What is Kombucha | How to Make Kombucha

It’s brew-tiful, it’s bubbly, it’s Kombucha, oh-so-lovely!

Kombucha is a kind of fermented tea with a tangy taste, prized for both its distinct flavour and its health benefits! It has a slight effervescent texture because of the presence of bacteria and yeast.

It is believed that kombucha originated in China, still, it is one of their traditional beverages. It began to spread to the rest of the world through Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, and subsequently to other countries in Eastern Europe and Germany.

Now kombucha is a popular fermented tea that can be made at home. The process of making kombucha involves fermenting sugared tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast or SCOBY.

Wandering what is SCOBY? It is a thick, rubbery, scummy substance that is the reason behind kombucha’s fermentation. Let’s dig deeper into kombucha and SCOBY in this article!

Table of Contents

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a kind of fermented beverage made with green or black tea, sugar and water. It can also be termed as a kind of fermented tea made by brewing the above-mentioned ingredients together. One essential material is used to make kombucha i.e. SCOBY- a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.

This fermented tea has a light and bubbly profile due to bacterial fermentation. Generally, it takes two to three weeks to get the fermentation process done where the sugar feeds the bacteria and yeast leaving a tangy fermented alcohol. Kombucha contains some live microorganisms or probiotics like any other fermented food. These probiotics are the reasons behind the health benefits offered by kombucha. One major health benefit of kombucha is that it helps to increase the good bacteria in the gut.

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Detailed explanation of SCOBY

The SCOBY is a crucial part of kombucha brewing. It’s what transforms the beverage from a sweet tea into a fizzy, acidic kombucha that is teeming with microbes.

Sugars and starches get converted chemically into acid or alcohol through fermentation. One of the key ingredients in the fermentation process used to make kombucha is this SCOBY or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.

The predominant component of the SCOBY’s dish-shaped structure is cellulose, an insoluble fibre. The SCOBY might look different, often thick, opaque, rubbery, spherical, and has a vinegar-like smell. If you notice any mould or a strong cheese-like odour, the SCOBY is likely decaying and needs to be thrown out.

SCOBY has a variety of yeast and bacterium species that aid in the fermentation process. One can buy SCOBY from local or online retailers. Making your own SCOBY or buying one will allow you to make your kombucha, which will always be probiotic-rich and refreshing.

Other Key ingredients and tools required

For people who value their health highly, drinking health tea is obvious to them. Kombucha online products offer this health-promoting beverage in a variety of flavours, and you can select the one that most closely matches your tastes. This health drink can help you to start living a healthy lifestyle.

Kombucha can be made at home following some easy steps which we will discuss later. Let us now talk about the ingredients and tools that you will need before starting to brew your raw kombucha.

Also read: 8 Amazing Benefits of Kombucha You Should Know

They are listed in the following order:

Ingredients:

Synthetic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, or SCOBY
One gallon of spring water
Green tea or black tea, depending on your taste
Fruit Juice with Sugar (optional)

Instruments:

Large pot or container (avoid using one made of plastic or metal)
A thermometer that floats
A cheesecloth with a rubber band
bottles with a seal
glass measuring cup

Stepwise process of brewing kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea made from a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast also known as SCOBY, black and green tea, and sugar. All the ingredients are mixed and then left to ferment for a period of one to three weeks. The major reason behind this kombucha drink has been consumed for thousands of years is its outstanding flavor and a few health benefits. Because of the high kombucha probiotics content, it successfully heals illnesses including diabetes and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Now that you know some potential health benefits of kombucha, it is time to briefly discuss its preparation method.

Step:1 Brew the tea

For brewing this fermented tea, bring a big pot to boil a gallon of spring water. Once the water boils, add the tea bags and steep for 15 minutes. Next, you can remove the tea bags and give the liquid a good whisking before you add the sugar.

Step 2: Add the SCOBY

This step entails lowering the tea’s temperature. Pour the tea into a glass pitcher and add the SCOBY. When the tea reaches the proper temperature, the sugar will start fermenting to turn into kombucha. After filling the jug with SCOBY, cover it with cheesecloth, and secure with a rubber band.

Step:3 The fermentation process

Now it is time to start the fermentation process. Place the jug in a warm, dark place for seven to 10 days. When the SCOBY reaches and exceeds in size within the suggested number of days or so, your fermentation is complete. If you want a more intense flavour, you may keep it for a longer time.

Step:4 Take the SCOBY out

After fermentation, cut the SCOBY into pieces and put it in a glass bottle. Pour the kombucha drink over the SCOBY. Allow the SCOBY to settle down and seal the container with a cheesecloth around the jug. Once the kombucha reaches your preferred flavor, transfer it into sealed glass bottles and store them in the refrigerator. The beverage will be fresh to drink for up to 3-5 days.

Step:5 Adding flavour to kombucha drink

This phase can depend on the customer’s preferences as to how much flavouring they want. Fruit juice can be added to the fermented beverage to enhance its flavour. After adding flavours, transfer the liquid into the tightly covered bottles, shake thoroughly, and store in a dark place for three to five days.

Step 6: Savor the delicious flavour of unpasteurized kombucha

Once the fermentation process is complete, filter off any leftover enlarged SCOBY pieces and store the beverage in sealed bottles in the refrigerator until you are ready to consume it. Raw kombucha has a delicious flavour that will not only satisfy your taste buds but also offer your body several health benefits.

Also read: Best Kombucha Brands in India 2024

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Conclusions

Kombucha has health benefits, kombucha is flavourful. It is a refreshing drink with added benefits. Making Kombucha is not a tough nut to crack!

We have provided you with enough information from beginning to end. One can make kombucha at home with green or black tea, sugar and SCOBY. Else, one can purchase kombucha online or offline from nearby stores.

Making your kombucha, or purchasing one, will enable you to enjoy a pleasant, probiotic-rich beverage regularly.

FAQ

SCOBY can be used for up to five to six months after purchase. But it is not generally recommended to use it for that much time. It will taste better if you use the SCOBY within the four weeks after purchase. The sooner you use the SCOBY the more it prevents the chances of fermentation in the packing. Check for kombucha prices on our website, Orgo All-Natural.

Several techniques exist to scan if kombucha is fermented properly. When the fermentation occurs properly, the kombucha drink starts to bubble, becomes thick and the SCOBY appears at the top. You will also feel a change in the taste. The kombucha-fermented tea will start to taste a little sour after proper fermentation. Kombucha benefits our health by increasing the number of healthy bacteria in our guts. Order kombucha online!

Yes, it can be reused. You may use the same S.C.O.B.Y. for several brews if you make the kombucha drink at your home. It will eventually begin to grow more layers of S.C.O.B.Y., producing more S.C.O.-babies! You just have to take care while using the same S.C.O.B.Y. several times. Keep it clean, maintain the right brewing conditions, and change the tea and sugar mix frequently to keep the S.C.O.B.Y. healthy and active.

There is no particular rule of kombucha brewing. Kombucha can be brewed for seven to thirty days, generally. It depends on personal preferences as to how much fermentation one likes. A longer brewing period results in a tarter and less sweet taste in the fermented beverage. Though time plays a role in fermentation at the same time the temperature has an impact on how quickly and deeply kombucha ferments. Drinking kombucha boasts many health benefits. Kombucha price list may help you to make a quick decision here!

Kombucha usually has a six to eight-month shelf life. Though kombucha's lifespan depends on how it is stored and bottled. Kombucha can last longer if it is kept in the refrigerator and at a cool temperature. The room temperature may favour the fermentation process. Over time, it gets more acidic in taste.

Kombucha is a fermented tea that is rich in antioxidants, and kombucha probiotics. These elements are the reason behind kombucha's health benefits. The enhancements of heart, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and weight control are among the potential health benefits of drinking kombucha. This fermented tea may help in the treatment of certain illnesses, such as liver function, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.