Summer “Boochtails” with Salt Spring Island Kombucha
Images by Brette Little
Cocktails made with kombucha? Yes please! Lea Weir, founder at Salt Spring Island Kombucha, has introduced us to “boochtails,” cocktails that are both delicious to drink and will nip that hangover in the bud before it even has a chance to sprout. Weir explains that kombucha is a powerful ally in enabling our bodies to regain equilibrium: “Imagine having the hangover cause and the hangover cure in one glass!” So, if an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… how many boochtails can we drink?
“Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? That has always been a strange phrase to me. But when I think of kombucha cocktails, it is the most appropriate phrase that comes to mind.”
-Lea Weir
If you’re new to kombucha, or have some inkling that it’s "good for you” but not sure why, here’s a crash course from Salt Spring Island Kombucha:
Kombucha is a fermented beverage of black tea and sugar (from various sources including cane sugar, fruit or honey) that has enormous health benefits. It contains a colony of bacteria and yeast (commonly known as a “SCOBY” - symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) that are responsible for initiating the fermentation process once combined with sugar. After fermentation, kombucha becomes carbonated and contains vinegar, b-vitamins, enzymes, probiotics and a high concentration of enzymes, which are tied with the following effects: improved digestion, increased energy, immune support, regulation of blood pressure, weight loss, cleansing and detoxification, and reduction in joint pain.
Weir explains how kombucha can help to reverse the effects of a hangover in three main ways:
First, it provides a big blast of healthy gut bacteria. It helps to calm a queasy stomach, as the alcohol can put the old belly biome out of whack by killing off good bacteria.
Second, it helps to replenish vitamins (particularly B vitamins and vitamin C) as well as trace minerals which get stripped from your body with every drink.
Third, it is a big detoxifier. It can help to remove the toxins from your liver and other organs and move them along more quickly, helping you to feel yourself again faster.
Weir suggests that in order to get these benefits while imbibing a few adult beverages, you could keep a bottle of kombucha with you and pour yourself a glass every now and then. And don’t forget to stay hydrated with water as well!
For extra fun, you might want to try making your own kombucha cocktails. Weir was kind enough to share two of her favourites.
Moscow Mule
In a tumbler filled with ice, fill with one part vodka, four parts Salt Spring Island Elderflower Ginger kombucha, and top it off with a generous squeeze of lime. Put a nice round of lime on the glass, if you are feeling fancy, and enjoy!
Recipe inspired by Cookie and Kate
Our next delicious drink is perfect for summer evenings, or any time it might be nice to feel summery.
Strawberry Mint Summer Fizz
We start with a quarter glass of our lovely strawberry mint kombucha, mixed with a quarter glass of blended fresh strawberries, and a half glass of any sparkling wine such as Prosecco.
Mmmm, beach picnics will never be the same...
So go ahead and enjoy your night out with a little help from your friends at SSI Kombucha. “And don’t forget to drink plenty of water,” adds Weir. “I know I said that already, but it’s important!”
