How to make kombucha tea

With this simple tutorial you will learn how to make kombucha tea, a probiotic powerhouse that is nourishing for your body.

History of Kombucha

I am sure you have all heard about kombucha tea, it has become all the rage in the last couple of years. But, kombucha isn’t something new. That expensive, posh bottle of kombucha at the grocery store actually has its roots in Asia.

Some say kombucha originated in China almost 2,000 years ago and was known as the “Tea of Immortality”. Others suggest that Japan and Korea used kombucha around 400 AD to treat sickness (including cancer). There are many legends swirling on the internet about the origins of kombucha tea. I’m not sure anyone knows the true history of kombucha, however, we know it has been around awhile and that it has been used to promote health in the body.

Benefits of Kombucha

Other than the fact that kombucha tea is a tasty drink, it is filled with many benefits for the body. Like other probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables, kombucha has similar benefits and some extra benefits. Let’s explore some of the benefits kombucha tea has to offer…

• It contains polyphenals, which act as an anti-inflammatory. These anti-inflammatories aid in fighting everything from arthritis to cancer.
• As I mentioned, kombucha contains probiotics like other fermented foods. These probiotics help improve gut health and aid in digestion. We can all benefit from that!
• Kombucha tea is loaded with antioxidants that help rid the body of free radicals and other harmful substances.
• Some studies show that kombucha lowers blood sugar levels in diabetes patients.
• It contains more Vitamin C than an orange.
• Kombucha contains essential minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, and the list continues.

With all these benefits, it’s kinda hard not to justify drinking it!

Word of Caution

There is mixed information on whether to allow children to drink kombucha tea. It is know to contain small amounts of alcohol. However, I have found, and have studied, that giving kombucha tea to my kids is very beneficial for their bodies. The recommendation is to give the tea in moderation, so for young children, that would be between 2-4 ounces a day. Honestly when you consider all the junky drinks out there for kids, this is a tasty, nourishing alternative. It loads up there gut with good bacteria. My kids love it!

Supplies for making Kombucha Tea

There are a few items you will need in order to make kombucha tea…

• Glass jar – I use a glass jar for making Kombucha tea. Glass jars with a spigot work really well, I use this one. Because of our family size, I have two jars of Kombucha going, one that is always ready while the other is fermenting.
• Clean Cloth/Coffee filter – You will need a cloth or coffee filter to cover the top of the jar to allow for airflow.
• Rubber band – To secure the jar, I use a rubber band. But, you can use twine, a hair tie, or whatever you have.
• Green/Black tea – In order to make the Kombucha tea you will need, tea of course! You can use green or black tea, just make sure it is organic. I use loose leaf, but you can also use tea bags.

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• SCOBY – To get the fermentation going in your tea, your going to need a SCOBY. A SCOBY is a jelly-like cellulose mat that houses the bacteria and yeast to ferment the tea. Sounds appetizing doesn’t it? Don’t let the look of the SCOBY fool you, this is a powerhouse of health! You can get this from someone who is already brewing kombucha, or you can buy it here. Cultures for health is my trusted go to for all things fermented, and they also carry SCOBY’s!
• Starter tea/Distilled white vinegar – You will also need starter tea, kombucha tea from a former batch or a former friends batch. If you do not have starter tea, then use distilled white vinegar as an equal replacement.
• Sugar – Now don’t get scared about the sugar. I recommend raw cane sugar, like this. Sugar is necessary because this is what the good bacteria feast on. By the time fermentation is finished there is only 2-6 grams if sugar in 8 ounces of kombucha. To give some perspective, 8 ounces of orange juice has around 24 grams of sugar!

How to make kombucha tea

We have discussed everything about kombucha except how to make it! I am pretty excited to share this process with you because it is so easy, it is as simple as making a batch of regular tea. Let’s dive in!

Start by boiling 2 cups of water. While it is heating up, add 4 tsp or 4 tea bags to a glass jar.

Once the water has boiled, pour it into the jar of tea and let steep 3-5 minutes. Once the steeping is finished, strain out the tea or remove the tea bags.

Next we are going to add 1/2 cup of sugar to the strained tea. Give it a good stir to dissolve all the sugar and let the tea sit on the counter until cooled.

Once the tea has cooled, add the tea, SCOBY and 1/2 cup of starter tea/distilled white vinegar to your final jar.

Here is a lovely picture of my SCOBY, isn’t it beautiful? Actually, it is quite disgusting, so just don’t look at it in your tea. The benefits of this jelly-like creature far out way it’s disgusting look. Let’s carry on…

Add 2 cups of water and give it another stir. Then, cover the jar with a clean cloth or coffee filter secured with a rubber band. If you don’t secure the top, the fruit flies will be all over this bad boy!

Take this lovely jar of tea and put it in a dark place for about a week. It may be more or less depending on the temperature of the environment. I keep my jar in the pantry by the kitchen and it is quite warm. My kombucha is ready in four days! You will know it is ready by the vinegar smell, give it a taste. The longer it sits, the more tangy the flavor.

Once you have reached your desired flavor, place the jar in the fridge. This will stop the fermentation process. Or, you can strain out some tea to put in the fridge and go ahead and start on a new batch of kombucha. Remember to save a 1/2 cup of tea for the next batch!

That’s it! It is one of those things where it sounds intimidating but it is not. It is really quite simple, but the benefits are amazing. Cheers!

~Amanda

If you want to learn more about probiotic rich foods, check out my Fermented Foods page where I discuss everything from making yogurt to apple cider vinegar!