• Kombucha Curious

  • How a Drink Transformed My Life
  • By: Duff McDonald
  • Narrated by: Duff McDonald
  • Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (200 ratings)

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Kombucha Curious

By: Duff McDonald
Narrated by: Duff McDonald
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Publisher's summary

It originated in Asia, moved to Europe, and is now consumed worldwide — a slightly-fermented tea that is purported to cure everything from indigestion to cancer. We’re talking about kombucha, which has exploded in popularity in the last quarter century. While the exact health benefits of kombucha remain unproven, it’s quite certain that the effervescent elixir provides its worldwide fans with a spiritual lift unlike any other drink. Journalist and author Duff McDonald takes us inside the biological, physiological, and spiritual benefits of this beloved beverage, one of a remarkable category of liquids known as “living drinks.” 

Packed with healthy probiotics, kombucha is, quite literally, alive, and McDonald makes a very good case that the life in the drink adds to the life of the drinker. Threaded through that narrative, he recounts his own remarkable experience with the drink, one that started with a sip but has transformed into an entire home-brewing operation. Over the course of that journey, he discovers that kombucha has indeed transformed his life, pointing the way to the answer to many of life's vexing questions.

©2023 Duff McDonald (P)2023 Audible Originals, LLC.

About the Creator and Performer

Duff McDonald is a New York-based journalist and author who has written for Vanity Fair, New York, Esquire, Business Week, GQ, WIRED, TIME, The New York Observer, and others. He is the author of several books, including Tickled: A Commonsense Guide to the Present Moment; Frictionless, co-authored with Christiane Lemieux; The Golden Passport; The Firm; Last Man Standing; and The CEO, co-authored with Owen Burke.
Duff is also the co-host, along with his wife Joey Moss, of the award-winning podcast How to Tickle Yourself, winner of the 2022 People’s Choice Award for Best Podcast about Spirituality. He and Joey live in Hurley, New York, with his daughter Marguerite, eight chickens, and two cats (The Sherriff Steven Wondrous and Corey Feldman, Esquire).

What listeners say about Kombucha Curious

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Just wow!

Wow, what a great insight on not just making kombucha, but how to walk a beautiful path through life! Just a wonderful read. Thanks

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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting and complete

In my opinion, it’s a brief and plainspoken introduction to kombucha.
With a little bit of extra interesting material.

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  • C
  • 12-09-23

similar experience with kefir

I've never tried kombucha, but I have had a similar life changing experience with commercial kefir. apparently it's the l.rhamnosus bacteria in it. I'd love to find natural kefir...(too hard for me to make)

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I feel the same

I could relate to much of what the author said and lived. I didn’t realize it was a thing for anyone else, feeling transformed by kombucha. I’m glad to hear that it is.

His voice sounds quite angry at times, perhaps that is just his manner of annunciation.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Cult of Kombucha

I like Kombucha, and I thought I'd learn a bit more about it by listening. But, it was a bit over the top. Apparently, kombucha transformed his physical and spiritual life, and how dare anyone say different! It was more "preachy" than "informative". By the end, I felt like he was trying to get to me to join his kombucha cult.

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Why are you still reading this?? Go LISTEN!

Kombucha Curious is whatever you call the audiobook version of a page turner!

Like listening to a Bob Dylan song, the stories turn like a whip--really funny and deeply heartfelt all at once.

Duff is so real. He tells the story of how he discovered himself through this drink. And though this book says it's about kombucha, it's really more a roadmap for how you can do the same.

Simple and brilliant, like kombucha.

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Fantastic voyage from kombucha to reality

Terrific audiobook! Before I listened, I was a little curious about kombucha. Now I’m fascinated, and can’t wait to go down the rabbit hole deeper. I love how the author connects what may seem like a simple drink to the biggest of pictures. His enthusiasm and perspective is infectious!!

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  • LO
  • 10-30-23

Fermentation as metaphor

This was quite beautifully written. As a recent avid fermenter I found this quite relatable. Everything starts now!

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Great learning experience!

It made me giggle that a book about kombucha is so deep, but I loved this and learned a ton! I’ll be making kombucha now!

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Excellent / Informative / Entertaining

Life changing.

I knew being a kombucha consumer for several years now …. This fermented tea enhanced my life…..

This book share helped me understand why….

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