As the legend goes, Kombucha was invented in the Qin Dynasty (220 BC) for the Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi. The Chinese are famed for their quest for all manner of longevity elixirs. From Kombucha to ginseng to snake’s blood, they have always looked to nature to cure what ails them.    From there it spread throughout Asia. Purportedly in 414 AD, a Korean Dr. Kombu brought this famous tonic to the Emperor Ingyō of Japan. Chá (茶) is the Chinese word for tea.  Kombu+cha = Kombucha.