/blogs/blog.atom 黑料大事记 Kombucha - The 黑料大事记 Blog | Gut Health, Recipes & Kombucha Tips 2025-06-19T00:00:00+01:00 黑料大事记 Kombucha /blogs/blog/growing-a-scoby 2025-01-22T00:00:00+00:00 2026-03-03T14:20:48+00:00 Growing a SCOBY Kate Gray classic bottles multi-pack From 拢24.65 for 12 bottles. The Classic Bottles Multi-pack, includes our award-winning Original flavour

original

From 拢24.65听 for 12 bottles. Our Original kombucha. Perfect for growing your own SCOBY

mixed bottles multi-pack

From 拢33.58 for 20 bottles A great introduction to our range of authentic organic kombucha flavours

Make your own kombucha

If you're interested in the science of the SCOBY and making your own kombucha, check out this See the whole process ]]> /blogs/blog/olympic-rowers-enjoy-kombucha 2024-08-06T00:00:00+01:00 2026-03-03T14:20:43+00:00 Kombucha can help you feel like an Olympic medal winner inside Kate Gray We chat to Team GB Olympic Gold medalist, Hannah Scott, and Ollie Wynne-Griffith, who won Silver in Paris, about why they like to include kombucha in their diet. Have you been inspired by the awesome commitment and resilience of the athletes at the Olympic Games? Have you ever wondered how gut health and nutrition play a role in the training of elite athletes? We鈥檙e proud to supply kombucha to Team GB Olympic Rowers and and it鈥檚 great to know that the Gold and Silver medal-winning duo relied on our booch right the way through training. Here at 黑料大事记 Organic we鈥檝e always believed in the power of kombucha to help you feel your best. For most of us our diet is something we think about with general health and wellbeing in mind, but for elite athletes it鈥檚 a crucial part of their training and preparation Before they headed to Paris we spoke to Hannah听and Ollie听to find out about their training and why they include our organic kombucha in their daily diet. EK 鈥 What does a typical day鈥檚 diet look like for you during training? OWG 鈥 We consume between 5,000 and 6,000 calories per day when we鈥檙e training, which means we have 5 meals per day. It鈥檚 a real challenge to get enough fuel to support our training regime of three two-hour sessions each day. We have a team nutritionist who works closely with the chef who prepares breakfast and lunch for us 鈥 we also have a first breakfast at home before training and an evening meal and snacks that we prepare for ourselves. EK 鈥 How do live cultures feature in your nutrition? HS 鈥 Our nutritionist is a strong advocate of including probiotics and live cultures in our diet and she helps us to balance the need to consume so many calories with the nutritional make up and diversity of our food and drink. The importance of probiotics and live cultures has become a real focus for our sport in the past two or three years because we know that the cumulative effect of all the small positive things we do makes a big difference to our results. EK 鈥 What benefit do you experience from drinking kombucha and including other gut-friendly foods in your diet? HS 鈥 For me the benefits of drinking kombucha are really tangible. When I first started training at this level, I struggled to take on enough calories 鈥 it was just physically uncomfortable and took a toll on my digestion. Drinking kombucha and eating plenty of fibre have really helped me to have an efficient and healthy digestive system. OWG 鈥 We can鈥檛 afford to have time out from training. It鈥檚 so easy to pick up bugs when travelling and competing in close proximity with rowers from all over the world so it鈥檚 crucial to support our immune systems with live cultures and pro-biotics. I have used pro-biotic supplements in the past, but I much prefer the reassurance of getting them from a natural organic product. HS 鈥 For both of us, our regular kombucha feels like a treat rather than a chore. It鈥檚 a great alternative to a fizzy sugary drink and we look forward to enjoying our kombucha. EK 鈥 Do you think a happy gut gives you psychological benefits? HS 鈥 I really notice the difference in my mood and resilience when my gut health is good. The gut-brain axis means that supporting your gut health is a wise move if you want to be able to cope well with stress and maintain focus. OWG 鈥 Our training is all about the cumulative result of many marginal gains. It just makes sense that anything we can do to help stay fit, focussed and strong is a good idea 鈥 especially when it鈥檚 something we enjoy! Of course, a daily kombucha boost isn鈥檛 just for rowing superstars, we can all benefit from improved digestion, better mood and strengthened immunity 鈥 even if the only medal we鈥檙e likely to win this summer is for the egg and spoon race at the school sports day. There鈥檚 lots more information about and in their British Rowing profiles.]]> /blogs/blog/why-i-am-vegan 2023-01-06T00:00:00+00:00 2026-03-03T14:20:39+00:00 Why I am Vegan Genevieve Boast My journey to becoming Vegan Like most people, I grew up eating meat, dairy and eggs and never thought twice about eating those foods. I believed that was normal and healthy and couldn鈥檛 understand why people took such extreme actions like not having cow鈥檚 milk on their cereal or boiled eggs for breakfast. But for 7 years now I have been fully vegan, and my diet has been entirely plant-based. So, what was it that changed my mind and was it the right decision? It began when I was at school and asked my parents if I could become a vegetarian. I鈥檇 grown up around farms and countryside and seeing the animal agriculture first hand had connected the animals I saw outside my window with the food on my plate. Once I had connected the two and seen what was involved in producing the food I ate, I decided that I would rather have lentils in my pasta sauce than minced beef. The idea that it was not worth killing an animal just for me to eat meat was fundamental to me for several years, but I never saw any issue with milking a cow or taking the eggs that a chicken had laid. It wasn鈥檛 until I went to university that I was exposed to many varying views of the world. This made me want to understand my diet and consumption from all aspects which included researching animal agriculture and the alternatives. The conclusion for me was to eliminate the consumption of all animal products from my life but it is important to recognise that is far from perfect. While I believe there are clear problems with the industries surrounding animal agriculture; plenty of alternative crops / meat-free foods can cause harm to humans as well as the environment when produced in the wrong way. My goal by transitioning to a vegan diet was to do as little harm as possible. 听 My reasons why being Vegan is important For me, animals were the principal reason for becoming vegan. A lot of their exploitation goes unnoticed which is understandable when taking note may also mean removing peoples鈥 favourite part of their diet. Naturally the worst conditions are in factory farms employed by large corporations who can hide the horrible environments the animals endure. There are now plenty of articles and documentaries for those who are interested in knowing where their meat, dairy and eggs come from. Environmental issues have also become far more apparent through the media in recent years which has meant people are increasingly considering this in the lifestyle choices they make. For me, a vegan diet is a great way to reduce the impact I have on the drain of resources and damage to natural ecosystems. The air and water pollution from intensive factory farms, as well as their high-water use, makes alternative plant crops far more sustainable. Deforestation is also a massive issue: firstly, the land needed to raise the animals and then the vast number of crops that need to be grown to feed them. If the crops were simply fed to humans in the first place, far less land would be needed and hence more land would be protected for vital habitats like the Amazon rainforest. Health is another major consideration in our diets and there are many benefits with a plant-based one. The amount of chemicals involved in producing animal products is alarming. From antibiotics for preventing disease in their horrendous living conditions, to supplements for maximising their yield, all these chemicals result in toxins being left in the food that people eat. Plant crops tend to require and contain less toxins, but this is where organic produce becomes important. Organic fruit, veg and other plant-based products are fantastic for a cleaner, vegan lifestyle. For me, working at 黑料大事记 has been great as the company shares the same values around organic and vegan produce. I know that everything I contribute at work goes towards producing a great tasting drink that does as little harm as possible to people and the planet. The nutrition in animal-based foods also tends to be much higher in fat than the plant alternatives which can be an issue if consumed in excess. Ultimately the health effects I have experienced since become vegan are anecdotal but very real for me. I have experienced better moods, improved concentration, better gut health and an overall feeling of increased fitness. This may obviously vary for everyone but for me it has been fantastic. In recent years, finding products that are suitable for vegans has become much easier with increased options and clear labelling for most things. Eating out has also become far more straightforward as most places have clearly marked options. Beyond this, finding brands and products that meet higher standards of environmental and ethical responsibility can be very difficult. Every brand wants to be seen as though they are doing the right thing which can make it very confusing when deciding where to spend your money. Often the smaller natural / whole foods shops vet the products they sell so that customers don鈥檛 have to worry so much about researching each individual company. On a larger scale there are independent organisations like B Corp who certify companies based on various ethical and environmental standards. This means that if a company is a certified B Corp you know they meet high standards of social and environmental performance, and you can support them with a clearer conscience. 听 Top tips for plant-based lifestyles So, this Veganuary if you are feeling like trying a plant-based diet out 鈥 here are some tips I have learned over the years!
  • Take it slow - Once I decided to go vegan, it was a slow transition. Try replacing foods and ingredients gradually to find out what works well for your body and lifestyle.
  • Reduce instead of remove - If you don鈥檛 want to go the whole way, maybe just try reducing your meat consumption for a month or two and see how you feel
  • Vote with your money - Spend some time looking at plant-based brands that you are attracted to and include these products in your diet 鈥 by voting with your money, you are automatically having a positive impact on the planet
听 Of course, so I can always recommend trying some of our delicious living kombucha as a part of your Veganuary adventures. But I would say that! 听 Written by Ben Costello Planning and Production Manager @ 黑料大事记 Kombucha]]> /blogs/blog/how-to-keep-your-gut-happy-in-2019-2 2019-01-03T00:00:00+00:00 2026-03-03T14:18:30+00:00 How to keep your gut happy in 2019! Jon Lloyd More

]]> 1. There鈥檚 been a buzz in the mainstream media around the words 鈥榞ut health鈥 鈥 but lets imagine we鈥檙e complete novices on the subject 鈥 how would you describe what this means to someone? Public awareness of the importance of gut health certainly has increased in recent years, and with good reason. The health of the human gut (the intestinal tract, consisting of the small and large intestines) has an effect on the overall health of the body. It impacts not just digestive health but also our immune system, our mood, mental health, sleep, skin condition, detoxification, energy, hormone regulation and much more. In simplistic terms, anything we eat or drink should be broken down (digested), and the nutrients / vitamins / minerals from that should be extracted and absorbed into the body, helping it to function and perform at its best. Our gut should also help to protect us against any pathogens (bad bugs, for example) that can harm our health. With poor gut health, these processes will be impacted, thus having a knock-on effect to the rest of the body. There are many factors that can make up the term 鈥済ut health鈥 including some terms you may be familiar with such as intestinal permeability (also known as 鈥渓eaky gut鈥), digestive enzymes, stomach acid, yeast / candida, and, of course, our gut bacteria (to name just a few). 2. What are your top 3 tips for keeping a healthy gut? Just 3?!? That鈥檚 tough as so many factors have an impact on gut health, and it can differ from person to person. For example, diet can be a major driver of poor gut health in one person, whereas stress could be a bigger major factor in someone else. That said, if you鈥檙e going to push me, I鈥檇 say鈥 Eat Unprocessed Foods In terms of food intake, and deciding what you should be eating, your focus should be on eating primarily unprocessed foods. 鈥楶rocessed Food鈥 refers to food that has undergone at least one form of processing to turn the basic raw ingredients into the product that you consume. They will often contain bad ingredients which can do your body real harm. In particular, they will often contain high levels of sugar and Trans fats and other potentially inflammatory ingredients. Additionally, the processing of foods will often destroy a large amount of the vitamin and mineral content in the food, making it much less nutritious, as well as the enzymes, making it much harder for your body to digest appropriately. Avoiding processed foods means a focus on eating fresh, natural products without a long list of ingredients that you can鈥檛 even read! So the majority of your diet should come from single ingredient foods, mainly meat, fish and vegetables. Keep Stress in Check These days it seems that pretty much everyone is stressed to some extent. We鈥檙e now much more stressed than people 50-100 years ago, who in reality were living through much harder times in general. Nowadays we worry about a meeting, a deadline, how we look, how we are perceived on Facebook and tonnes more minor things. Without a doubt, you 100% MUST manage stress if you want optimal gut health. A huge percentage of people we work with certainly noticed the onset of their gut problems during a stressful event. Stress can increase inflammation, affect how well we digest foods, damage the lining of our gut, and have an adverse effect on the levels of good and bad bacteria within our gut (which then impacts our health even further). There are lots of ways to manage stress, and doing so will be individualised to each person, but taking steps to do so is certainly important. Eat for your Bacteria I鈥檓 sure we鈥檒l touch on this some more but the health of the bacteria in our gut is critically important. The foods we eat, and the lifestyle we lead, will have an impact on the bacteria within our gut. One important factor in ensuring healthy gut bacteria levels is to ensure that we eat a good balance of both soluble and insoluble fibre. Fibre helps to feed our good bacteria levels. Soluble fibre is abundant in fruits and vegetables, lentils, chickpeas, potatoes with their skin still on, wholegrain breakfast cereals and oats, while insoluble fibre is a form of fibre that cannot be digested or absorbed by the body and acts like a broom sweeping through the gut and removing potentially toxic substances from the gut lining as it passes through. This type of fibre can be found in vegetables, psyllium husks, oat bran, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, and beans and popcorn (air popped). And then, of course, fermented foods can also help to provide our guts with more beneficial bacteria鈥 3. Fermented foods such as Kombucha are great for gut health, could you explain to us why consuming these on a regular basis help our whole immune system? Our gut is home to billions and billions of bacteria, which have a huge impact on our health. They affect our mood, inflammation, immune system, skin, gut health, and much more, as well as helping to support our digestion and our ability to assimilate the nutrients from the food we eat. Some of these bacteria are 鈥榞ood鈥 and some are potentially harmful. If the balance between good and potentially harmful bacteria in the gut isn鈥檛 appropriate, then numerous symptoms can result. Fermented foods are the foods that provide the body with potentially beneficial bacteria. These foods include things such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and. Of course, Kombucha. What we know about consuming foods like this has changed in recent years. Previously it was thought that by consuming fermented foods, and taking things such as probiotics, we could consume them, and out guts would re-colonise with these beneficial bacteria. However, that doesn鈥檛 appear to be the case and in fact it seems that they don鈥檛 colonise at all but do still have transient benefits (i.e provide benefit whilst being consumed and for a certain time period afterwards 鈥 generally a matter of weeks). These benefits will be for our digestion, immune system, inflammation levels. Therefore, ongoing use / consumption is generally recommended. 4. There have been several studies to confirm that it is not just what we eat that affects our immune system, but several other factors such as environmental, chemicals and stress levels. What can you tell us about how these impact our gut health? This is certainly true. There are many factors away from diet that will play a part in our immune system and the health of our gut bacteria. For example, the early years of our life can be particularly important, especially whether we were breast fed or not, or born by natural birth or C-section. Even the environment in which we grew up can play a part. For example, its been shown that people who grow up on a farm, as opposed to an urban area, have a much lower chance of serious digestive issues such as inflammatory bowl disease. This is because exposure to dirt and animals, can help to better develop our immune system and the health of our gut bacteria. Exposure to chemicals and toxins within the environment can also have the ability to alter bacterial processes within the gut. Mould toxins, for example, are everywhere and exposure to them can affect the gut bacteria tremendously in some people. Even the containers we use for lunches, takeaways, water bottles, plastic cups, the inner lining of canned food containers 鈥 to name just a few 鈥 very often contain BPA (bisphenol-A) which is a chemical added to a number these commercial products during the manufacturing process. The worry is that this chemical leaches into the contents and we are ingesting it regularly. There is evidence that it can upset the balance of hormones withi8n our bodies, which of course can have a disastrous effect on overall health. Stress is another major factor in gut health. In one study, it was found that exposure to stress changed the diversity, composition and number of gut microorganisms, especially leading to a decrease in good bacteria. Have you ever felt run down or noticed that you are more susceptible to colds and flu when you are undergoing periods of stress? This is why! There are many other factors on top of the above to consider, including use of medication, antibiotics, the contraceptive pill, and whether we have underlying infections. So yes, certainly many areas to consider. 5. Constipation and bowel issues are common in todays society. How many times a day would you recommend is the optimal number for bowel elimination and why? Everyone is different and what may be optimal for one person, may not be ideal for another. However, in general, personally I like to see people going 1 鈥 3 times per day. And for that bowel movement to be easy (non-painful) to pass, non-urgent, and well formed. More regularity than this and it normally seems something is wrong (not to mention that going to the toilet too frequently can be hugely inconvenient and can lead to rapid weight loss as well as nutrient deficiencies). Less regularly than this (for example if you are going once every few days) would normally indicate some level of constipation which isn鈥檛 good either. Our bowel movements are one way in which we eliminate toxins from our body and if we aren鈥檛 doing this frequently enough, further issues can result. However, I will just reiterate, that its not just regularity that is important but how urgent, and how well formed bowel movements are in particular. 6. Do you recommend any books for people to find the 101 on all things gut related? Am I allowed to recommend my own one?! It鈥檚 called 鈥淔atigue Free with Crohn鈥檚 or Colitis鈥 and is available on Amazon. It gives a simple step by step guide to the things to be working on and addressing for better health and is a reasonably quick easy read that you don鈥檛 need a PHD to understand! Whilst it is primarily written for people with Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis, the steps laid out will be suitable for pretty much anyone with any kind of digestive health problems. In addition to those, a few others I like are books from Dr Ruscio (called 鈥渉ealthy gut, healthy you) and Amy Myers (titled 鈥淭he Autoimmune Solution"). 7. What would you suggest a person remove from or add to their diet if they wanted to improve gut health? Over and above heavily processed foods (which I鈥檝e already spoken about), in terms of foods that can commonly be an issue for many people, I would say that gluten is the primary culprit that we see with the clients we work with. Even if someone doesn鈥檛 have celiac disease, then it is still possible to have a sensitivity to gluten and removing it from the diet can be extremely beneficial for some (not all) people. Dairy and soy can too, often be problematic. Whilst I certainly don鈥檛 expect someone to eat 鈥減erfectly鈥 all the time (I certainly don鈥檛 myself), in general, the bulk of someone鈥檚 diet should consist of good quality unprocessed foods including meat, fish, eggs, a wide range of fruit and vegetables, good fats such as coconut, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, avocado, and good carbohydrate sources such as sweet potato and basmati rice. There are of course other steps that can be taken, and personalisation to each individual can be important, but the above is certainly a big step in the right direction. Bio Greg Williams is a leading natural health specialist based in the UK. As a nutritionist and certified functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner with training in functional medicine, Greg has helped his wife overcome the symptoms of her Ulcerative Colitis (a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease) after she had suffered for many years. He now specialises in helping those with serious digestive health issues 鈥 particularly Crohns and Colitis 鈥 to feel much better. Greg and his team work with people all over the world providing them with the advice, support and guidance needed to be able to live life on their own terms, dramatically increase their energy levels, and feel amazing again. Greg also runs Autoimmune Institute, who offer a range of ultra-high-quality supplements to people with a range of chronic health problems. To find out more about his work then visit and ]]> /blogs/blog/the-history-of-diy-kombucha 2018-08-20T00:00:00+01:00 2026-03-03T14:18:47+00:00 The History of DIY Kombucha Jon Lloyd More

]]> Written by Hannah de Gruchy Just like making our own clothes or our own beer, making kombucha has been a 鈥榯hing鈥 that has swung in and out of popularity for decades. In the 60s and 70s, it wasn鈥檛 just about flower power and free love. Homemade kombucha was big! And after a little lull, it鈥檚 now swung right back into our collective psyche again. Many of our fabulous fermenting fans tell us they regularly make their own. But in fact, making our own fermented tea drinks has been around for generation upon generation. Stories and legends vary wildly but it鈥檚 thought that the earliest mention of a kombucha-like drink was during the Japanese Yayoi period which dates from 300 BC to 300 AD. Legend has it that a 鈥榲inegary drink鈥 was used as a powerful medicinal product. But only for those deemed special enough to have it. From then, throughout the annals of time, the use of kombucha has been recorded in ancient Chinese, Indian and Central Asian history, as part of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Then, as trade slowly increased, the world got smaller, populations grew closer and diseases spread quicker, it鈥檚 thought to have reached North Asian, Russian and European territories as a feature of folk medicine. To us though, we rather like the mystique surrounding its origins. So we鈥檙e not going to try to prove or disprove whoever created it first. We don鈥檛 really mind how it travelled around emerging communities and popped up in various cultures. (We鈥檙e just very glad that it did.)
Flares and Fermenting Instead, we are intrigued to look at the more modern history of making kombucha. In the 60s and 70s use of our favourite health drink became more and more widespread. Just like the bottoms of the trousers at the time鈥 Flares aside, the era of free expression and anti-war protests was also a time when personal health became a big consideration. During this time, a Swiss doctor called Dr Rudolf Skelnar published a paper detailing the health benefits of kombucha. The newly health conscious public eagerly took to kombucha and with little option to buy it in the shops, people took to brewing their own. This also coincided with the end of the rationing of the Second World War (which lasted well into the 1950s). Tea and sugar had been in short supply, but when they became abundant again, so did kombucha home brewing. In California, where perhaps the hippie movement was at its strongest, kombucha became known as Groovy Tea. And we couldn鈥檛 love a name more. The Kombucha Movement Coming of Age Not much is said about kombucha during the hedonism of the 1980s. Perhaps everyone was struggling to come to terms with the size of their hair. It wasn鈥檛 until the mid-90s that kombucha became commercially available in the shops. But in recent years, there鈥檚 been a rise in home brewers again. Many people are again lovingly sharing their mother cultures with like-minded members of their tribes. Just like make do and mend, skill shares and tool swaps are brilliantly becoming popular again. So whether you鈥檙e a kombucha brewer or buyer, we embrace you all. Come on in, this tribe is beautiful!
]]> /blogs/blog/meet-us-at-mind-body-spirit-olympia-25-28-may 2018-05-23T00:00:00+01:00 2026-03-03T14:18:53+00:00 Meet us at Mind Body Spirit, Olympia 25-28 May Jon Lloyd More

]]> Original Kombucha + Lime
We've been enjoying our Original kombucha ice cold with a generous squeeze of lime juice on this sunny day. For those teetotal folk who still want to fit in at the BBQ look no further! Muddled with a lime wedge over ice or squeezed straight into the bottle this is a simple and refreshing combo at any party or relaxing evening in the garden. We'll be posting more delicious but simple ways to enjoy our Kombucha this Summer. Have a Kombucha recipe? We'll share the best ones in our newsletter and send you 4 pack if we feature yours!
Did you know?
We are proudly organic, we use the best spring water in the UK, we brew and bottle our kombucha in-house in Hebden Bridge in the gorgeous green valleys. If you're local you can collect your kombucha from our bottling site with a big discount!
]]> /blogs/blog/easter-giveaway-prizes 2018-03-28T00:00:00+01:00 2026-03-03T14:18:54+00:00 Easter Giveaway Prizes Jon Lloyd More

]]> 听mixed 20 pack听worth 拢35.99 Contains: 4 of each Raspberry & Elderflower*, Ginger, Wild Berry and Original* (*Great taste Awards) PLUS An utterly fantasic Hybrid Herbs Complex! Contains:听a combination of 8 High Potency Medicinal Mushroom powdered extracts. Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps Mushroom, Lions Mane, Turkey Tail, Tremella, Shiitake, Maitake Contains:听a potent mix of three of some of the most powerful beautifying substances on the planet: tremella, schizandra berry and goji berry. Contains:听a potent mix of ashwagandha, cordyceps mushroom,听siberian ginseng, schizandra berry, astragalus, he shou wu, goji berry, prepared rehmannia, rhodiola and gynostemma听concentrated extract powders. To enter... Simply go over to either our or our , find the below photo and follow the instructions. (The Facebook page has a pinned post). We'll be announcing the winner on 4th April so get your entries in by 3rd April. Best of luck and happy Spring time!! (Please note postage is included to mainland UK only, postage is payable elsewhere) ]]> /blogs/blog/millennials-kombucha-instead-of-wine 2017-10-17T00:00:00+01:00 2026-03-03T14:19:12+00:00 Millennials - Kombucha Instead Of Wine? Jon Lloyd More

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