Kombucha Tea
We have always loved kombucha and luckily for us our cousin, Christina, started brewing it. All you need is a friend and their extra scoby to start brewing your batch. We found it easiest to start with a 4 quart glass jar since it gives you enough to really enjoy after all the time you put into it.
How to Brew Kombucha Tea
Supplies Needed
- 1 quart glass jar (never plastic or tin, we like to us a large 4 quart with a wide mouth)
- Sanitizer - we use Star San a good washing will also work but is a risk
- Funnel for bottling
- Strainer - a fine mesh strainer
- Cloth for covering the jars
- Swing top glass bottles also known as E-Z flip top bottles
Note: All supplies can be purchased at a brewing supply store. If in Portland, FH Steinbart.
Ingredients
- 1 quart mason jar, wide mouth
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 tea bags (green, jasmine, black, anything with caffeine)
- 1/4 cup kombucha tea
- 1 mother
Instructions
First Fermentation
- Boil enough filtered / purified water to fill your mason jar, less room for the 1/4 cup kombucha tea and mother.
- Steep the tea bags for 15-20 minutes.
- Let cool to room temperature. This could take four hours or more if you have a large container.
- Once the tea has cooled, stir in the sugar and the freshly brewed tea.
- Insert the mother and cover the mouth of jar with a cloth. Set in a dark area at room temperature (65-75°).
- Now wait 7 to 13 days.
Bottling and the Second Fermentation
- Sanitize your swing top bottles.
We use a bottling sanitizer such as Star San. Some people say a good cleaning is enough, but if you are waiting 2-3 weeks to drink your 'booch why risk it. Clean your funnel and a fine strainer while you are at it. - Take a sip of the kombucha. At this point it should taste like a plain tea kombucha.
- Pour your kombucha from the mason jar into your swing top bottles. This will make a mess and you will spill, so prepare an area. Leave some air at the top of the bottles.
- It is at this point people add sugar, fruit, ginger or other spices.
- Store your kombucha for 3 to 6 days. We store ours in the fridge, but you can also store it in a cool place.
Enjoy it!
Pop the bottle and enjoy it!
