Kombucha, the magical fermented tea. Seriously, this stuff is amazing!

Once you get past the ickyness of the SCOBY (symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria) you realize the drink itself is actually deliciously fizzy and refreshing.  Not to mention it’s numerous health benefits.

Kombucha is loaded with probiotics…everyone’s heard of probiotics, right?!  They are advertised everywhere these days.  They’re kinda expensive and the quality is iffy. But…you can make Kombucha at home for a fraction of the price AND it really works.

How does it work?

The fermentation process takes place when you combine black tea or green tea, sugar and the SCOBY.  Beautiful healthy bacteria are born and when it’s consumed it coats your digestive tract to support a healthy immune system.

I started exploring the world of Kombucha brewing in an effort to help my husband decrease inflammation related to his psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia. I was also hopeful it would help me, somehow.

For me Kombucha definitely helps with digestion and in turn I absorb nutrients better. Winning! I mean, if I’m going to eat a nutrient rich diet I want to be able to properly absorb the nutrients!!!

For Kevin the power of Kombucha is life changing. After drinking 8-12 oz daily for several weeks Kevin’s psoriasis was significantly better and his restless leg has almost completely stopped. AND he no longer craves sweets or sugary sodas!!! That’s HUGE!

I’m sure you’re wondering, how do I start brewing my own magic elixir?  It’s really easy! And I’m about to give you the low down…

Must have items:

1. You’ll need a SCOBY.  If you have a friend locally who makes Kombucha, ask them for a SCOBY.  (If you live in NWA let me know…I’m sure I can hook ya up.) If not, no big deal. You can order them on Amazon.  I recommend Kombucha Kamp,  they’re legit. Along with the SCOBY you will need 1-2 cups of Kombucha as your starter.

2. You’ll need a glass beverage dispenser or a glass container of some kind. (the beverage dispenser just makes it easier to bottle, if that’s what you choose to do.)

3. Organic sugar cane (you don’t have to use organic…but it makes me feel better knowing my sugar isn’t laced with pesticides.) You do HAVE to use sugar! No sugar substitutes.

4. Green tea or black tea, I use organic green tea. Make sure it’s 💯 green tea or 💯 black tea! Do not use herbal blends.

5. Clean dish towel and a rubber band.

Optional (but VERY HELPFUL) items:

Home brewing glass beer bottles or 32 oz growlers with tight fitting lid…these make flavoring your Kombucha easy and drinking your Kombucha convenient.

Brewing Instructions:

1. Boil water, enough to almost fill your glass container.

2. Add tea bags 10-20 depending on size of container.  My container is huge so I use 15-20. Let tea steep.

3. Add sugar 1-2 cups (1 for smaller batches, 2 for larger). Mix well

4. LET TEA COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE! (This is important so you don’t kill the SCOBY)

5. Add the SCOBY, cover with clean dish cloth and secure with a rubber band.

6. Place in a darkish place [like the corner of your kitchen]. Do not place in sunlight or near the oven. Your SCOBY likes room temperature.

7. Let it sit for 10-14 Days.  Seriously, just leave it alone. Let the magic happen!!!

You’ll know when your Kombucha is ready by the smell. If it smells sweet, it’s not ready. If it smells a little like apple cider vinegar it’s good to go.

Now, you can drink it just like this! Just remove the SCOBY. Store the SCOBY in a couple cups of your fresh Kombucha…you will need this to make a new batch. Do not throw the SCOBY away! Do not rinse the SCOBY. It’s perfect just the way it is!

If you want to flavor your drink you will need to bottle it. I recommend home brew beer bottles or growlers fot the bottling process.  Add fruit juice (this does need to be organic), fruit purée or just cut up some fruit and throw it in there…that’s what I do.  This creates a second fermentation process and carbonation is born!! Make sure the lids are on tight and let sit (on counter) for about 3 days. That’s it! Easy right?!   Refrigerate and enjoy.