes cause sifts in the microbiota.
Age |
Microbiota |
Influencing factors |
Birth – 2 years |
Rich and diverse microbiota, with dominance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes |
type of birth, type of feeding, genes, term vs preterm |
Adults |
Stable gut microbiota with established colonies of bacteria |
diet, lifestyle, medications, antibiotics, exercise |
Elderly |
low diversity; enrichment of potentially harmful bacteria groups |
diet, lifestyle, medications, decline in body functions |
There are more than 1000 species of bacteria in the gut but we shall discuss the two main types that play a major role in probiotics – Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Strains of these two types inhibit harmful bacteria, improve gastrointestinal barrier function, and suppress proinflammatory cytokines.
|
Lactobacillus |
Bifidobacterium |
Where is it found? |
Primarily in lower GI tract (small intestine and colon). Small amounts also found in the vagina, mouth, and stomach |
Found in the digestive tract; make up over 95% of gut bacteria in a newborn and decrease over lifetime to about 25% in older adults |
What does it do? |
- maintain health of GI tract and immune system- break down lactose; reduce gas, bloating, abdominal pain- digest prebiotic fibers to produce beneficial compounds, including lactate and short chain fatty acid acetate, which both help maintain a healthy gut barrier*- inhibit growth of bad bacteria by producing anti-bacterial compounds called bacteriocins and reducing gut pH |
- help body fight inflammation; boost immune system- reduce gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, constipation.- protects gut barrier- breaks down starch into short chain fatty acids (SCFA), which help regulate multiple body functions- reduces diarrhea caused by antibiotic treatment or viral infections |
Foods that contain them |
- fermented milk products foods that contain this live bacterium, such as yogurt- prebiotic dietary fibers found naturally in foods such as onions, garlic, pulses, and bananas encourage growth of this strain |
- prebiotics found in plant foods such as grains, chicory, onion, berries, whole grains- probiotics rich foods like yogurt, kefir- fermented foods that have live organisms. Watch out for pasteurized products that may not contain any live organisms. |
All this science talk proves that we need the presence of good bacteria in the gut to be healthy. The easiest way to improve our gut biome is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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Dr. Katerina Johnson of Oxford University’s Department of Experimental Psychology has been researching the connection between gut microbiome and behaviour traits, differences in personality, including sociability and neuroticism. Her study revealed that:
Dr. Johnson's study shows how our modern lives -- made up of lackluster diet, stressful and over-sanitized environment, drug dependence, lack of social interactions, etc. -- provides a perfect recipe for imbalance in our gut microbiome; this imbalance may be affecting our behaviour and psychological well-being in many ways.
While human microbiome experimentation is fairly recent, scientists have been conducting similar studies among mice/rodents to learn more about the gut bacteria. A recent experiment showed convincing results of behavioral traits being transferred between mice when their gut microbiota was swapped:
Rather than thinking of our gut bacteria of all powerful beings completely in control of our minds and bodies, we should think of them as organisms competing to survive in our guts. And if the good bacteria win and multiple and diversify, we are benefitted and we feel good. If the bad bacteria win and multiply, we are susceptible to diseases and do not feel our best. So, it is in our best interest to eat a healthy diet rich in fiber, probiotics and prebiotics, and expose ourselves to different environments to diversify the bacteria.
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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We come into this world with a certain microbiome makeup influenced by our genes and delivery method. Once here, our environment – diet, culture, geography, hygiene, antibiotic usage – changes our microbiota over a lifetime. And any imbalance (dysbiosis) between the gut microbiota and the body affects our mental and physical health, increases our susceptibility to issues like obesity, malnutrition, inflammatory bowel diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer.
We have worked hard to create a sanitized world with the plethora of products we use to clean everything from our bodies to our clothes to our homes, cars, dogs, etc. Urbanization, industrialization of agriculture, pollution, and the modern lifestyle, coupled with the loss of direct contact with nature/outdoors, has depleted the richness of our microbiota. Children today are rarely encouraged to go out and play in the dirt/mud. This disconnection between the person and the environment has resulted in decreased gut bacterial variety and increased diseases, when compared to our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
But it is wise to be wary of the quality of the environment we expose ourselves to; the use of diverse environmental microbiota to bolster the body immunity must be done safely. In urban conditions, along with beneficial effects, soil and dust exposure are known to cause diseases due to abundance of pathogens; the level of these pathogens is relatively lower in a rural environment. In farms that use large quantities of chemical fertilizer and practice monocropping, the soil biodiversity might be low and exposure to this environment may not benefit us much. We are nourished by food that is produced in such farms and we should argue for agricultural practices that promote sustainable soil use and human health.
Just like rainforests are present and similar in different parts of the world but still have unique species that independently evolved in that environment, the guts of healthy and unhealthy people around the world are similar but the specific species of bacteria might be specifically tied to the environments that we live in every day. Once a gut biome has been devastated by antibiotics, it needs helps re-building. Introducing good bacteria requires a fiber-rich diet, supplemented with probiotics, prebiotics, fermented foods in diet, and exposure to different ecologies.
We already know that we are what we eat; now we also know that we are where/how we live. So, get out there and connect with nature, breathe in different environments, go for a walk in the park, touch different plants and soil, eat food grown in biodiverse soil, and feel the best you can feel.
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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Psychobiome (psychology+microbiome) includes all the gut bacteria that influence the communication between the gut and the brain and affect mental health - how we feel, think, and act.
Psychobiotics (psychology+probiotics) are the specific subtypes of probiotics and prebiotics with antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties which when ingested result in changes in mood, anxiety, and cognitive function.
At Booch, we love healthy guts; we love talking about them, creating products for them, and sourcing fresh ingredients that promote gut health. There are several factors that contribute to the health of our gut microbiome, including environment, amount of exercise and sleep, and stress. But the number one factor determining what microbes live in our gut (and which ones die off) is our food.
Human microbiome research is gaining support with many studies investigating effects of pre- and pro-biotics on brain functions. The gut, called a second brain, produces many of the same neurotransmitters and neuromodulators as the brain does, like serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), all of which play a key role in regulating our mood. It is estimated that 90% of serotonin is produced in the digestive tract.
Here are some results from recent scientific studies:
At Booch, we also believe in the power of positive words and energy on our body and mind. At our facility, we believe in regular incense burning and smudging, playing soothing music, drumbeating, etc. to drive out bad energy and welcome good. We have an energy reader who communicates with our SCOBYs and shares stories with us. And all our bottles have ‘love’ and 'positive energy' as ingredients because they are present at every stage of the process, from beginning to end, and we want the customer to feel them when they open the bottle and drink our product.
Masaru Emoto’s New York Times’ bestselling book The Hidden Messages in Water spoke about how words/music/images have a profound impact on the molecules of water. He proposed that since the human body is mostly water, the same is true for us, too. He conducted experiments to show that water from different sources, when exposed to positive words like ‘love and gratitude’, ‘you’re beautiful’, ‘let’s do it’, etc. produced beautiful crystals visible under the microscope. But when the water was ignored or negative words were said to it, it either did not form a crystal or formed an asymmetrical, malformed shape.
Studies have shown that reduced attention to negative stimuli may form a neurocognitive channel through which psychobiotics can improve mood. And at the systemic level, probiotics also result in reductions in cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines, would support these mental processes.
In addition, practicing gratitude has been shown to alter the neural pathways in our brain, improve sleep, and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Learning to appreciate the good, goes a long way in reducing negative emotions.
This Valentine’s day, Booch encourages you to shower some love on your gut by adding more psychobiotics to your diet and practicing positive mental affirmations. The easiest way to improve our gut biome is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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World Health Organization has estimated that worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975; by 2035, more than 39% of the worldwide adult population will become obese; and by 2050, 60% of males and 50% of females will be obese. These are shocking numbers! Although Canadian rates are lower than other countries, it has steadily increased over the past decades, with numbers being higher among the aboriginal population.
Human gut microflora is a complex ecosystem made up of trillions of micro-organisms and thousands of bacterial species that are involved in different metabolic functions. And most nutrient digestion and absorption occurs in this gut. In healthy individuals, 66–95% of proteins, 85% of carbohydrates, and 95% of fats are absorbed before entering the large intestine.
Gut microbiota plays a big role in the normal functioning of the metabolic and immune systems and an imbalance (called dysbiosis) may be viewed as a triggering factor for both metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Scientific studies have proposed that obesity is correlated to alterations in both gut microbiota function and composition, which in turn affect our energy metabolism.
Clinical data into the brain-gut axis (the bidirectional communication between the brain and the intestinal systems) show a strong connection between body weight composition and eating behavior in normal weight/obese patients, which appears to be related to our ability to mitigate anxiety symptoms and improve eating behavior, ultimately contributing to weight loss.
When it comes to treating obesity, lifestyle changes coupled with pre- and probiotic modulation of gut microbiota to mimic those found in healthy non-obese subjects is emerging as a strong form of therapy.
Several studies are showing the beneficial effects of consuming probiotics in maintaining body weight, body mass index, lipid profile, and inflammatory status. Micro-organism genera, such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus, along with supplementation of prebiotics (non-digested carbohydrates) enhance the growth and functions of the gut microbiota. Increasing dietary fiber intake with specific prebiotics may stimulate satiety hormones and enhance appetite control, which may help in body weight control.
Several individual studies where humans of certain ages were administered high doses of specific strains of beneficial bacteria showed the following results:
In recent years, gut microflora has received great attention and all of it well-deserved. Clinical data shows that diverse microbiota supplemented through probiotics and prebiotics is useful to improve energy metabolism and body weight homeostasis in a healthy body.
The easiest way to improve our gut biome is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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Neuro-gastroenterology research in the past decade has revealed that there is a strong two-way communication network between the GI tract and the central nervous system, which is commonly referred to as the ‘gut-brain axis’. The emerging field of nutritional psychiatry has gained support in its exploration of the link between diet and risk of mental health disorders. There are many ongoing scientific studies aiming to isolate the exact nutrients that impact mental health.
Our gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of over 1,000 species, 7,000 strains of bacteria, archaea, yeasts, planctomycetes and filamentous fungi and viruses, such as Senegal virus. It is often referred to as the forgotten organ. The microbiota and the body live in a balanced, mutually-beneficial, symbiotic relationship. The importance of this relationship is undeniable, so, what steps can we take to strengthen this balance?
Psychobiotics are the beneficial probiotics and supporting prebiotics that influence bacteria–brain relationships. They have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects indicated by changes in emotional, cognitive, systemic, and neural conditions.
So there you have it! Scientific studies have shown the strong link between the gut and the brain, and the effect of this gut-brain axis on the mental health and well-being. A healthy and diverse gut microbiota has a positive impact on this axis, which improves mood, anxiety, and cognition. The easiest way to improve our gut biome is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments, and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
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Back in the 1970s and 80s, Yale laboratories conducted a study to understand the relationship between the gut bacteria and liquids that entered the gut. They found that the ecology inside our gut is made up of microorganisms that live there and the nutrients that these organisms feed on, i.e. microecology = dietary fiber + probiotics + prebiotics. This microecology is very dynamic, always active, and constantly changing based on the food ingested by the person.
For example, if a person ingests large amounts of the prebiotic inulin (found in 36,000 species of plants), they can stimulate the growth of some bifidobacteria, which are essential to intestinal health and affect bowel movements, particularly constipation.
All this science talk means that we are what we eat and eating foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, which in turn has a positive impact on the functioning of the whole body, protecting it from pathogens and keeping us in a good mood.
Prebiotics:
Probiotics:
Prebiotics*
|
Probiotics
|
The effects probiotics and prebiotics have on the human body is undeniable. Numerous scientific studies have proven their ability to fight against cancer, vascular diseases, obesity, and mental disorders, and have a positive impact on our general well-being. So get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers.
]]>Jun, or Xun, or Joon, however you pronounce it, this health drink known for its detoxifying and energizing properties is chock-full of bacteria, yeasts, and organic acids. Though similar to kombucha in the way it is made, jun differs in ingredients, fermentation time, and taste.
Jun is a fermented drink made with green tea and honey, while kombucha is made with black tea and cane sugar. Originating from Asia, jun (pronounced joon) ferments quicker than kombucha and has a little sweeter aftertaste. Mature kombucha may have strong vinegar aftertaste whereas jun tends to be little less acidic, lighter due to the ingredients and micro-organisms. Some consider jun a prebiotic, which means that it feeds the bacteria that live in our gut. Though not as popular as kombucha in the west, its health benefits are slowly gaining it new fans.
Jun's two main ingredients - honey and green tea - are what make it a gut health elixir.
With benefits like that, it seems like an obvious choice for a healthy substitute for soda or juice. So, should one buy kombucha or jun? Honey is an expensive ingredient, which means that jun is an expensive product to buy/produce. Pasteurized honey would be cheaper alternative to raw/local honey, but it may not contain all the healthy acids and vitamins found in raw honey.
Booch makes both kombucha and jun with the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmers and beekeepers and a carefully created recipe filled with special health-promoting components.
Whether you drink jun or kombucha or both or any other prebiotic/probiotic drink, ensure that you eat a good diet that introduces good bacteria into your gut biome for a happier healthier you!
]]>It may sound creepy but our bodies have more bacterial cells than human cells. Bacteria live on the skin, in the nose and ears, and, most of all, in the gut. Till recently, scientists thought that gut bacteria aid in digestion and do nothing more but more studies have shown that there is a lot of interaction between the body’s immune system and bacteria in the gut, which affects all major systems in the body. It is the most intimate part where the outside world interacts with and affects our inside world. This is the reason why human gut bacteria has achieved celebrity status; especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While a healthy and balanced gut microbe environment helps fight off illnesses, improve mood and energy levels, an unhealthy or imbalanced gut caused by stress, poor eating and sleeping habits, excessive antibiotics, can lead to diseases, depression, and other ills. Due to the diversity of the gut biome, it is hard to separate out the good bacteria but suffice to say that more and more scientific studies are pointing out the benefits of introducing good bacteria into the system, through food and drinks, in fighting illnesses such as depression, cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.
So how do we find out if the bacteria in our gut are happy or not? And what should we eat to keep them happy and multiplying? If you feel good every day, are in a good mood, poop regularly, chances are that your gut microbiota is balanced and thriving. But if you suffer from constant bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and get regular infections, chances are your gut needs more good bacteria. And the easiest way to do this is through a balanced diet rich in fiber and fermented foods/drinks (such as sauerkraut, pickles, miso, certain types of yogurt, kefir, and kombucha). Though probiotic supplements are easier to take, science is divided on its overall effectiveness.
Booch offers several fermented products in addition to our signature kombucha and jun drinks to help you strengthen your gut biome, and they are all made with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farmers. A diverse gut ecosystem makes for a happier/healthier you. So get in touch with your gut bacteria today, feed it some tasty kombucha and ferments and feel the best you can feel!
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The health of your digestive tract and gut flora directly correlates with your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
The connection between gut and health has been overlooked in the past 50 years; however, it is increasingly gaining attention. Populations are experiencing increased instances of diet-related gut issues than ever before:
Weight struggles & obesity affects 1 billion people
Malnutrition & hunger affects 1 billion people
Studies conducted by the Dannon Company in 2007 showed that:
Nearly 90% of Americans deal with occasional problems with digestion
70% of women say digestive concerns negatively impact their daily lives
Digestive concerns aren’t a fun topic of conversation and many suffer embarrassment, worry, and discomfort over their rumbling and gurgling stomachs, cramping, bloating and gas, and constipation or diarrhea.
In an era of digestive issues, we also live in a world preoccupied with cleanliness. Antibacterial soaps, sprays, creams, and pills are a constant presence.
Biocides, commonly known as “life-killers,” such as pesticides, fungicides, and antibiotics:
Infuse our fresh produce
Saturate our meat and dairy products
Contaminate our city water
While these chemicals may kill some harmful bacteria, they also take a toll on our immune system by killing many of our life-sustaining good bacteria. The truth is that microscopic bacteria and fungi, including yeasts and molds, are in every breath we take and every bite we eat. Without them, there would be no life!
An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms—more than 500 different species!—inhabit every normal, healthy digestive tract. These microbial cultures are essential to life’s processes. Eating and drinking fermented foods increases the biodiversity of good bacteria present in the body.
Diverse, good bacteria boost immunity and fight off harmful bacteria, including:
Parasites
Viruses
Infections
Disease
Even though most of our favorite foods and beverages were traditionally fermented—beer, wine, chocolate, tea, cheese, bread, and more—many commercially available fermented foods are now pasteurized, which means they have been heated to the point that all microorganisms die.
This process renders the food “lifeless.”
Preservatives, often synthetic, are introduced after processing to ensure a standardized, commercially-ready product that extends the product’s shelf-life. The pasteurization process destroys precious enzymes and eliminates any health benefits of “live” foods.
Live, unpasteurized, fermented beverages carry beneficial bacteria directly into our digestive systems where they exist symbiotically:
Breaking down food
Increasing nutrient content
Aiding digestion
Fermentation alone is a form of pre-digestion. It allows microbial cultures to begin breaking down the food and beverage even before we consume it. Thanks to these microbes, the digestibility of such foods actually doubles. Microbial cultures in fermented beverages also create B vitamins—including B12!—which provide energy.
Daily consumption of probiotics has been proven to help the treatment of:
Parasites
Diarrhea
Crohn’s disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Female urogenital problems—such as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, & UTIs
While probiotic supplements obtained from health food stores contain selected bacteria that promote healthy digestion, you can become more resilient to area specific illnesses by simply ingesting fermented beverages made with ingredients from your local environment.
Stated simply, the “good” local bugs usually know how to fight the “bad” local bugs better than some other “good” bugs that are bottled and sold to you from another country—or even another town or city.
As we increase our understanding of the connection between diet, gut health, and the immune system, it seems increasingly clear that science is figuring out what folk medicine known for generations: Sometimes a little “sour” is just what the body needs!
]]>What is floating in my Booch?
Does your kombucha have that SCOBY thing in it?
Can I drink the SCOBY?
We’re here to answer any and all inquiries you have about SCOBYs, to clear up SCOBY misconceptions, and to explain the purpose and functionality of this pancake, mushroom-like substance. (Though it is not a mushroom!)
SCOBY is the acronym for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. While a SCOBY does mimic a mushroom, there are no mushrooms in Booch. A SCOBY is the living organism that ferments the tea into our delicious craft brew kombucha—Booch! A SCOBY, along with mother tea vinegar, are how you start the process of turning tea and sugar into a fermented beverage known as kombucha.
Think of SCOBY as the starter-kit for kombucha: it’s the culture invigorator that initiates the fermentation process. It digests sugars in the kombucha blend and produces all the beneficial by-products—the vitamins, acids, enzymes, probiotics, and more. It also eats away at the caffeine and sugar, but not all of it, because without some sugar, Booch would be pure tea vinegar (often called “mother vinegar”).
Aside from being the home of the bacteria and yeasts used to make kombucha, the SCOBY seals off the kombucha from air during fermentation which protects it from the outside world to ensure growth of beneficial bacteria and yeast.
A healthy SCOBY produces a “baby SCOBY” with each batch of kombucha that’s brewed. The term mother can be used in one of two ways when it comes to kombucha. The term mother can be used to describe the rubbery disk like culture used to start a batch of kombucha or that forms in the bottle of raw kombucha that has been sitting for a period of time. The term is also used to describe “mother vinegar” which is necessary for safely brewing a fresh batch of kombucha.
To consume sugar and tannins from tea so that it may reproduce itself. Without feeding a SCOBY with organic tea and sugar as needed it can die. Thus the SCOBY and humans have a symbiotic relationship. Without consuming what each other have to offer either is liable to become sick. It is alive!
Patience is the secret to making healthy, vibrant SCOBYs. In the Booch brewery we groom and record our culture’s, health making sure they have plenty of rest and get lots of love from our staff. We monitor the health in a number of ways under the close supervision of our brewmasters and lab director.
You can purchase a SCOBY, or make your own from scratch. SCOBYs can be grown from a bottle of pre-made kombucha. That said, there are many safety precautions that need to be in place for home brewing and make sure to follow reliable resources if you are home brewing any fermented beverage.
Each of our hand-brewed batches of kombucha make about 40 individual bottles, each of which have residual baby SCOBYs floating around that look like this:
Though they may appear a bit gnarly, they’re excellent for health as they are essentially a little colony of beneficial yeast and bacteria ready to battle unwanted bacteria and ultimately boost your immune system!
Yes. SCOBY particles add a dose of probiotics to your beverage and are a sign of optimal health in this living beverage. Most raw kombucha have SCOBY formation, and if these weren’t growing in the bottles, then we’d be worried that the brew is not optimal. That said, not every bottle will form a SCOBY as certain yeast found in the raw fruits we use can slow the growth and colonization of the bacteria and yeast cultures. There is almost always a SCOBY in the majority of the flavours.
On January 28, 2018, Shannon Kamins, Founder and Master Fermenter of Booch, presented at the Guelph Organic Conference. Here’s an informative synopsis of her talk on a variety of kombucha-related topics, including on her inspiration figure, Dr. Masaru Emoto.
A water researcher in Japan, Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work is often cited at Booch; all employees are familiar with his research, as it is the basis of everything the company does.
Dr. Emoto photographed ice crystals under a microscope and has done extensive research on how specific sounds like music and words react with living molecules such as water. What he found confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory that everything is energy and has a vibration.
Based on the results of Dr. Emoto’s rice experiment, we can assume that when brewing kombucha, words like love and thank you, as well as having a mindset of gratitude, appreciation, and thanks can help produce beautiful molecules, which result in a more smooth and delicious batch of kombucha. This is what we wholeheartedly believe at Booch!
To learn more about Dr. Emoto’s rice experiment click the link below:
This cookbook shares the stories of 35 farmers who are making the difference in our local food system. The hands that feed your family and support your community, take care of the soil and preserve the health of our bountiful land for the generations to come.
The book also includes the stories of 5 artisans, 1 chocolate-maker, 2 coffee roasters and 1 brewmaster that bring together their heart and soul to transform raw materials into masterpieces.
Shannon Kamins , owner and master fermenter of Booch, shares a great blend for a yummy drink at home!
To get a copy for yourself or read more about the Forest City Cookbook click below:
Biodynamic farming: is a harmonized farming process that ensures the soil is fertile with living microorganisms. It recognizes the ‘spirit in nature’ and is a thoughtful farming method ensuring that every input is maintained in harmony and balance with the natural world.
The compost/fertilizer that is added to the land requires weeks of preparation and fermentation before it is ready to be used. The crops are managed in a holistic and dynamic way and there is a focus on listening to the land as it evolves.
This particular plantation was incredibly diverse! Planted on the acreage were:
This is the farm where we source our organic lemongrass that we use in our best selling Raspberry Lemonade kombucha. Not only did I connect with the land here, but the women who pick the lemongrass for us with their bare hands.
This growing and farming method is completely different than what you see in North America today- where you often find acres of the same plant (monocrop) promoting the growth of one single species. You see this commonly with wheat, corn and soy. A permaculture method however, uses companion planting, and a diversity of species to ensure pest control is natural, which is how they can be certified organic and biodynamic since they aren't spraying any harmful pesticides.
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Learn about kombucha and the top reasons to drink it from our friends over at Anna’s Flowers in Kingsville. Inspiring others to live a beautiful and healthy life, both inside and outside their home is Anna’s Flowers motto and where they share their joy of kombucha.
To read the story click below:
It starts with the highest quality organic Ceylon tea that is hand-harvested in Sri Lanka. Our tea is sourced from over 600 farms ranging from family-owned to small 5 acre plantations operating with biodynamic farming principles which ensures the highest soil quality above all else. This means that the soil is full of beneficial microorganisms that help the tea bush thrive. The leaves are rich in nutrients and that is part of the reason why our kombucha base is so delicious!
Most tea bushes take at least one year to grow before they are planted in the acreage on a farm. After that, it can take up to 3 more years until the bush produces berries, which signals that the plant is ready to be harvested.
Once harvesting begins, the plant can be plucked every week and will produce tea leaves for at least 25 years. The plants are pruned every 3-4 years to keep the height manageable for the workers! Otherwise it would grow into a tree!
The tea plant (camellia sinensis) likes some shade and so low shade (short trees) trees are planted every 10x10 sq feet of space and high shade (tall trees) are planted every 20x20 square feet of space.
When plucking the tea bush, workers harvest only the the first 3 leaves.
These plantations demonstrate true environmental stewardship and care. From plantation to bottle, this is the story we want to share. One of knowing exactly where our ingredients come from. One where we’ve visited the land ourselves and can feel the energy. Connecting every single Booch drinker to the source.
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