We’re all at home. I’m sure you’ve been inundated with “motivating” messages about being hyper-productive during this time- starting new projects, writing a book, etc.
While I disagree with espousing this mindset (you CAN take this time to rest and recharge!), I do understand the need to keep occupied.
If you are itching to create or do something new in the kitchen, this is the perfect tutorial for you.
Today I’m going to teach you how to make kombucha at home!!!! I’m excited- can you tell?
If you want to skip all this fluff and background info, head straight to the Ingredients and Recipe section.
Soooo....What Exactly is Kombucha?
We all (probably) know what kombucha looks like and how it is regarded as an overpriced bubbly drink… but could we explain WHAT kombucha actually is?
Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed since 220 B.C.
The drink is lauded for its numerous health benefits, including: gut-healthy probiotics, antioxidants, and high B vitamin content.
Why Make Homemade Kombucha?
Before jumping into the homemade kombucha tutorial, I wanted to talk a little bit about WHY you would want to make kombucha at home… seems tedious and unnecessary when you can just pick up a bottle of booch at the grocery store, right?
Saving Money
Price of an average bottle of kombucha from a leading brand wavers around $3-4/ bottle.
By approximating the cost of all the ingredients needed to make kombucha at home (including the glass/mason jars which I got on sale at Hobby Lobby) and dividing the cost by the amount of servings one batch makes, I calculate the price per “bottle” to be around $1.75.
Zero Waste Efforts
Although it is not inherently wasteful to purchase single-use drinks in glass jars (which are recyclable and have a high reuse potential), the process of putting together a glass bottle still takes energy and should be avoided if there is an easy way to do so.
Kombucha Tutorial
Ingredients
In order to make kombucha, you will first have to gather these ingredients:
- SCOBY and 2 cups of Scoby Water
- One large (120 oz) mason jar
- Colander
- Two flask like glass containers for the drink (make sure they have a closed seal)
- White Sugar
- 6 Green/ Black Tea bags (or equivalent in loose leaf tea)
Step 1
Boil 100 oz of water. Then turn off the heat.
Step 2
If you have tea bags at home instead of loose leaf tea, this is a great way to finish off that tea before purchasing the more sustainable option (loose leaf tea). We had tea bags to finish off at home, so I de-bagged six (6) green tea pouches at this step.
Step 3
Pour out a cup of white sugar.
Step 4
Add the bags of tea and the sugar to the pot. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the mixture together, making sure to scrap the bottom and the sides of the pot so that the sugar does not stick to either.
Step 5
Let the mixture cool for around 3 to 4 hours.
Step 6
Pour mixture into mason jar.
Step 7
Make sure your hands are washed before adding the SCOBY and the two cups of SCOBY water it is stored in into the mason jar.
Step 8
Cover the top of the mason jar with a breathable fabric like a cheese cloth or a paper towel and secure the covering with a rubber band.
Step 9
Let the mixture sit in a dark place for 5-6 days.
Step 10
After 5-6 days have passed, take out the SCOBY and two cups of kombucha water and place in a tupperware for your next batch.
Step 11
Pour the remaining kombucha into one of your air-tight glass containers and store for 24 hours in a dark space. After that, it’s ready to be refrigerated and enjoyed!
I hope y’all find this tutorial on how to make kombucha at home helpful! If you try it out, email me or comment down below to let me know your thoughts!
