If you have found my Kombucha 101 page, you may have heard me talking about the concept of making fermented sweet tea with a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast). Kombucha tends to come up in many of my conversations with my friends, because I am excited about it! Most people do not ferment their beverages anymore. However, for centuries, traditional cultures have fermented their drinks and their food in order to increase the nutritive value and to protect the food from the wrong bacteria and yeast.
If you have plenty of the right bacteria and yeast, you decrease the chances of your food having the wrong kinds of bacteria and yeast.
How I Started my Kombucha Obsession
I have now been making kombucha for four going on five years. My first SCOBY was given to me by a sweet friend (at the time, barely acquaintance) Claude while I was living in Italy. I took the slick round mass of bacteria and yeast that she gave me and made up a batch of sweet tea. I laid the SCOBY on top and waited! It was fantastic being able to make my own fermented tea.
Why I Continue My Kombucha Obsession
If it was all about making some slightly vinegary tasting tea, then I would not have continued drinking or making fermented sweet tea. Kombucha is so much more than a simple enjoyable drink. Check out the amazing benefits below:
- Immune boosting –> Jam packed with anti-oxidants
- Contains glucaric acid –> Very important for healing common malformations of cells
- Detoxes the body while supporting the liver
- Filled with glucosamines –> Important for joints and arthritis
- Contains gut healing probiotics
All sorts of fermented drinks have incredible benefits, but kombucha is easy to make, palatable, and can be enjoyed by the whole family. Now you need to know how to make this wonderful drink. Below I include the basic kombucha recipe for fermented tea.
How to Make Kombucha
- 1 SCOBY
- 1/2 cup Kombucha liquid
- 1/4 cup organic sugar (Find some –> here)
- 2 organic black tea bags (My favorite fair trade and organic –> brand)
- 1 quart of filtered water (not distilled) (I use a Berkey water filter)
- Mason Jars (I use these –> here)
Directions
- Take 1 quart of water and boil.
- Remove from heat and add organic tea bags.
- Brew 15 minutes.
- Add organic sugar to the tea. Stir with a wooden spoon until dissolved.
- Let sit until cool.
- Pour sweetened tea into a round glass container.
- Add 1/2 kombucha liquid to tea and place SCOBY on top.
- Wait 1 to 1 1/2 weeks until the flavor is to your liking.
- Save 1/2 – 1 cup of liquid for future brews and enjoy the rest!
- Start again to keep those health benefits coming 😉
I will cover the second ferment in Kombucha 102, which is coming soon! Follow me on –> Facebook and –> Instagram to keep up with my most recent posts, learn great information, and converse with other crunchy mamas and ladies.
Brooke Shambley
THE Boholistic Mom