How To Make Kombucha

Making delicious kombucha at home is fun and it’s so easy to do with this simple 4 step process! All you need is a SCOBY, a few ingredients and some very simple equipment. Simply make, brew, bottle, brew again and enjoy! Follow these easy step by step instructions and start brewing healthy delicious kombucha today!

You will need the following ingredients and equipment:

Ingredients: ¼ cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoons loose tea, or 2 tea bags 3 cups pure water ½ cup starter tea Kombucha SCOBY Flavour infusion or fresh fruit

Equipment: 1 litre glass jar (or adapt the recipe and use a larger jar) 1 litre brewing bottle Strainer Clean cloth Rubber band

Step One

Boil half of your water then add your tea and sugar.  Let steep for 15 minutes and be sure all of the sugar is dissolved. Strain off loose tea leaves.  Add the rest of your cool water.  Place your SCOBY and starter liquid in a clean sterilized jar.  Ensure that your tea is at room temperature and add it to the jar.  Leave some space at the top of the jar. You might see your SCOBY begin to float.  This is just fine, as the SCOBY likes to be near the air.  Don’t worry if it doesn’t float though, as a new one will form at the top and then you’ll have a second one to give to a friend. Cover your kombucha with a cloth and secure it with a rubber band. Place it in a warm dark place.

Step Two

Brew. Brewing time varies, but will likely be about 6 to 9 days.  It may take longer if your kombucha is not kept warm.  Use a straw to draw out a bit of liquid each day.  It should have a nice crisp taste like apple cider.  If it tastes like sweet tea it is too early.  If it tastes like vinegar it has gone too long and you’ll want to start over.

Taste Test

A taste test on a batch of Kombucha may taste like this:
3-5 Days – Too sweet, not all sugar converted.
6-9 Days – Tastes like sparkling apple cider.
10+ Days – Vinegar taste becoming prominent.

Step Three

Once your kombucha has reached the flavour that you desire, reserve ½ cup as a starter for your next batch, then strain the rest into a clean sterile brewing bottle.  You should use a thick glass bottle with a wire top.  Add your favourite flavour infusion, syrup or fruit.  There are many recipes you can use, but we love our Simple Living flavour infusions.  Tighten the wire on your bottle and store in a warm dark place.

Step Four

Brew.  This stage is called the 2^nd ferment.  The sugars in the fruit in your mixture will cause your kombucha to get fizzy.  Brew until the desired fizziness is achieved.  Brewing time can vary between 2 and 14 days.  Some fruits will flavour and fizz quickly while others will take a bit more time.  Carefully place a towel over your brewing bottle and remove the lid once a day to release pressure.  Some mixtures will become so fizzy that the lid can come flying off, so be careful to point the bottle away from yourself with a towel over it.  Once it has reach the perfect fizz, place it in the refrigerator to stop the fermentation process.