Watch: real kombucha is made from seaweed

Cha is the Japanese word for tea, and kombu is a type of seaweed. Real kombucha is seaweed tea and this video takes you to Japan's Rishiri Island, source of high quality kombu.

From Great Big Story:

Sorry to shatter the illusion, but that expensive, bottled kombucha iced tea you've been drinking isn't anything close to the authentic stuff-and, believe us, you're missing out. Come along as we travel to Japan's Rishiri Island and meet Chiharu Hirakawa, a shop owner and master of creating the real-deal drink. Located off the coast of Hokkaido, the remote island is famous for its locally-harvested kombu seaweed. Hirakawa uses the kombu, after it has been dried and powdered, to create traditional kombucha tea.