Fermented food and drink has become increasingly popular in recent years, with a particular demand for kombucha tea. However, the slightly tart, yet sweet drink isn’t a new phenomenon – it’s an ancient tradition that was created thousands of years ago.
The drink is relatively new to Dubai though, after the recent launch of Saba Kombucha: the first kombucha brand in the UAE. Targeted at health-conscious consumers in the region, the trendy tea is full of nutrients and organic flavours which are brewed locally. To find out more about the concept, we talked to the founder of Saba Kombucha, Vincent Vandenabeele.
What is kombucha? Kombucha is a fermented tea that is infused with probiotics and made from a specific culture known as a scoby. Kombucha is known to have been created 2000 years ago by ancient Chinese Qigong masters that referred to it as their “Tea of Immortality”.
Every Spring, these energy masters would come down from the mountains to ferment their tea and return in summer to share their magical elixir. They believed that it had an untapped healing power and helped to create harmony within the mind, body and spirit. If it’s good enough for a Qigong master, we say it’s good enough for us!
Our Saba Kombucha is brewed locally in Dubai and made in compliant with F&B laws and regulations for the UAE market. Unlike any other Kombucha, we use organic Agave syrup, our big mamma culture, scoby and a range of organic herbs, hand selected from the French herboriste that your body and taste buds would love.
What ingredients are used to make kombucha? The ingredients include filtered water, black tea, agave syrup and Kombucha Culture ‘Scoby.’
How long does it take to make? Our brew usually ferments from 2-3weeks to ensure its bursting of antioxidants, vitamins and probiotics.
What is SCOBY and how do you create it? SCOBY stands for (Symbolic culture of bacteria and yeast) a term invented by Booch Buddy Len Porzio in the mid 1990’s. It is a thick, rubbery ingredient used in the fermentation and production of Kombucha. SCOBY is also often referred to as the culture, mother and baby.
Can you brew your own kombucha at home? Definitely! If you have a SCOBY, but its important to follow proper preparation techniques when fermenting at home to avoid contamination and mold.
What are the health benefits of drinking kombucha? Kombucha has numerous health benefits that include strengthening your immune system, improving digestion, protecting your body from harmful bacteria, aiding in weight loss, detoxifying the body, supporting with healthy gut, reducing toxins in the liver and containing various minerals and vitamins that are good for the body.
Can kombucha help with weight loss and improve gut health? Of course, because it contains probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are living microorganisms that restore gut flora when consumed and prebiotics are a special form of dietary fiber that acts as a fertilizer for the good bacteria in your gut. They also help aid the digestive system which helps with weight loss.
Is it a good alternative to sugary fizzy drinks? If so, how? Yes, because we created a low sugar & calories beverage that maintains a great taste. Saba Kombucha is all organic, refreshing, super tasty and naturally contains probiotics.
Talk us through the Saba Kombucha flavors? Saba kombucha offers a selection of four different flavors that include; The OG - Classic Kombucha - the one that started it all, Tummy Tamer - Ginger & Turmeric Kombucha - the one that rebalances your belly, Botanical Beauty - Hibiscus & Basil Kombucha – The one that sweetens your day and gives you the natural glow, Pick me up- Peppermint Kombucha - the one that gives you the boost for the day. They are all infused with nutrients that are 100% raw, organic, low in sugar and unpasteurized.
Are there any side effects when drinking it? Not necessarily a side effect, but a beneficial one: it helps you flush out unwanted substances in your system.
Who can drink kombucha? Is it halal, is it vegan friendly? Everyone can drink Kombucha except for pregnant women since it’s raw and unpasteurized. The Saba kombucha range is vegan friendly and made in compliant with F&B laws and regulations for the UAE market.
Why is it becoming so popular? I can say people are becoming aware of the health benefits, the fermented drinks and food are doing a great come back as we see more and more of Kefir, kombucha, Kimchi etc.
Also, people are seeing their favorite celebrities swear by Kombucha. Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Zoe Kravitz, Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Mona and Huda Kattan are known to be currently obsessed with this probiotic-packed fermented drink.
Is it just another health craze – or why do you think kombucha will stay in-demand? I believe Kombucha is here to stay in demand as it’s seen to contain numerous health benefits that one cannot resist. The kombucha market is considerably growing globally.
Fermented drinks have been around for thousands of years, what’s ancient is new again.
Why did you decide to launch Saba Kombucha in the UAE? My mother used to prepare kombucha and kefir at home so I was familiar with fermented drinks since I was young. For the past 5 or 6 years it became very easy to find kombucha in north America and Europe, but I couldn’t find it in the Middle East so the main goal was to make it more accessible to everyone and I didn’t want to import it, I wanted to create the first organic Kombucha born and brewed in Dubai.
Is kombucha well-liked in the region? In the last couple of years, the region has shown an incredible interest in health and organic food and beverages. Kombucha is no exception. Due to my background in the organic snack industry, I have a closer relationship with the UAE’s health community and as we saw the demand for Kombucha grow, it made sense to create a brand to cater to them.
Why is it important to brew kombucha locally? At Saba kombucha, we have the dream of promoting health and happiness while supporting the local industries, this kombucha has been created for this market which is why we brew every single bottle of kombucha, right here in the U.A.E.
Do you have plans for more flavours and variations? Yes definitely more flavors will be launched before the end of this year, and we will also have some limited edition in 2020.
Discuss the future plans for Saba Kombucha? Environmental Sustainability is one of our focus for 2020. As an industry, I believe we have a responsibility to be more environmental friendly, and we will continue to work in that direction. We are partnering with a very exciting project & launch for the first quarter of 2020 which is really exciting but sorry I can’t tell you more!
Where can you buy Saba Kombucha in the UAE? You can purchase Saba Kombucha on Kibsons online, all Organic Café locations across the UAE and both Spinneys and Waitrose Dubai and Abu Dhabi locations. For more information, vist; Sabakombucha.ae
