If you’re up on your knowledge of all things health and wellness, then chances are you’re already pretty familiar with the “mother” of powerhouse beverage, kombucha. This ancient fermented tonic boasts a plethora of benefits, from aiding digestion and boosting immunity to promoting longevity. But did you know that this health-boosting elixir can also be used to, say, clean your house? Tone your skin? Treat your plants? As it turns out, kombucha is ultra-versatile, and can be used in numerous different ways, often as an alternative to harsher ingredients that we use and consume in our daily lives.
In honor of summertime and trying new things, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite unexpected ways to incorporate kombucha into an all-around healthy lifestyle.
Use it as a facial toner.
It might not seem all that intuitive to splash a fizzy, sugary beverage all over your face, but bear with us! Kombucha promotes healthy skin from the inside out by boosting digestive health, which is linked to a number of related skin concerns including acne, psoriasis, and eczema. However, it can also work from the outside in! Applying an unflavored kombucha topically helps to balance out skin’s pH levels, leading to a clearer, brighter complexion.
Use it as a hair rinse.
Along those same lines, soaking your hair in kombucha stimulates scalp health by decreasing build-up and encouraging stronger, shinier locks. To prepare, simply mix equal parts Original Kombucha with water, massage into your scalp, and rinse.
Mix up a summery mocktail.
While kombucha can make for a super tasty cocktail mixer, it’s also a great alternative to alcohol. Invite some friends over for a Ginger Lemon elixir, packed with fresh ginger, blueberries, raspberries, pears, and lemons. (Added gin is optional, but we doubt you’ll miss it in this delicious bubbly mixer). You can find the full recipe—and more—here!
Use it as an all-purpose cleaner.
If you have some kombucha that’s gone a bit sour or tastes a bit vinegary, fear not! When it has matured, kombucha can act as a wonderful alternative to harsh or toxic cleaning supplies. Simply fill 1/4 of a standard spray bottle with kombucha and top it off with water. You can also add some essential oils such as tea tree, lavender oil, or eucalyptus for their antimicrobial benefits and pleasant aroma.
Top off a salad with a kombucha vinaigrette.
Because of its naturally tart taste, kombucha makes for a great alternative to vinegar. Looking for a simple, healthy dressing for a summer salad? Swap out your usual and try stirring up equal parts kombucha with olive oil, a touch of lemon juice, salt and pepper, and herbs to taste. Your taste buds and digestive system will thank you.
Add it to your laundry detergent to get rid of unwanted odors.
We all have those clothes that, no matter how many times you wash them, still have a lingering odor that just won’t quit. Luckily, kombucha is here to help! Next time you throw in a load of laundry, add 1/2 cup of kombucha to your detergent to neutralize those pesky smells.
Make some tasty frozen treats.
On those hot summer days, there’s nothing better than an ice cold fruit popsicle. Why not add a tasty, probiotic-packed health boost to the mix? To prepare, cut up some strawberries and raspberries and divvy them evenly up into a popsicle tray. Then, pour some Bubbly Rose or Cherry Berry over the fruit until each one is about 3/4 of the way full. Pop it in the freezer, wait about 8 hours (or overnight), and enjoy!
Mix up a nutrient-packed batch of chia pudding.
For a fiber-rich, probiotic-packed breakfast, add some kombucha to your chia pudding! Simply mix one cup of chia seeds, one cup of either almond, oat, or coconut milk, and 3/4 of a bottle of our favorite Pink Lady Apple kombucha. Cover and let it soak for 24 hours, and then enjoy!
Soak ancient grains overnight.
Soaking ancient grains in an acidic medium helps to neutralize anti-nutrients such as phytic acid, tannins, and lectins, which inhibit the body’s ability to fully absorb the nutrients and interfere with digestion. Kombucha acts as an acidic agent that effectively neutralizes anti-nutrients, so that the grains are more easily digested and nutrient-rich. To prepare, mix 1 tsp kombucha per 1 cup of water, submerge your grains completely, and soak overnight.
Treat your plants with it.
Rather than spraying your garden with potentially harmful pesticides, water them with kombucha to balance out the pH and get rid of pests.
Soak it up in the bathtub.
At the end of a long day, a relaxing bath can work wonders. If you’re feeling adventurous, swap out your bath bomb for a soothing kombucha soak that helps to soften, hydrate, and improve elasticity of the skin.
Gargle when you’re feeling under the weather.
In addition to having high levels of vitamin C, the fermentation process involved in brewing kombucha makes it a great antimicrobial agent. When you feel a cold coming on or have a sore throat, gargle kombucha as you would salt water to kill off any germs before they spread.
In partnership with Health-Ade Kombucha
Health-Ade Kombucha is the best tasting and highest quality kombucha you can buy. Always brewed the old-fashioned way, Health-Ade is handcrafted and fermented in small batches, flavored with cold-pressed juice from organic produce. This artisanal process results in a delicious, smooth, bubbly, and naturally low sugar kombucha that makes you feel good. The brand ethos, Follow Your Gut!, is an ode to the Driven Dreamers out there making their mark on the world.