How to brew KOMBUCHA (guest post).

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The ABC’s of Kombucha Brewing

Well Hello. I have to say, I am excited to write a guest post about Kombucha for Carla today. You know what that means, right? I’ve finally been termed a “booch mamma!” That, my friends, is name I will do my best to hold high!

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So let’s get back to real purpose of this post, KOMBUCHA! Kombucha has been a HUGE life saver in my life and for so many reasons, and needless to say, I am passionate about it! So I thought I’d share some of the ABC’s of Kombucha and how to brew it. Stick with me here, k?

A. What is it? – fermented tea, an ancient elixir consumed for thousands of years by civilizations all over the planet.

B. What are its benefits? – Kombucha Kamp has a great article on the benefits of Kombucha. Here are just a few that I have noticed in my own consumption.

i. *Probiotics – healthy bacteria
*Alkalinize the body – balances internal pH
*Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
*Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
*Improve digestion – keep your system moving
*Alleviate constipation
*Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue
*Relieve headaches & migraines
*Reduce kidney stones
*High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
*High in polyphenols
*Heal excema – can be applied topically to soften the skin
*Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating

b. Want more? Check out the studies and testimonials HERE!

C. How? – It is recommended that you should start drinking 4-8oz of Kombucha on an empty stomach 2x a day followed by plenty of water to clear out all the toxins. Once your body has adjusted to it (over an extended period of time), you can increase your intake.

Okay, now that you have an overwhelming amount of information. Let me tell you a little bit of how I use it and why.

You see, for years I had been struggling with a lot of digestive issues from a parasite and a gluten intolerance. I turned to kombucha for gut healing (along with other natural supplements). I had been drinking it on occasion before, but this time I decided to use it for more of healing reasons.

It was also about that time that I decided to start making my own batches. I spoke with Hannah over at KombuchaKamp.com a lot and she guided me through the process. After a few weeks, I had my own scoby and was ready to brew!

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Here’s my BREWING tutorial. I have gathered this from lots of other websites and tweaked it to make my own flavoring. I’ll type out the instructions below as well. Let me know if you brew!

 

You can easily buy a starter kit online or even buy a scoby from craigslist. Just make sure they are not moldy or damaged when you buy them. Once you have a mother scoby, you are ready to brew.

KOMBUCHA – Here’s How:
1.Wash all utensils with hot sudsy water and rinse well.

2. Boil three quarts of purified water.

3. Add 1 cup white sugar to water when a rolling boil is reached. Boil water and sugar for five minutes.

4. Turn off heat and add 4-5 tea bags of black and/or green tea. (Must have caffeine in tea which the scoby feeds on).

5. Steep about 30 minutes and remove tea leaves or bags and let tea cool (it doesn’t hurt to steep the tea longer). Cooling is about 3 to 5 hours from time you turn stove off.

6. Pour cooled tea into gallon size glass container.

7. Add your Kombucha culture placing it so that the smooth shiny surface lies up. Add fermented Kombucha Tea from a previous batch.

8. Place a cloth over the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band. This keeps dust, mold, spores and vinegar flies out of the fermenting tea.

9. Allow to sit undisturbed in a well ventilated and darkened place away from direct sunlight (temp. 65-90 degrees F.) for 6 – 15 days. I keep mine in a closet.

10. To make sure the tea is ready to harvest; pour off a couple of ounces for a taste test. I usually test it by sticking a plastic straw in and sipping a little bit.

11. Taste Test: A taste test on a batch of Kombucha Tea may taste like this: 4-6 Days – Too sweet, not all sugar converted. 7-9 Days – Tastes like sparkling apple cider. 10+ Days – Vinegar taste becoming prominent.

12. When the tea is brewed to your taste, pour the tea into glass bottles and cap then place in the refrigerator. This can now be second fermented with fresh juices, or pieces of crushed fruit, or crystallized ginger. Store bought juices are pasteurized and may effect healing quality of finished kombucha product, so I’d stick with 100% fresh juice. Sometimes I use sparkling water too.

13. Make sure to leave enough starter tea from your last batch (about 1/2 cup) to make another batch of tea. Repeat directions and add this to your starter and culture to start the process again.

**Note: the cultures my float on the surface or sometimes it sinks to the bottom. Either way is fine.

 

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To this day I still think of it as my healing tonic. I drink 16-20 ounces a day. Yes, this seems like a lot but my body is used to and can handle a higher dosage.

 

My Newbie Tips:

  • · It definitely takes an acquired taste, so be open minded.
  • · If you would rather buy Kombucha to try out first, look for fruity flavors. These have added natural juices to them, like GT’s cranberry, passionberry, or strawberry. It will help you get used to the taste. Even though I’ve ALWAYS loved the taste. I am weird like that though. J
  • · Drink 4onces at a time to begin. Maybe just try a little mid morning or afternoon. Sometime during the day where you usually need a little boost.
  • · Give it time! Drink slowly and allow its natural detox benefits to nourish your body. Try it for a week before knockin’ it!
  • · And finally, BE GENTLE! Kombucha needs care. It is carbonated do not shake the bottle and open slowly. I’ve had some dangerous explosions, and as much as I like Kombucha, my clothes do not.

Alright, I’m off to go finish my last bottle. Better brew again tomorrow! Feel free to email me with any questions. And thank you Carla for letting me blab away about scobys and smelly tea.

Other resources: Kombucha Kamp and You Grow Girl.

Cheers,

LC

 

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Comments

  1. A friend of mine brews her own, and i’ve never tried it. You make it sound easy, so this might be my signal to at least buy a few bottles and see what’s up.

  2. I have never even tasted kombucha, but I just have to now! Plus, brewing my own sounds like the kind of crazy kitchen experiment I would do.

  4. Are you guys in my kitchen?! I literally just started my next batch. my faovrite part is all the flavor options when you brew at home – I had curry leaf-ginger last night, there’s blood orange-cinnamon in my fridge, and I love using dried chilis to heat things up!

  8. I’m totally wanting to try this after reading Carla’s first taste! Thanks for all the info!

    Heal excema <– very cool. I used to have excema as a kid. It went away as I grew older. Great thing to know if I come across anyone with excema.

    Relieve headaches & migraines <— good to know!

    • OOO… Kierston! Did you know that excema in a child that goes away near puberty is a prime sign of a cow’s milk allergy?

  12. Thx for sharing Lindsay today Carla! I have wondered about this for a long time since seeing it in the blog world. I am NOT a tea lover so stayed away…. I may try the kind you liked & Lindsay lies too. I will not make for sure – I AM A LAZY cook as you know. 🙂

    Thx for sharing Lindsay! I know you help many with gut issues! 🙂

    • it does not taste like tea, that’s for sure. I’d drink it on an empty stomach, try fruity first. Good for the liver!

  16. Sound interesting, i need to give it a try, i have issues with my digestive system, interest to see how it goes thanks for the info,

  17. Definitely going to give the Kambucha a try! I’ve been buying the Alkaline water (Im a big coffee drinker so it’s a must)! Thanks for the share!

  19. Is this really effective and healthy? This isn’t look delicious at all and I’m afraid to try this out, but I want to. If it’s good for my health, then why shouldn’t I give it a try?

  20. Kombucha is my absolute favorite. I got turned on to this drink while living in San Francisco. It was easy to acquire because most corner stores carried this healthy drink. It is an acquired taste but if you give it a chance you won’t regret it. Thanks for showing us how to make this on our own. Valuable information!

  21. Thank you for sharing this information!

    I’ve tried commercial brewed Kombucha several times, and never really saw the point. It didn’t taste BAD, but I couldn’t see why all the fuss. Besides my gut is made of iron! (the lungs, not so much!)

    However, alkalizing the body is something I’m constantly struggling with, and lowering glucose levels (I’m “prediabetic”) would be a benefit!

    OK, I’ll give it try with your newer recommendations… and will probably be brewing my own soon. (though the idea of acquiring a skoby? kinda yuck!)

  22. This seems a lot easier to make than I had thought it’d be. I’m constantly buying kombucha at wegman’s. Would this happen to be a cheaper route to go? Maybe I’ll make the switch to making my own!

  24. One caveat – my first experience with kombucha was actually a sweet drink with stevia added, and I couldn’t get past the weird mix of flavors. I found later that I like the straight-up bitter flavor on its own better.

  26. I’m glad to see this post as I love kombucha and I try to drink it everyday but it can become a bit pricey. My favorite is the ginger one to soothe the tummy. I am now going to try to make it myself. Thanks 🙂

    • I haven’t tried Kombucha yet. But after reading this post, it might be time to lose my ‘virginity’. :o)

      I am not much of a tea enthusiast, so it might be challenging. (However I do love coffee!)

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