Probiotics Tea Reviews, Kombucha Recipe & Side Effects

Probiotic Teas are increasingly becoming available as a way to enrich the diet with additional sources of these good bacterial microorganisms. A number of pre-formulated probiotic teas can be purchased online or in local health food stores, including Bigelow Lemon Ginger Plus Probiotics Herbal Tea Bags.

This brand of tea contains probiotic cultures of Bacillus coagulans Ganesden BC30. This patented probiotic strain is used in over 100 different food products is resistant to stomach acids and higher temperatures.

Kombucha is a popular type of fermented tea that contains cultures of beneficial probiotic bacteria. There are also recipes that you can follow to brew your own probiotic teas at home.

However, not all probiotics should be used to make teas since many strains of bacteria cannot survive the hot temperatures of the boiling process. Also, adding probiotic-enriched milk to your hot tea is not recommended as the probiotic organisms used in dairy products will likely be killed off when exposed to boiling water.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Probiotics Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Probiotics Tea Review

Probiotics are living bacterial organisms that confer health benefits on us when they are consumed in sufficient quantities. They can help to relieve many digestive conditions, support the function of the immune system and contribute to general well-being in a number of different ways.

Probiotic supplements come in many different forms, but many consumers prefer to use liquid probiotics to avoid swallowing pills. Probiotic teas are becoming more and more available as a natural way to enrich the diet with these beneficial bacteria.

Hot tea is not a natural source of probiotics and the idea of mixing living microbes into a boiling hot beverage may seem counterintuitive; many strains of probiotic bacteria cannot survive the hot temperatures of boiling water and will die off.

However, some strains have been formulated to survive the high temperatures of a hot cup of tea and to be viable when consumed in this medium. One example is Ganesden BC30, which is a proprietary strain of Bacillus coagulans.

This spore-forming probiotic bacterium is resistant to high temperatures, as well as the acid in the gastrointestinal tract. It has been found effective for improving the symptoms of a number of digestive conditions, like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).

Bacillus coagulans also helps to combat the growth of pathogenic bacteria by synthesizing coagulin and lactic acid, both of which exert an anti-bacterial effect in the gastrointestinal tract. This probiotic has been found to support the immune system, fight infections and reduce the severity of colds and respiratory tract infections.

Popular Probiotics Tea

A popular herbal probiotic tea is Bigelow Herb Plus Probiotics. The probiotics in this tea is Ganeden BC30®, which is made of cultures from the Bacillus coagulans strain.

The herbs in this tea include lemongrass, lemon peel, cinnamon, natural ginger and lemon, rose hips, ginger and licorice root. To make this tea pour 8 fluid ounces of boiling water over a single tea bag and seep for four minutes.

Another popular brand with Bacillus coagulans Ganeden BC30® is Republic of Tea’s Get Probiotic Herb Tea brand. This tea is made with Red Rooibos, chicory root, cinnamon, black limon, licorice root, stevia and natural vanilla flavour.

Adia Nutrition sells a probiotic green tea mix with 10 billion CFU’s (Colony Forming Units) of probiotics with Lactospore® (Bacillus coagulan), Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Bulgaricus. This product is made to drink mixed with water or over ice.

Yogi Teas provides a Kombucha Green Tea with spearmint, lemongrass and plum that has received good reviews on Amazon.com. Yogi Teas also sells a decaf version of Kombucha Tea with only 5 mg of caffeine per serving.

Should you Use Probiotics Teas?

Probiotic teas can be a good way to increase your consumption of probiotics in the diet. However, many of the teas sold today do not specify the number of live Colony Forming Units (CFUs) provided in each serving.

This means that there is no way to determine the active dosage of probiotic organisms provided.

Furthermore, not all probiotic strains will survive in hot tea. This includes strains in the Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus families, which are the most well-researched probiotics on the market today.

While probiotic tea bag products may be effective to use on an on-going preventative basis, if you have a specific medical condition which requires a high dose of probiotics, oral supplements in tablet or capsule form are generally more effective.

Kombucha Tea as a Source of Probiotics

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage made with black or green tea. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many hundreds of years and is believed to support health and digestive function.

Kombucha tea is made using a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (SCOBY), often containing Saccharomyces, which is a genus of probiotic yeast. A number of other types of probiotic bacteria are found in this beverage, as well as helpful digestive enzymes.

Clinical studies have shown that Kombucha tea has protective properties for the liver. Drinking Kombucha with probiotics is beneficial for enhancing the immune system as well as restoring the microflora in the gut for better digestive health.

A recent study in the Journal of Medical Food, published in February 2014 concluded that Kombucha fermented tea helped in four key areas: detoxification, antioxidation, energizing potencies and for promoting depressed immunity.

The study suggested Kombucha tea was an ideal prevention measure (health prophylaxis) for broad-spectrum metabolic disorders and infections.

How to Make Kombucha Tea

It is possible to make your own Kombucha Tea, enriched with probiotics. To brew the tea, you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup of organic cane sugar or refined white sugar
• ¼ cup loose tea or 4-6 organic green, white or black tea bags
• 1 cup starter liquid with SCOBY (Starter culture of Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast)
• 1 gallon spring or filtered water.

The equipment you will need is:

• Plastic Funnel
• PH strips
• Rubber band for securing cloth
• Distilled white vinegar for rinsing jars
• Stainless steel pot for making tea
• 1-2 gallon glass container.

To sterilize the glass container, rinse it with hot water, then vinegar. If you use a soap or detergent, it will kill off the starter culture. Brew the tea, let it cool and pour it into the glass container using the funnel.

Then pour the starter fluid and add the SCOBY and filtered water. Cover with a clean cloth of muslin and secure it with a rubber band.

Ferment the mixture in a warm place away from direct sunlight for 7 days. The optimal temperature is 70 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is warmer than this, it will ferment quicker and if cooler it will take longer.

After the fermenting time, taste the mixture. If the Kombucha Tea is sweet, leave it for another day. The Ph level should be 3.0.

Side Effects of Probiotics Tea

Probiotic teas should not be taken by those with impaired immune systems, such as organ donors. For products using milk based probiotics those with an allergy to milk or lactose intolerant should avoid these products. If there is an allergy to yeast products, yeast based probiotics (including Kombucha Tea) should be avoided.

The Bacillus coagulans probiotics may interact with anti-fungal medications making them less effective. Probiotics interact with antibiotic medications; they should be taken at least two hours apart, or as directed by your doctor.

Unless otherwise advised by a medical professional, probiotic teas should be avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Probiotics Tea is a convenient way to take probiotics that combine the antioxidant benefits of tea with the digestive and health benefits of probiotics. Various combinations are now available to buy online or you can brew your own probiotic-enriched Kombucha tea.

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