Kombucha

Fizzy Kombucha

I hopped on the Kombucha wagon and ordered a baby scoby online.  Kombucha is a probiotic drink with so many health benefts that I don't even have the time to list.  Seriously, google it. :)

Ingrediants 

• 1 Kombucha Mushroom / S.C.O.B.Y / Mother Culture (Ebay $6)
• 3 Quarts of water
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 4 tea bags - Black or Green tea
• 1/2 Cup of finished Kombucha or 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar  
• 1 gallon glass jar (or a ceramic stoneware led-free crock)
• Bottles for your finished kombucha or small mason jars with unbleached wax paper for under the lid

Instructions

1. Bring one quart of the water to a boil. Remove from heat, add sugar & tea. Steep 15 minutes then remove tea bags.
2. Pour liquid into the 1 gallon glass jar and add the remaining 2 quarts of water.
3. Add 1/2 Cup of finished Kombucha or 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar.
4. Put mother culture on top of the tea. Smooth side up. If you have several S.C.O.B.Y.’s, the lightest in color is the top.
5. Cover with a cloth towel & a rubber band around the top.
6. Ferment for 7-10 days in a warm and not-so-bright area. Make sure that the new culture has fully formed on top of the brew before proceeding to the next step.

Day One

 

Day Eight (when it's not freezing out we only have the wood stove going about every other day, so it's been brewing in a variety of temperatures)

Well hello baby SCOBY you turned into a big mama!  The kids got a kick out of this.  We had to do a taste test of course, and boy they did NOT like it.  Don't worry I told them, after it's bottled with our home canned grape juice for a few days and then chilled in the fridge, you will loove it.  Promise.  :)

Bottling Instructions

 1 tsp sugar

 1 Fresh/frozen strawberry

Grape juice to top it off

• Take the cultures out of the Kombucha and place them in a bowl, covering with 1/2 cup of Kombucha
• Put sugar and strawberry in the jars
• Fill the jars about 3/4 full with Kombucha
• Top off with fresh juice, leaving plenty of headspace
• Leave the jars out for 2-4 days before refrigerating (this second fermentation will make sure it's good and carbonated)

*You can add any type of fresh fruit or juice, this is just what I tried first, and it's really good.

AND YOU'RE DONE!

*You can start a new batch right away, or to save your cultures, put them in the fridge in a mason jar with the 1/2 cup of Kombucha.