Probiotic drinks have become popular in the past few years for their gut-health benefits.
The most popular probiotic drinks that you probably already know of are kefir and kombucha. Kefir is a fermented yogurt drink and kombucha is made from fermented tea. Both are delicious!
Another probiotic drink that is worth checking out is Tepache, an amazing pineapple-based drink.
What is the deal with probiotics?
You probably hear the word probiotics pretty often, but what do they actually do?
Probiotics are “good bacteria” that help to balance the bacteria in your gut.
Using probiotics-rich foods or drinks can help to improve your gut health and may help to alleviate things like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Probiotics are particularly helpful if you are on antibiotics for any sort of illness, as they can help to mitigate unpleasant side effects of antibiotics like diarrhea.
Probiotics may be especially helpful for women as they may help to prevent yeast infections, which can be common when using antibiotics.
What is Tepache?
Tepache is a probiotic drink made from pineapples and turbinado sugar, which have been fermented.
Tepache originates from Mexico and is a popular drink sold by street vendors.
It has a light, sweet and tangy flavor and is low in sugar and calories. Some people drink it by themselves or add tequila or mezcal to make a cocktail.
By itself, Tepache has benefits for your gut because it is a probiotic.
How is Tepache different from Kombucha?
We know that kombucha has been all the rage for the past few years, and you can buy it just about anywhere.
If you are looking to branch out from your regular kombucha, or if the taste of kombucha doesn’t really agree with you, you should try Tepache.
Tepache is a bit different because while still fermented, it is made from fermented pineapples rather than tea.
Kombucha is made by introducing bacterial cultures and yeast to tea, and then adding sugar. It is then left to ferment for a few weeks.
Kombucha often has a quite sour or almost vinegary taste. It is widely enjoyed by many people, but if it is a little too much for you, Tepache might be your next favorite probiotic drink.
Tepache is made by fermenting pineapples and a little turbinado sugar. Tepache contains lactic acid which is great for gut health.
One of the components that makes kombucha taste a little funky is acetic acid. Tepache also contains acetic acid but contains far less than kombucha, so you are left with a sweeter taste that is tangy but not vinegary.
Does Tepache contain alcohol?
Like kombucha, Tepache does contain a tiny bit of alcohol due to the fermentation process. This is not to say that Tepache (or kombucha) are actually an alcoholic drink like beer or wine, but they do undergo similar processes.
When Tepache is fermented, a little bit of alcohol is created. Tepache is usually about 0.5% alcohol, whereas beer or wine will be about 7% alcohol.
You definitely will not get drunk by drinking Tepache. However, if you wanted to turn it into a cocktail, it is delicious when mixed with a bit of tequila or mezcal!
Some people even enjoy flavoring their beer with equal parts Tepache.
Should you try Tepache?
Absolutely! Tepache is delicious and has many benefits for your gut. If you are looking to improve your gut health but you aren’t a fan of kombucha’s sour taste, then Tepache is where it’s at!
Even if you are not concerned about your gut health, this drink is worth a try. You will feel like you’re on a sunny vacation while sipping your Tepache!
