How to Make Kombucha

Like sourdough, kombucha can seem difficult to upkeep until you start and realize how simple it really is. Kombucha has amazing health benefits and it is a tasty drink to have around! Follow along to see the simple steps on how to make kombucha!

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is essentially just fermented black tea. The SCOBY is what ferments the sweetened black tea and turns into kombucha. A SCOBY is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Sugar is necessary as food for the SCOBY to eat as it ferments the tea. You can easily make the SCOBY yourself at home by brewing a cup of black tea and adding 2 tbsp of sugar into it. Cover and let it sit at room temperature for about a month and you will get the SCOBY to form on top as a thin and white layer of bacteria which will continue to grow and ferment the tea!

Why Drink Kombucha?

Kombucha is so healthy for the gut because it is rich in probiotics. The bacteria in the SCOBY makes the gut microbiome happy, which in turn makes your whole body happy! Also, kombucha is so delicious! If you have only tried kombucha from the grocery store and not liked it, I can see why. Store-bought kombucha often times has a small percentage of alcohol in it and they make it very strong. When you make it yourself at home, you can control how sweet or acidic you want it by various factors.

Materials Needed to Make Kombucha

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• glass gallon jar
• measuring cup
• cloth to cover the jar
• fine mesh strainer
• funnel
• glass bottles to hold the end product

Ingredients

• brewed black tea either from loose leaves or tea bags will work
• boiling water
• 1 cup sugar

*I like using loose leaf black tea because I like the taste better.

Instructions

1.Using a glass gallon jar, brew black tea into it. Because I use loose-leaf black tea, I pour the brew in and then fill it up with boiling water. If you are using tea bags, pour boiling water into the jar, then place a couple of tea bags and let it brew for several minutes.

2. Next, stir in 1 cup of sugar and let it dissolve. (Add in the 1/2 cup of reserved fermented kombucha now to help it get started now if you have it.)

3. Wait a few hours for the mixture to cool down to room temperature. Then, place the SCOBY back in and let it brew for 10 days at room temperature. Make sure to cover the jar with a cloth.

4. Take the SCOBY out and wash it thoroughly. Place it on a clean surface. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the fermented kombucha to add to the new brew. Using a funnel and fine mesh strainer, pour the kombucha into clean glass bottles and refrigerate.

5. Enjoy!

Tips for Keeping a Clean Kombucha

• make sure to rinse the jar after pouring out the kombucha
• as I mentioned earlier, wash the SCOBY every time you re making a new brew
• make sure to always keep the jar covered with a cloth to ensure no bugs or flies get in

Check Out Our Other Gut-Healthy Recipes!

• Sauerkraut Recipe
• Sourdough Boule Recipe

Conclusion

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