Kombucha! Affordable, Simple Recipe

Why Make Kombucha?

There are so many reasons to make and drink Kombucha. Making it is affordable and super simple. Not only that, but it is a healthy, probiotic drink that has been enjoyed around the world for over 2,000 years! Check out all the health benefits of Kombucha here. Check out these 10 simple steps to making it.

10 Easy Steps to Make Kombucha

Step 1: Obtain a SCOBY

A SCOBY is an essential ingredient need to make Kombucha. It stands for a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. You can either buy a SCOBY or find a friend who has one. You can also look for a SCOBY in places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Step 2: Choose a Kombucha brewing vessel

A gallon glass jar is the best vessel to use. It is even better if it has a spigot, but if not, any gallon glass jar will do. You can buy expensive, kombucha-specific vessels, but I suggest you wait before you spend a lot of money to make sure you like to drink it before investing in an expensive vessel.

I have been making Kombucha for over 10 years. My first brewing vessel was a 1-gallon glass pickle jar and upgraded to a 1 gallon glass jar with a spigot that I got at Walmart on clearance. I love my spigot jar and I will use it until it breaks.

Step 3: Gather other Ingredients

The other two ingredients needed are probably items you already have on hand.

• 1 Cup Sugar
• Black (or other variety) Tea Bags

Step 4: Gather other tools

Besides your brewing vessel, you will also need

• a plate to put your SCOBY on.
• Metal pot to heat water
• wooden or plastic spoon

Step 5: Heat Water

This step is pretty self-explanatory. Just heat water to boiling on the stove.

In the summertime, you can also make sun tea outside.

Step 6: Add Tea Bags and Brew

Once the water is heated, shut off the heat and add 4 tea bags. Allow tea bags to steep for at least 1 hour.

Step 7: Cool tea to warm and add Sugar

After 1 hour, add 1 cup of white sugar and stir to dissolve. Make sure the tea is cooled to lukewarm before adding the tea with the SCOBY. A SCOBY is a living organism and you do not want to kill it.

Step 8: Combine Sweet Tea to SCOBY

Once you are sure the tea is lukewarm or cooler, add it to your brewing vessel along with a small amount of kombucha (starter) from your previous batch and the SCOBY.

Step 9: Brew Kombucha for 3-5 Days

Cover the brewing vessel with a cloth. This prevents any debris from entering your vessel. Fruit flies are also attracted to Kombucha, so the cloth will prevent pests. This also allows the kombucha get air. If you use an air-tight lid, you risk killing your SCOBY. You will notice that the liquid will become lighter in color as the days pass. Taste test your Kombucha after 3 days and see if it is starting to taste tart.

You will know that you have really mastered the art of Kombucha when you start to get bubbles! Your Kombucha will actually become carbonated. It is so cool and delicious!!

Step 10: Enjoy and Repeat

Kombucha is an easy, cheap, and healthy drink. Once you get into a brewing routine, making it becomes second nature. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do!

You can watch this step by step video of the process.

Kombucha

Simple, frugal, healthy drink you can brew at home.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

3 d

Total Time 3 d 1 hr 10 mins

Equipment

• Stock Pot
• Gallon Glass Jar
• dish cloth
• wooden spoon

Ingredients

  

• 4 bag black tea
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 SCOBY
• 1/2 cup kombucha
• 1 gallon water

Instructions

 

• Heat water on stove
• Add Teabags to water and allow to steep for 1 hour or longer
• cool tea to lukewarm
• add 1 cup of sugar and stir until dissolved
• Add lukewarm sweet tea to brewing vessel with 1/2 cup kombucha and SCOBY in glass jar.
• cover with cloth
• Let stand on kitchen counter for 3-5 days
• Drink and Enjoy.

Do you love to grow things?

I love Kombucha because it is something that I can brew in the winter when the garden is put to bed and the animals are not reproducing. You can read about growing a garden of hope. Also, find out which animals are best for you!

We cannot live by bread alone