The RAW Truth

I’ve realized there are some negative misconceptions around the words raw and bacteria. I use these words frequently to describe our fermented beverages, so what do I mean? Raw kombucha is unpasteurized, meaning the live bacteria, yeast, and enzymes driving the fermentation process, remain in their active, living state. When I talk about ferments, I often use the term, living food. As a cultivator of living foods, I am in favor of a probiotic building-of-immunity-pathway to health and wellness as opposed to an antibiotic kill-all-bacteria-method.

Stay with me. The Federal government estimates that in America there are about 48 million cases (one in six) of foodborne illness annually resulting in 3,000 deaths.

So, it’s normal to ask the obvious question– “What can we do to protect ourselves?”

Some have concluded that bacteria is the enemy and have set out to kill all bacteria. Hand-sanitizer for everyone! Antibacterial soap! Antibiotics! Beware of anything that is unpasteurized, as these foods may contain pathogens.

There is only one problem with these assertions.

Bacteria are everywhere!

Pasteurization was invented in 1864 by a French scientist. We existed for thousands of years without this process, so perhaps there is more to be understood here.

Edwin Shank, Farmer and owner of The Family Cow, believes that, “An alternative defense against foodborne illness is to embrace bacteria as a part of a larger eco-system, within which we humans integrate ourselves.”

This approach is not careless, but very intentional. We have much respect for the power of the microbe and because of this respect, we look for ways to empower our immune system in its duty of defending us.

We focus on cultivating life instead of killing it. Pro-biotic instead of Anti-biotic.

This is what raw kombucha is all about, making it possible to consume a living culture, instead of lab grown culture that has been mostly “killed” by cooking and processing. The fact that the bacteria is alive and thriving when it reaches your gut makes it significantly helpful in building immunity and health.

All of creation is an entire eco-system of microbes including bacteria. I’m certain there’s harmony to be found here.