There is no clear answer, theories of origins can date back at least 2,000-5,000 years years ago in China, Japan, the Caucasus, or the middle east. Within China it is theorized that monks of Manchuria or Tibet may tamed the wild brew. These areas were all connected by spice routes and kombucha eventually found its way to Europe and the rest of the world. The fact that C. sinensis tea is the choice tea that kombucha has evolved to prefer and C. sinensis is primarily grown in China and Japan makes me think that kombucha likely originated in China or Japan. Tales also exist of a monk who brought kombucha from China to Japan to cure an ailing Emperor. While kombucha’s true origins are shrouded by history, it is now enjoyed world wide and its health benefits are just beginning to be verified by science.