Making kombucha

Kombucha

To make kombucha,  black tea is fermented with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast, otherwise known as a SCOBY.  During the fermentation process, the yeast in the SCOBY breaks down the sugar in the tea and releases probiotic bacteria.  Kombucha becomes carbonated after fermentation, which is why the drink is fizzy.

Some of the claimed benefits of Kombucha- 

Gut health, Prevents Cancer, helps with infection risk, helps with mental health, heart disease, weight loss, liver health, and type 2 diabetes management

I love drinking and making Kombucha!!

Above I am making 4 gallons... I know I am crazy.  I am now down to making 2 gallons every 2 weeks or so.

recipe for 1 gallon :

 1 Cup Starter

1 Cup Sugar

1 Gallon water

8 Black Tea Bags 

5 Optional flavored tea bags to get your flavor

Boil the 1 gallon of water, add sugar. and 8 tea bags. Then once the black tea has been in the boiling water for at least 15 minutes I turn off the heat, pull out the black tea bags and add the flavored tea bags.  Then let it cool.  Once cooled, I add the tea to the 1 cup of starter in the gallon jar.  Add a dish towel over the jar. I let it sit for 7-10 days to ferment. 

Making 2 gallons here 

Every time you make kombucha you will “grow” another scoby on top of the kombucha.  You can share it with a friend, feed your chickens with it, save it with some tea and start a kombucha hotel, or you can just toss it.

Once the tea is fermented it’s ready for bottling. 

Bottling with the Kombucha and apple juice.  I let it sit for 7-10 days and it carbonates.

Waiting for the carbonation to happen.

The guys at work help me taste my flavors

 

                       

Enjoying Kombucha at work with the guys I work with.

I’ve sold some kombucha and have some people who are big fans!!  I love that people are enjoying my kombucha!!!

My label 

Keep an eye on your carbonating kombucha....I have had some explode in my kitchen!!!  Yep it is a mess!!  some people say you should burp you kombucha as it is carbonating.  Burping, just means to open the bottle and release the pressure.  Do keep an eye out, the sound of the bottle exploding is scary and it's a pain to clean up. :) 

Again, someone likes my kombucha!!  YEAH!!!!