Kombucha

Want to learn more about the miracle drink, Kombucha?  Here is everything you need to know.  Including how to make it kombucha, how to bottle it, and about its health benefits! 

Kombucha

I have been making and drinking kombucha for almost a year now, and can personally testify as to the positive impact it has had in my life.

Health Benefits of Kombucha

I have not gotten so much as a cold since I started drinking kombucha regularly, which is even more impressive when you hear that I have a 3 and 7-year-old who are actual germ incubators.

Kombucha contains live bacteria (probiotics) that help our digestive systems.  And your gut (digestive systems) is very closely linked to your immune system – in fact, 70 – 80% of your immune system lives inside your digestive tract (source).  So, it makes sense that a healthier gut leads to a healthier immune system.

There are numerous health benefits of kombucha, including a healthier gut, increased antioxidants in the body, natural antibiotics, liver support, reduced cholesterol, and increased energy.

So now you know why you’ve heard so many people talking about the great benefits of kombucha!

If you head to the store, you may get sticker shock when you realize how much it is.  They generally range from $3 – $6 per bottle, and I know my personal budget can’t handle $180 a month in fermented tea expense.    That’s why I learned how to make it at home! Interested in trying it yourself?  Here are all of the resources you need.

How to Make Kombucha

Making kombucha can seem daunting at first, especially with the eerily scoby that’s the foundation for any batch of it.  BUT, before you get discouraged from trying, I invite you to explore this article on how to make kombucha.

In 4 steps, you can learn how to make it at home for a tiny fraction of what it costs to buy it at the store.  You can even add different flavors and extra carbonation to your tea so it’s really catered to your personal preferences.

How to Make a Scoby Hotel

First, what is a scoby? 

A scoby is an acronym for a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.  It’s a living home where bacteria and yeast naturally forms.  It is essential to making kombucha, and the source of all of those healthy probiotics that this drink offers.

And yes, they’re super creepy looking. They’re slimy.  And smell like vinegar.

If you’re going to learn how to make fermented tea at home, it’s something that you’ll get used to the more you handle it.

The really interesting thing about a scoby is that it duplicates itself during every new batch.  You make a batch of kombucha with one scoby, and by the time it’s done fermenting, your scoby will have grown another smaller scoby.

The more tea you make, the more scobies you have (unless you’re sharing them with your friends, which, you totally should).

When you are not actively using your scoby to make tea, store it in a scoby hotel.  Cute, huh?

Making a scoby hotel is super easy and requires very little equipment.  Learn how to make a scoby hotel.

How to Bottle Kombucha

Once you’ve brewed your first batch of homemade kombucha, you’ll need to bottle it for longer-term storage.  The process is really simple, and with the right equipment (think clear bottles or recycled Grolsh beer bottles), is really inexpensive, as it can be used over and over again.

The one thing to keep in mind when handling the fermented tea or scobies is to never use any metal products. This means metal spigots, strainers, sieves, spoons, or bottles (I’m looking at you, mason jars).

Once you have your tea bottled, you can transfer it straight to the refrigerator.  It will keep for about 3 months as is. Or you can bottle it and let it do a second fermentation to increase the carbonation.

Learn more about how to bottle kombucha.

How to Flavor Kombucha

Once you’ve made a couple batches, you might be ready to start experimenting with different flavors of kombucha.  This is fun and easy to do, using fresh fruit, roots, herbs, and spices.

There are general guidelines on what portions of fresh, dried, or frozen fruits vs. juice to use, so check out this tutorial on how to flavor kombucha for more details.

One of the most common flavors of kombucha is ginger – so if that’s your cup of tea, check out this ginger kombucha recipe.

More About Kombucha

There are tons of great resources on the web, if you’re wanting to learn more about this miracle drink.  I personally read these sites when I was first learning about fermented tea:

• How to Make Kombucha Tea at Home by The Kitchn
• Kombucha FAQ by Food Renegade

Have any specific questions about kombucha?  Drop a comment below and I’ll do my best to answer it!