
Ever Journey Collab with DeCrocky
DeCrocky PTY LTD is a Proudly South African, Green & sustainable local business, that produces a world class standard of blissful, tasty and healthy fermented kombucha tea.
What is Kombucha tea?
Kombucha is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink commonly known for its’ health benefits. The beverage is called kombucha tea to distinguish it from the culture of bacteria and yeast.1 Not only does it have the same health benefits as tea — it’s also rich in beneficial probiotics, antioxidants, can kill harmful bacteria, and may help fight several diseases.2
History & origin of Kombucha tea?
Kombucha (fermented tea) has been consumed for thousands of years.
Kombucha originated in Northeast China (historically referred to as Manchuria) around 220 B.C. and was initially praised for its healing properties. Its name is reportedly derived from Dr. Kombu, a Korean physician who brought the fermented tea to Japan as a curative for Emperor Inkyo. Eventually the tea was brought to Europe as a result of trade route expansions in the early 20th century, most notably appearing in Russia (as “Kambucha”) and Germany (as “Kombuchaschwamm”.)3
How does DeCrocky Kombucha tea differ from other tea’s?
DeCrocky specialize in Kombucha in every form. They are end-to-end sustainable; by not discarding any of the living organisms post-production. They use the culture and yeast by-products in their Minerals and Artisanal Range.
Using only a low amount of sugar, in the initial fermentation phase, DeCrocky only use the highest quality loose-leaf tea, and use a long, concentrated steep for the fermentation process; which takes one & half to two weeks; in a 1bbl commercially specialized, 316 conical vessels.
This creates an incredibly balanced, crispy, low sugar base tea, which is then uniquely flavored with specific herbs and fruits which is cold pressed in-house. This process being beneficial – as the base does not develop into a thick & viscous initial fermentation. One week later, a lot of the muddiness & unfitting tannin is released in fermentation; leaving a clear, gorgeous, tasting & healthy tea!
Who are the faces behind DeCrocky?
The business founders are Ruaan and Jason De Freitas, the two young men started DeCrocky
in honor of their beloved Cocker Spaniel ‘Daphne’ who passed away in 2018.
‘’ It is through that pain that Daphne (Nicknamed “The Crocodile”) gave us something that we have been working towards for years… the ability for my husband and I to finally work together.’’
Ruaan De Freitas
What are the health benefits of drinking Kombucha?
Helps to boost Metabolism
Kombucha contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) – is a catechin, a compound found in green tea. According to a review published in May 2017 in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry4, catechins have the potential to boost metabolic rates in adults.
Helps with Constipation
As a potential source of probiotics, it has the ability to balance good bacteria in the gut and relieve some gastrointestinal issues, but more research is needed.
According to a study published in April 2014 in Food Microbiology examined the microbial components of kombucha and identified a “prominent lactobacillus population” in the drink.5 Lactobacillus is a common type of probiotic, so it’s plausible that kombucha may stabilize the digestive tract and help prevent infections and inflammation.
Helps reduce inflammation
The teas used to make kombucha contain polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can lessen inflammation in the body, according to the Journal of Chemistry review.6
Chronic inflammation is involved in just about every health condition, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, and respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a June 2019 article in StatPearls.7
Inflammation is at the root of some gastrointestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, and research suggests that low-grade inflammation might contribute to irritable bowel syndrome. This inflammation may be the result of an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, known as gut dysbiosis. The idea is that when bad bacteria overtake the good, this triggers an immune system response, and it’s this response that leads to inflammation, suggests the Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease review.8
Plays a Role in Helping Prevent Cancer
There’s also growing evidence that kombucha may assist with the prevention of certain types of cancer, although more research is needed. This claim is based on kombucha having antioxidant properties, which help rid the body of free radicals and other harmful substances that promote the growth of cancerous cells, notes the review in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.9
May Play a Role in Lowering Blood Sugar
Drinking kombucha might also benefit those who are insulin resistant or have diabetes. The tea can inhibit α-amylase, a protein in the pancreas that’s responsible for higher postprandial (after meal) glucose levels, per a study.10
According to the Pharmaceutical Biology study, kombucha had a curative effect on rats with diabetes after 30 days, and it also improved their liver and kidney function.
More research is needed, but the findings suggest that kombucha could one day be used as a complementary treatment for diabetes, in addition to traditional approaches, including weight loss, diet, exercise, oral medications, and insulin.11
Strengthens the immune system:
The immune system works best if the lymphoid cells have a delicately balanced intermediate level of glutathione. Even moderate changes in the intracellular glutathione level have profound effects on lymphocyte functions. Certain functions, such as the DNA synthetic response, are exquisitely sensitive to reactive oxygen intermediates and, therefore, are favoured by high levels of the antioxidant glutathione. Kombucha is high in glutathione, Glutathione (GSH) is required by the immune system for two important reasons: it protects host immune cells through its antioxidant mechanism and it provides the optimal functioning of lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system. The case study was done by US National Library of Medicines.12
Support local and green companies
DeCrockey are a green company they have a bottle return & recycle program too!
Relax & enjoy the health benefits while sipping on a DeCrocky!
For more information on DeCrocky visit their website:
For online orders :
https://www.decrocky.com/collections/all
Article written by Tamara Al-Halaseh
www.Ever-journey.com
References:
- What is Kombucha, Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha
- Health Line 8 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Kombucha Tea https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-kombucha-tea
- Forbes Article, Kombucha 101: Demystifying The Past, Present And Future Of The Fermented Tea Drink https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinatroitino/2017/02/01/kombucha-101-demystifying-the-past-present-and-future-of-the-fermented-tea-drink/#6b66eba14ae2
- Kapoor, M. P., Sugita, M., Fukuzawa, Y., & Okubo, T. (2017). Physiological effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on energy expenditure for prospective fat oxidation in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 43, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.10.013 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27883924/
- Cleveland Clinic, Probiotics, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/14598-probiotics
- Watawana M, Jayawardena N, et al. Health, Wellness, and Safety Aspects of the Consumption of Kombucha. Journal of Chemistry. 2015.
- Pahwa R, Goyal A, Bansal P, et al. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2020 Aug 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
- Enck, P., Aziz, Q., Barbara, G., Farmer, A. D., Fukudo, S., Mayer, E. A., Niesler, B., Quigley, E. M., Rajilić-Stojanović, M., Schemann, M., Schwille-Kiuntke, J., Simren, M., Zipfel, S., & Spiller, R. C. (2016). Irritable bowel syndrome. Nature reviews. Disease primers, 2, 16014. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.14 link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5001845/
- Kapoor MP, Sugita M, et al. Physiological Effects of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on Energy Expenditure for Prospective Fat Oxidation in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. May 2017.
- Aloulou A, Hamden K, Elloumi D, Ali MB, Hargafi K, Jaouadi B, Ayadi F, Elfeki A, Ammar E. Hypoglycemic and antilipidemic properties of kombucha tea in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012 May 16;12:63. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-63. PMID: 22591682; PMCID: PMC3403982. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22591682
- Bellassoued K, Ghrab F, et al. Protective Effect of Kombucha on Rats Fed a Hypercholesterolemic Diet is Mediated By Its Antioxidant Activity. Pharmaceutical Biology. April 2015.
- Other Medical references:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048347/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11115795
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2788564/