Guest Post: My First Kombucha Brew from Laura at wholegreenlove

Guest Post: My First Kombucha Brew from Laura at wholegreenlove post image

Within the last year or so, kombucha has become one of my favorite beverages. The amazing benefits of this ancient, fermented drink are an appealing reason to partake. The B vitamins, organic acids, pH balancing qualities, and digestion benefits are enough to make me squeal with delight! But for me, I was sold on the taste alone. I’m not a soda drinker, but I can certainly appreciate a bubbly beverage every now and then. While some people would describe the taste of kombucha as vinegary, I think it has the perfect amount of sweetness to curb a sugary craving any day.

Anyone who has purchased bottle kombucha from the store knows that it can be pretty expensive. If my husband and I were going to incorporate this drink into our daily routine, I knew I needed to find a way to brew it at home. From our local health food store, I pay about $3.50 for a 16 oz bottle.

I knew by brewing it at home, I could make a gallon of this stuff for about $2. Talk about financial motivation.

I asked for a kombucha brew kit for Christmas and ordered my fresh SCOBY as soon as I received it. To kick off the New Year on January 1st, I brewed my first batch of kombucha. You can view Jill’s instructions on brewing a basic kombucha recipe here. I won’t bore you with the steps in this post because Jill’s instructions were very thorough and almost identical to those included with my brew kit.

One difference was that my kit suggested allowing the tea to ferment for a minimum of 14 days prior to giving the kombucha a taste test, instead of the 7 days that Jill mentions.

It’s So Easy!

I’m not exaggerating: If you can brew a pot of tea, you can make your own kombucha. It’s so easy.

Kombucha SCOBY WholeGreenLove

My first batch of kombucha turned. out. awesome.

The flavor is the same as store bought kombucha and although the carbonation is just a bit less than the brand I buy from the store, I think it’s still delicious. My mom did a taste test and told me that she thought the carbonation was just right.

I learned a few things during my first kombucha brewing process

  • Fermention in our house (especially in the winter) probably takes longer than it needs to. Before our daughter was born, we kept our house pretty chilly in the winter to save on that heating bill. Now that Lyla is running around this place, we keep the temperature at a balmy 68 degrees. Still probably too cool for the kombucha, which should be kept in a 72-ish degree environment. I bet my brewing process will be nicely accelerated during the summer months!
  • I can’t justify the extra expense to crank up the heat in our home during our cold Wisconsin winters just to brew kombucha a little faster. Because of this temperature situation, I plan to brew my kombucha for 28 days in the winter and 14 days during the summer, especially if I’m looking for a little more carbonation.
  • Having a glass pitcher with a cap and old store bought kombucha bottles that have been run through the dishwasher are perfect vessels for your finished product. I keep a pitcher in the fridge and filled a few bottles to bring with me to work.

Glass of Kombucha WholeGreenLove

I have organic black and green tea on our grocery list so I can start the process again as soon as possible. I have a feeling that we will gulp through this batch of kombucha faster than we can have the next batch ready.

Once I go through this brew process a few times, I can definitely see myself transitioning to a continuous brew system. A never-ending supply of kombucha? I like the sound of that.

Where to buy all the supplies you need for brewing kombucha!

I am Laura Collins, one of the writers for the blog WholeGreenLove. One of my top priorities as a wife and mom is balancing a full time job and nourishing my family with wholesome food. I believe that a simple, clutter-free life that includes real food and planet conscious decisions = happiness.

This post is shared at: Full Plate Thursday

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Leave a Comment

  • Allie January 23, 2013, 9:08 am

    Thanks for sharing.
    I keep the crock pot turned on with bone broth or just plain water near my brew since my house is kept at 63 degrees. My is done within 7 days or sooner. I’m going to look at getting a mini crockpot for this purpose. I have also heard of keeping the brew on/near a reptile mat??

    Reply
  • Audrey January 23, 2013, 9:30 am

    I keep mine on the counter near the stove and then every time I cook I am hoping it helps keep it warmer. I also surround it with a clean, dry tea towel to try to keep some warmth in. It is definitely taking longer in the winter, but then where I am it has been -35 degrees Celsius for the last week or so. Just grateful anything survives in this weather! Flu and cold viruses have not visited here either.

    Reply
  • Mary January 23, 2013, 12:10 pm

    I brew mine on top of the refrigerator, which is warmer than most places in my kitchen. I’m not quite as cold as Audrey, but also in Canada and it’s been -20 degrees C. and I’m finding that the house I bought a year ago is just a cold house….:-( Hope this helps someone.

    Reply
  • Loretta January 23, 2013, 5:33 pm

    You will love the continuous brew when you switch over! It’s much less work and you can have kombucha every day. I highly recommend switching over sooner rather than later!

    Reply
  • Bebe January 25, 2013, 5:11 am

    You might want to consider a heating system for your kombucha. That way you can still keep the heat bill down while keeping your brew time shorter! This is what I use, from Hannah at Kombucha Kamp.
    http://store.kombuchakamp.com/Heating-Systems/
    Also, with the continuous brew system (mine holds 2.5 gallons) you can pour off and bottle a gallon of kombucha, refill with sweet tea and have it ready again in days rather than weeks.

    Reply
  • Miz Helen January 25, 2013, 11:30 am

    Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for sharing your tasty recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
  • teresa January 25, 2013, 6:57 pm

    Looks great i get all my cultures from http://www.royalkombucha.com
    they have great deals and excellent customer support

    Reply
  • Alex Smith March 8, 2017, 11:14 pm

    I have tried a lot of these drinks and kombucha is one of my favorite. I tend to have stomach issues and this helps my digestion so much. Not only that but it makes me feel more awake and rejuvenated. The benefits of kombucha are vast and have been noted to produce a healthy functioning liver, aid in digestion and gut health, support joints, and even boost the immune system.

    Src: https://www.happyherbalist.com/kombucha/

    Reply