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how to brew kombucha at home

How to Brew Kombucha at Home

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Get ready to save a ton of money today as you learn how to brew kombucha at home! 

Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword how to brew kombucha, Kombucha
Prep Time 20 days
Servings 1 gallon
Author Steph

Equipment

  • 1 gallon glass container
  • Elastic band
  • high mesh cloth (think a coffee filter or bandana)
  • Small funnel
  • Small sieve
  • Kettle
  • glass bottles (which ever size you want to portion into)

Ingredients

  • 8-10 black tea bags
  • 12-14 cups distilled water
  • 1 cup starter tea (or while vinegar)
  • 1 SCOBY
  • 1 cup white sugar do not sub this for anything
  • fruit of choice for flavoring

Instructions

F1 - Brewing you kombucha

  • Brew concentrated black tea by boiling 6-8 cups of water with 8-10 tea bags.
  • Allow to steep for 5 minutes.
  • Remove tea bags and discard.
  • Add one cup of sugar and stir (with a wooden or silicone spoon) until dissolved.
  • Allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
  • Add the concentrated tea to your 1 gallon container.
  • Add distilled water to get total volume to 14-16 cups.
  • Carefully add your SCOBY and the starter tea (or vinegar).
  • Cover the top (but leaving it open to air) by placing a coffee filter or tightly woven cloth over the opening. Secure in place with an elastic.
  • Allow to sit on a counter for 7 days.
  • After 7 days give it a taste. If it is super sweet, allow it to go a few more days.

F2- Flavoring & Carbonation

  • The number of glass containers you use here is completely dependent on how many different flavors you use. ALWAYS use glass.
  • To the bottom of your glass containers ( I use glass growlers) add the fruit and herb flavors of choice. There are no rules on quantity here.
  • Using a funnel, add your kombucha to the containers with your flavorings.
  • Make sure the lids are on tight, so that the carbonation builds.
  • After 1 week, slowly open the lids to allow air to escape. This will tell you how much carbonation has built. If you want more carbonation, put the lid back on and allow it to sit another day or 2.
  • When your desired level of carbonation is reached, move the jars to the fridge.
  • You can put them right into the fridge with the fruit, or you can strain it out and move to other containers.

Notes

IMPORTANT!!! Always use very clean equipment for brewing kombucha! You want to brew bacteria, but only the good kind!