Homemade Kombucha....You can do it!

I told you I'm cheap...right? (Maybe I should change the name to this blog to "Cheap AIP") so making my own Kombucha was a no brainer for me. At nearly $4 a bottle for GTS, I decided to figure out if I could make it myself so I did what I always do. I researched it. The process is not difficult. You can make it easier by ordering your own scoby online. (If you want to buy a scoby, you can use the link below for Kombucha Kamp and purchase one for $24.88 plus shipping, or on Amazon for $6.49. Shipping is free for Prime members). However, being the cheapskate that I am, I figured that I could grow a scoby using the ingredients I already had at home and the cost of a bottle of plain GTS Kombucha from Walmart. I actually didn't even want to buy a gallon container so I used a couple of 2 quart pitchers that I had on hand and ended up with 2 scobies. However to make a scoby all it would take is time.... a lot of it.

Making your own scoby is an exercise in patience but it isn't difficult using the directions from The Kitchn (link below). If you want Kombucha now.... this is NOT for you. It took me 6 weeks to grow a scoby and another 2 weeks before I was able to drink my first glass of Kombucha. A total of 2 months. However, once you get that first batch made, you always have a batch to drink while you have a batch brewing so now I have a regular supply of it. Believe that it was worth the wait.

An important note, my first 2 batches of Kombucha did not carbonate. After researching the problem, I discovered from reading Eileen Laird's post on troubleshooting making Kombucha, I decided that it was due to an immature scoby. The next batch was carbonated but not at the same intensity as GTS... so back to researching again. I came to Kombucha Kamp's and The Kitchn's advice on how to increase the carbonation. I filled my bottles more, used a combination of starter tea as 1 cup from the bottom and 1 cup off of the top (Kombucha Kamp recommends for the advanced Kombucha maker to take all of the starter from the bottom. Since I don't consider myself advanced and don't want to take the chance of exploding bottles, I modified it), then made it with green tea. Success! A wonderfully light and carbonated Kombucha. I haven't tried to flavor it yet because it is one more step.....something else to do. Maybe during the summer I'll put some strawberries in it....or maybe I'll put some honey candied ginger in it next time I make (see post from 2/13)

In the end, I purchased the bottles and a gallon jug on amazon for $6 each. I now realize that I could have purchased a gallon jug at Walmart for $5 and used the mason jars that I already have. I purchased quart size tea bags for $2 plus the cost of a cup of sugar so in the end I'm paying about $1 a bottle for Kombucha. I figure it took 2 batches to recoup the cost of the bottles and jug.

Here are the websites that I used for making my Kombucha. Below that you will find my short cuts.

The Kitchn

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-kombucha-tea-at-home-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-173858

Phoenix Helix

http://www.phoenixhelix.com/kombucha-series/

Kombucha Kamp

https://www.kombuchakamp.com/

My short cuts:

I prepare the tea in the microwave in a large measuring cup but any microwave safe container would work.

• Place six cups of water and 10 tea bags and then microwave for 5 minutes.

• Let the tea steep in the microwave for about 5 minutes.

• Put 1 cup of sugar in the gallon container

• Remove the tea bags from the container and then pour it into the gallon container

• Stir until the sugar melts

• Add 7 cups of ice water (this decreases the time that it has to cool)

• Let it cool until it is about room temperature (sometimes the ice water cools it off enough)

• Add 2 cups of starter tea (If you made your own scoby, this is the tea in the container that you made your scoby in. If you purchased a scoby, then you have to buy a bottle of plain kombucha. If it is your second batch, remember to reserve 2 cups of tea from the batch you're bottling for your next batch)

• There should be about 2 inches left in the top for your scoby. If there is room, add some room temperature water.

From here I follow the directions on the websites listed above.

See how part of my scoby is on the bottom and part on the top? This is perfectly fine.

These bottles are ready for their second fermentation where they will become the healthy, bubbly, elixir that my body craves.

*If you want to use mason jars for this stage, before you put on the lid and ring; place plastic wrap over the jar to make an airtight seal. I have done it and it works as well as the bottles and you can get a dozen mason jars for $7 at Walmart.

#kombucha #homemadekombucha #probiotics #aip #aipresouces #autoimmune