I have shared the MANY benefits of Kombucha in the past but had not shared my personal HOMEBREW recipe on the blog. I wanted to make this part of my upcoming video series for PDTV....However, the schedule of my video editing "expert" has shifted a bit in her new professional endeavors and we are putting that project on hold until school is out for SUMMER.....! In the meantime, with special request- I wanted to share my recipe for the magical elixir known as KOMBUCHA!
10 quarts of filtered water (chlorine will kill the SCOBY)
12 quart sized black tea bags (I use Red Diamond)
3 cups white sugar
*This will make 2 1/2 gallons
Glass Container or Fermentation Crock
Muslin Cloth or Thin Towel (Cover)
Rubber Band (Large) to secure cover
1 SCOBY w/1-2 cups of starter Kombucha
Brew tea bags for a minimum of 10 minutes to insure you have released adequate tannins. While tea is hot, dissolve sugar. After brewing and mixing, allow to cool down to 80 degrees farenheit. Transfer to fermentation container and add your SCOBY with starter Kombucha. Gently place SCOBY on top surface. Cover your container with cloth and secure with rubber band. Move to warm spot in kitchen with adequate ventilation but NO direct sunlight. After 7 days, you may ladle a test serving into a glass, it should be slightly fizzy and sweet. If it is too sweet, let it go a few more days. SCOBY should be at least 1/4 inch thick. When it has become tangy and not too sweet (sugars are being consumed), bottle into grolsch style bottles with rubber seal (available online or in home brew stores around the US). Leave the newly bottled tea in a warm area with no direct sunlight for 3-5 days NOTE: This is when you would add special flavors also BUT, I suggest making several batches unflavored until you get the base flavor established. Now you can refrigerate and enjoy. If you are not chilling your bottles, you may need to "burp" them every few days to avoid building up too march carbonation. You now will have the "mother" SCOBY and a baby "SCOBY" for two batches, or to share with a friend or compost.
If you have any questions....please do not hesitate to ask away (below) I want you all to enjoy this awesome drink as much as I do....NOW for the secret recipe for my famous~ Lavender/Hibiscus Kombucha- well, that one is TOP SECRET, haha! Go on....create your own wild and exciting flavor combinations and share your photo's and ideas with us Diva's. Make it a GREAT one Ya'll!
* EZ bottles that are shown above can be purchased from my Amazon Store link.
*If you do not have any Kombucha brewing friends to share a SCOBY with you. Please visit my Cultures for Health link on the right hand side of the page. They can ship a SCOBY straight to your door.
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