How to make your own Kombucha

Making your own kombucha is a fun and rewarding process. Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that’s known for its health benefits, particularly its probiotic content. See our previous article, The Benefits of Kombucha, here is a brief overview:

Benefits of Kombucha

Certainly! Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years. It is rich in beneficial probiotics and other compounds. Here are some of the touted benefits of kombucha:

1. Probiotics for Gut Health: Kombucha contains live probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria. Probiotics can help balance the gut microbiota, potentially aiding digestion and reducing symptoms of certain gut disorders.
2. Rich in Antioxidants: The tea and compounds formed during kombucha fermentation can provide antioxidants, which help fight free radicals in the body.
3. May Aid Weight Loss: Some research suggests that green tea, often used in kombucha brewing, can help reduce body weight by increasing metabolism.
4. May Improve Cholesterol Levels: Animal studies indicate that kombucha can improve levels of cholesterol, potentially reducing the risk of heart diseases.
5. May Reduce Liver Toxicity: Certain studies in animals have shown that kombucha can reduce liver toxicity induced by harmful chemicals.
6. Contains Beneficial Acids and Compounds: Fermentation produces acetic acid and other compounds that may have various health benefits.
7. Potential Anticancer Properties: Some studies suggest that the tea polyphenols in kombucha might reduce the growth of cancer cells, though this claim requires further investigation.
8. May Improve Immune Function: The probiotics and antioxidants in kombucha may help strengthen the immune system, although direct evidence is limited.

It’s essential to note that while many people report positive health effects from drinking kombucha, not all claims have been rigorously tested in humans. As with any health product, it’s crucial to consume kombucha in moderation and be aware of any personal sensitivities or reactions.

Here’s a basic recipe to help you make your own kombucha at home:

Ingredients:

1. 3 to 4 tea bags (black or green tea)
2. 1 cup of sugar
3. 4 cups of filtered water (for brewing), plus more for cooling
4. 1 kombucha SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). You can purchase a SCOBY online, get one from a friend, or grow your own from a bottle of store-bought kombucha.
5. 1 to 2 cups of starter tea (from a previous batch or store-bought kombucha)
6. White distilled vinegar (optional, for cleaning)

Equipment:

1. A large glass jar (at least one gallon)
2. A cloth cover (like a thin towel or cloth napkin) and a rubber band or string
3. A plastic or wooden stirring utensil
4. A pot for boiling water
5. Glass bottles with tight-sealing lids (for storing the finished kombucha)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Sweet Tea: In a pot, boil 4 cups of water. Once boiling, remove from heat and steep the tea bags for 5-10 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in the sugar until it’s completely dissolved. Add cold water to cool down the tea to room temperature.
2. Jar Preparation: Make sure your glass jar is thoroughly clean. If you want to ensure that no harmful bacteria interfere with the fermentation, rinse the jar with white distilled vinegar. Do not use soap, as it can leave a residue that can harm the SCOBY.
3. Add Starter Tea and SCOBY: Pour the cooled sweet tea into your jar. Add the starter tea. This acidic liquid helps to make the environment inhospitable for harmful pathogens. Gently place the SCOBY into the jar, ensuring it’s fully submerged in the liquid.
4. Cover and Wait: Place your cloth over the opening of the jar and secure it with a rubber band or string. This allows the liquid to breathe while keeping out contaminants like dust or bugs. Store the jar in a warm, dark place (ideally 70-80°F or 21-27°C) for about 7-20 days. The exact duration depends on your taste preferences; shorter fermentation times result in sweeter kombucha, while longer times make it more acidic.
5. Taste and Bottle: After about a week, start tasting the kombucha. Once it reaches your desired flavor, it’s time to bottle. Before bottling, remove the SCOBY with clean hands and set it aside for your next batch. Pour the kombucha into the glass bottles, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
6. Secondary Fermentation (Optional): If you want fizzy kombucha, you can do a secondary fermentation. Add fruit, fruit juice, or ginger to your bottled kombucha for flavor and additional sugar for the yeast to consume. Seal the bottles and let them ferment for another 3-7 days at room temperature. Remember to “burp” the bottles daily to release excess carbonation and prevent explosions.
7. Refrigerate and Enjoy: Once your kombucha is bottled, store it in the refrigerator. Chilling the kombucha stops the fermentation process. Always open bottles with caution, as kombucha can be quite effervescent!
8. Start the Next Batch: Use the SCOBY and some of your current kombucha batch as starter tea for your next batch and repeat the process!

Tips:

• If your SCOBY starts to look brown or has brown stringy bits hanging from it, don’t worry! This is normal and is just yeast forming.
• If your kombucha or SCOBY ever starts to smell rotten, or if you see mold growing on the SCOBY or in the tea, discard everything and start over. The presence of mold indicates that something went wrong with the fermentation process.
• Always use clean equipment and hands when handling the SCOBY and kombucha to avoid introducing harmful bacteria.

Enjoy your homemade kombucha!