Create refreshing, healthier drinks, from kombucha to herbal sodas and more, in your own kitchen. Since the relatively recent introduction of kombucha onto North American supermarket shelves, this healthy sparkling beverage has exploded in popularity. But can it be brewed at home, with the same tasty, healthy results? With this straightforward, accessible, and highly visual how-to guide, author Andrea Potter does away with specialist jargon and expensive or hard-to-find equipment, showing how sparkling homebrews from kombucha to water kefir are definitely possible for just about anyone to make, and have fun doing it. Coverage includes: Basic fermentation science Controlling fizz, acidity, and alcohol content Secondary fermentation and adding flavours to the brew Wild-fermented sodas, using a ginger bug (a wild yeast culture) Recipes for kombucha's honey-fed relative, Jun, as well as for water kefir. Answering key questions including "where does all that sugar go?", "do I need to get a sitter for it when I go on holiday?", and "does this SCOBY look normal?", and including a comprehensive troubleshooting guide to help you keep brewing confidently and consistently, DIY Kombucha is ideal for foodies, urban and rural homesteaders, and health-motivated people - it's an essential addition to your DIY toolkit!

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 ANDRE SIMON FOOD & DRINK BOOK AWARDS 'Like a new Bill Bryson, she offers an easy sharing of deep knowledge, with humour, where one learns things in a gentle way without it feeling like learning.' Dan Jago, judge of the Andre Simon Food & Drink Book Awards 'Hot or cold, caffeinated, alcoholic, sweet or not, this book provides a fascinating cultural history of our favourite drinks, and explores the science (or not) underpinning their many health claims. A wonderful read!' Dr Giles Yeo, author of Gene Eating 'A truly engaging read. By dispelling common health misconceptions and debunking bad science, Drinkology arms us with information to make better choices about what we drink, not just what we eat.' Ian Marber 'Very engaging and entertaining . . . a clear guide to everything we need to know about drinks, from water to milk, tea, alcohol and beyond. Dr Willett dispels common myths and fads and sets the record straight . . . allowing us to make fully informed choices. A fascinating deep dive into the science behind everything we drink.' Elisabeth Cresta and Caroline Day, founders of Fight the Fads Do you really know what you are drinking? Are you sure? We all consume many drinks every day, often without thinking. Perhaps we're just thirsty, perhaps we need something to wake us up, perhaps we need something to relax us at the end of the day. But have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly is in that chai latte you're guzzling or just what those added electrolytes in your bottled water are supposed to do? Whether it's a simple glass of water or early morning espresso, the finest champagne or energy drink the morning after, all drinks have an impact on our body in one way or another. Drinkology distils the scientific evidence to see if we can get to the bottom of questions, such as: Is a regular glass of wine good for our health or not? Should we worry about energy drinks? Is fluoride in our tap water harmful? How do non-dairy milks compare with each other? What's the secret to the perfect cup of tea? Are fermented drinks and probiotics the answer to all our worries? Is there such a thing as a 'superdrink'? Whether you want to discover the true benefits of wellness drinks, find out if sulphites in wine really cause headaches, or are just sick of the pseudoscience behind the marketing of what we consume, this book is for you. Drinkology is a scientific digest of many of the world's most popular beverages and may just change the way you drink.