Bentonite Clay 8 oz

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Bentonite is very fine clay similar to Kaolin for fining or clarifying wine. Bentonite also has the unique ability to remove, fine, undesirable particles from wine or from Kombucha Tea, producing a clearer, more stable, and less sour elixir. Reduces off-flavors, oxidation (browning) and post-bottling settlings. It does so by collecting and dragging these problem particles to the bottom with electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding. Amazingly Bentonite works for kombucha tea and wine the same way as it works for the human body. note: Quantity discounts are packaged in larger single units. 

100% Pure. The Healing Clay works to detox one's body as well as Fining Kombucha Tea. May offer relief for skin parasites as in Morgellons Disease.

This amazing healing clay is an effective natural intestinal detoxifying agent. It is well known and widely used all over the world. It works in the body much like a sponge by attracting and absorbing toxins before being eliminated by the body. This particular "brand" of Bentonite Clay (the US government feels all Bentonite Clay is the same) is from Death Valley, California where it is sun-dried for up to six months in temperatures that sometimes reach 134 degrees F. Historically used by American Indians for purification and healing and is sometimes referred to as the Aztec Secret Indian healing Clay. The use of clay with apple cider vinegar (or Kombucha Tea) can be dated back to Father Kneipp, a Southern French Priest of the 16th Century  and his natural treatments using clay packs and poultices.

Bentonite clay contains more than 70 trace minerals, but its unique healing ability comes from the clay's negative charge. (Gelatin also used in fining has a positive charge). The negative charge of Bentonite is responsible for its amazing detoxifying properties: as a magnet for the toxic elements in our body - heavy metals, pesticides, and free radicals - which are positively charged efficiently absorbent and drawn into the porous surface of the clay. So Bentonite is used both internally and externally, as an internal cleanse, as a facemask, full body wrap, a mud bath, and as a beer, wine and kombucha tea fining agent. One eight ounce package is enough for 1-2 body wraps, 5-7 face masks, or more than 40 gallons of really cloudy wine or Kombucha Tea.

For making a Face mask or Poultice: External Use:  Mix Clay with equal parts of water or vinegar  (Bragg's apple cider  or Sour Kombucha Tea). It is best to use a glass, pottery, or wooden bowl. Stir the mixture until it is a smooth paste add more clay or liquid as needed. Apply a 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick layer of clay to the face or other areas and let it dry. Have a friend with a camera ready, drying times vary, but times are generally 5 minutes for delicate skin and 15-20 minutes for normal skin. You will feel a pulling and tightening sensation, deep pore cleansing. Remove clay by washing with warm water. A slight redness may appear after removing the clay. This is normal and will disappear in approximately 30 minutes. Clay helps to remove dirt and impurities from the pores of the skin. Clay can be used by the whole family, men and women. Discontinue if rash appears may be a factor of the vinegar try using pure water only (distilled is superior here as we absolutely want the leaching power of distilled water, do not use tap water)

For treatment of inflammation caused by injury or illness. A clay caste (poultice) can be made by mixing Bentonite clay with warm oil (e.g., olive oil) and warm water in equal parts to make an elastic paste that can adhere to the inflamed body part. Organic producers may use clay therapy to address inflammation in cattle due to foot rot, while many organic dairy producers use clay therapy to treat mastitis. The clay dressing is spread over the infected parts of the udder after milking and is allowed to dry and set for 3-4 hours. The clay mask can then be removed and repeated 2 or 3 times a day and may be left on all night after the evening milking

For Beer, Wine & Kombucha Tea: Bentonite must be hydrated before being used. Measure out the desired quantity (say, 2 grams). Pour 3/4 cup of boiling water into a small bowl (for 4 grams of Bentonite, use 1-1/2 cups of boiling water) and add the Bentonite. If you do not have a gram scale, one measured teaspoon of Bentonite weighs 5.4 grams. Use a small whisk and mix the Bentonite-water into slurry. Mix for at least two minutes, working out any lumps that form. You want a creamy consistency. Cover and set aside for 24 hours. Do NOT skip this step! The Bentonite will settle, so grab the whisk and whip it into slurry again. Alternative method: Making Bentonite with 1 pint of boiling Water in a blender. Turn blender on high for 3 minutes. let mixture stand for 20 minutes. Slurry is now ready. If No Blender Is Available: Mix 3 tablespoons of Bentonite with 1 pint of boiling water in a sauce pan. Allow to cool. Then put in a glass bottle or similar. Shake for 10 minutes. Let stand over-night. Shake again before using.

For Kombucha Tea. Bentonite is added according to the need. A dose rate of 1-6 grams per gallon is usually desired. Use the lesser amount for kombucha tea that is almost clear and the higher amounts where greater clarity is needed. Overuse produces a earthy flavor.

Remember that pu-erh tea produces a robust earthy flavor kombucha that is naturally thick and clarity is not going to happen there - but it will remove particles so the kombucha will be clean. 

First allow Kombucha Tea to settle and clarify first. Do not rush and be sure to rack before using Bentonite. Your Kombucha Tea should be from the first or second stage of bottling you need plastic bottles for these with screw caps. In the final phrase you may bottle in glass for long term. (see our online Library to clarify your brain on bottling Kombucha tea and Advanced Kombucha Tea Bottling). The Kombucha Tea should be recently racked before adding Bentonite, Slowly add the Bentonite; use a clean utensil to stir the Kombucha Tea. The Bentonite has to be thoroughly mixed with the Kombucha Tea to work. Keep the Kombucha Tea at room temperature (cold will cause some of the Bentonite to go back into suspension). The Bentonite will attract positively charged particles as it settles out. When the Kombucha Tea is clear, give it another few days and carefully rack it off the Bentonite deposits. A treatment should take no more than two weeks. Bottle at once.

Another method of fining your kombucha is using Egg Whites. Egg whites are an excellent fining agent for removing haze caused by excessive tannin. Separate an egg and gently beat the white in a small amount of the non-clarified Kombucha Tea. Use half the beaten white per 5-gallon KT. Simply pour the beaten egg white into the Kombucha Tea and stir well with a long sterilized rod. Fill to the brim of a plastic bottle and tightly cap. Set aside for ten days. The Kombucha Tea should clarify. Rack and bottle into glass it at once. Sadly, now-a-days raw eggs are a big concern for salmonella poisonings with the US FDA claiming that 1 out of 4 eggs are contaminated. One would hope that governments would encourage good farming practices. Instead of warning labels. If you do choose the egg white method add a pinch of salt to the egg white while beating.  For more ideas and suggestions on advanced Kombucha Tea brewing suggestions visit our online Library.

Rev. Rul. 59-150 The use of a slurry for clarifying Wine which is prepared by adding one pound of Bentonite (Wyoming clay) to not more than two gallons of water, is considered as being consistent with good commercial practice under section 240.524 of the Federal Wine Regulations, provided the total quantity of water so used does not exceed one percent of the volume of Wine treated. Wine makers may use Bentonite slurry in clarification of wine within these limitations, on receiving the approval of the Assistant Regional Commissioner, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax, after filing appropriate notice pursuant to section 240.530 of the regulations.

Side Affects: There are no known safety issues or interactions associated with Bentonite when using the recommended doses.

Bentonite Clay was evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives in 1976 but no acceptable daily intake was allocated (JECTA, 1976)