Make Your Own Kombucha!
Connie, hello’s head of R&D is known for formulating all of our products including our toothpaste and breathspray. She has a background in Food Science so she knows exactly how to make things taste delicious (hello, mojito mint and watermelon toothpaste!) This summer, she’s been keeping cool by brewing her own tasty kombucha using a recipe from the Scoby Kombucha company. Connie’s kombucha has become a favorite around the hello office, so we interviewed her to find out how you can make your own kombucha at home and get in on the friendly.
What is kombucha?
Connie: Kombucha is a drink that is made from fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
What inspired you to create your own kombucha?
Connie: I really liked GT’s Kombucha and was buying it so often that it became a really expensive habit! I thought, it could be a fun challenge to try and make it on my own. My friend then bought me a SCOBY for my birthday so it was the perfect time to get started.
What exactly is a SCOBY?
Connie: A SCOBY is a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. It’s a vital ingredient when making Kombucha.
Where do you brew your Kombucha?
Connie: At home!
What are some benefits of drinking Kombucha?
Connie: Kombucha is rich in probiotics. It can help with digestion and your immune system. It also contains antioxidants and is a good source of B vitamins.
Any advice to someone who is looking to try to brew kombucha for the first time?
Connie: As far as the brewing, it’s easier than it looks! When it comes to the taste, it will take some getting used to. At first, you can try mixing it with fruit juice to make it more appealing. I have mixed it with cranberry juice. You can also add a few slices of ginger to the bottled kombucha. Lastly, a warning that kombucha has caffeine in it! I gave it to my young daughter one night and she was up until 10:30. Now it’s strictly something we have with breakfast. There’s also alcohol in it (around 0.5%-1%) so if you’re pregnant or avoiding alcohol, you should be aware of that as well.
Now that we’re equipped with the facts, let’s get to the brewing process.
What you’ll need:
- 6 tea bags
- White sugar
- SCOBY
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Distilled Water
- 1 gallon glass wide-mouth jar
- Thermometer
Directions:
1) Start by brewing Sweet Tea- Boil ½ gallon of distilled water
2) Add 6 tea bags. You can use any tea of your preference but Connie uses Whole Foods 365 Organic Black Tea or Twining’s English Breakfast Tea
3) Let the tea bags steep for 10-20 minutes
4) Remove tea bags
5) Add ¾ cups sugar and stir until dissolved
The yeast and bacteria feed off this sugar, so don’t replace with a sugar substitute.
7) Let tea cool and make sure its under 85 degrees F. Anything above 85 degrees F will kill the SCOBY.
Connie’s tip: Cover pot and put it in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
8) Put SCOBY in Mason jar
9) Dump sweet tea over scoby
10) Add ½ cup distilled vinegar
11) Cover the jar with a paper towel and a rubber band. (Don’t use cheese-cloth because fruit flies can get in). Let sit for 7-14 days.
12) Try the tea after 7 days with a straw. If you’d like your Kombucha to be less sweet you can let it sit longer.
13) Bottle your tea. Bottled tea will become more carbonated.
Optional: If you’d like to make a new batch, take the SCOBY out and set it aside in a bowl, and dump 2 cups of tea over it to keep it wet. Clean your jar with hot soapy water and start the brewing process over again. For your second batch and all subsequent batches, you can use 2 cups of the kombucha tea instead of distilled vinegar. If you’re lucky, with every brew, you’ll get a “baby” SCOBY. You can leave it in your next brew to speed up the fermentation process, or gift it to a friend!
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Connie recommends adding slices of ginger, chia seeds and even muddled mint and ice for a mojito feel. (We always have mojito mint on the brain.)
So there you have it, Connie’s kombucha is a foolproof way to sweeten up your summer.
If you have any questions for Connie on the process or just want to let us know how awesome your kombucha turned out, say hello on Twitter.