🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 3 (from laksa165)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa003.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/","crawl_time":1775440935,"first_indexed_time":1620826035,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,homesteadingfamily!\/how-to-make-kombucha\/ s443","src_root_hash":"2754722797036447603","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Homemade Kombucha - A Healthy Summer Drink — Homesteading Family","meta_descriptions":["Kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Come learn how to make homemade kombucha!","Homemade kombucha is a delicious and refreshing drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make kombucha at home? We're going to show you our simple continuous brew kombucha set up, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Jump to Recipe\nPrint this Post\nHomemade kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make homemade kombucha? I'm going to show you my simple continuous brew kombucha setup, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started.\nA batch of continuous brew kombucha is right at home in a homestead kitchen. It sits alongside the sourdough starter (no homestead dinner is complete without\nsourdough Parkerhouse rolls\nsmothered with\nhomemade sweet cream butter\n!), the\nhomemade sauerkraut\nand other fermenting goodies, and perhaps\na jar of rendered lard\nfor cooking veggies or\nbaking a homemade pie\n.\nWhy We Love Homemade Kombucha\nKombucha is highly probiotic and filled with vitamins and acids that are important to good digestion and metabolic function. The probiotics\ngive your immune system a boost\n. It's high in B-vitamins and antioxidants (polyphenols from the tea), and it tastes so delicious! (\nSource\n)\nEven if you've tried kombucha in the past, we have tricks for getting even the pickiest eaters to love it, and you must try our\nsecond-ferment kombucha\n, it's so reminiscent of Dr. Pepper!\nSpeaking of soda, kombucha is a great way to wean your family off of sugary juice drinks, sodas, and sweet iced tea (try\nInstant Herbal Iced Tea\n,\nhomemade fizzy ginger bug\n, or\nhomemade natural water flavoring\ntoo).\nWhat is Kombucha?\nKombucha is a black sweet tea that has been fermented with the help of yeast and bacteria. This yeast and bacteria form together into what is called a SCOBY. The SCOBY looks like a mushroom, but it’s actually a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (or SCOBY).\nWhen I try to explain a kombucha SCOBY, I find it easier to compare it to the “mother” in raw apple cider vinegar.  \nContinuous Brew Kombucha\nIn the video above, I showed you our continuous brew kombucha setup. Making kombucha this way is a time-saver. Because we're generally mixing in fresh sweet tea with already fermented kombucha, we find our batches ferment more quickly, and more of the kids enjoy it the first few days when it's a little more on the sweet side.\nSingle Batch Kombucha\nMaking a single batch of kombucha means you will need to have a SCOBY for every jar you're using. Most often, people will make their kombucha in a gallon-size jar. This sits out at room temperature for about 5-7 days (and up to 14 days for a more tart kombucha) before it's ready to consume.\nAt this point, you can remove the SCOBY and start a fresh batch of kombucha and place the already fermented batch into the refrigerator to be enjoyed.\nContinuous Brew vs. Single Batch\nSo what's the difference between a continuous brew kombucha and a single batch? Not much, just the vessel in which you store the kombucha, and whether you store it in the refrigerator or out on the counter.\nHave you heard of making continuous homemade bone broth? It's a similar idea where you place your bones, veggie scraps and water into a crockpot, then use the broth as needed and top off the broth with more water after each use.\nThe difference here is that with a continuous brew kombucha, you're topping off your kombucha with more sweet tea instead of starting a new fresh batch. However, the ingredients and supplies are the same for both methods.\nIngredients and Supplies Needed\n2 &frac12; Gallon Crock or 1 Gallon Glass Jar\n- We use the continuous brew method using a 2 &frac12; gallon crock, if you'd prefer, you can use a one gallon glass jar (or even scale down to ½ gallon and cut this recipe in half).\nSCOBY\n- You can get a SCOBY from a friend that brews kombucha, or you can purchase one. Make sure it is an active and healthy SCOBY, and comes from a reputable source like\nFarmhouse Teas who sells Oregon Kombucha's Live SCOBYs\n. When handling your SCOBY, always do so with freshly clean hands. This will prevent introducing foreign bacterias into your SCOBY that can result in mold.\nKombucha Starter\n- SCOBYs come with a small amount of starter which is just a small amount of finished kombucha. I've heard of people using store-bought plain kombucha as their starter culture, but I find the best method is to get a SCOBY and some kombucha starter from a friend or\norder a Kombucha Starter Kit from a reputable source\n.\nOrganic Sugar\n- Using organic sugar is important to the health of your SCOBY. Conventionally processed sugars and teas contain chemicals that have been developed to specifically kill fungus and bacteria. Since we are trying to grow bacteria, conventional ingredients will weaken and potentially kill your SCOBY. Honey is not recommended for this recipe. Honey is a natural antibiotic and can result in a weakened SCOBY. Please note the sugar is for your SCOBY not for you. The fermentation process will eat the majority of the sugar, leaving you with a lightly sweetened kombucha.\nOrganic Black Tea Bags (or Loose Leaf Black Tea)\n- For the same reason we use organic sugar, we also want to make sure our tea is organic as well. You may be wondering if decaf black tea can be used. Yes, it can! And you can also use green tea!\nHere are some great teas for making kombucha\n.\nHow to Make Kombucha\nWith clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 &frac12; gallon crock.\nIn a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about &frac12; gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.\nAdd tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes.\nAdd remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags.\nMake sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.)\nThe first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter\/milder kombucha.\nFeed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week.\nKombucha Tips & Tricks\nFruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on.\nDo not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best.\nIf you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out).\nIf your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for.\nYou can bottle\/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda).\nDid you make this recipe?\n If so, we’d love for you to leave a star rating on the recipe card below, then snap a photo and tag us on social media \n@homesteadingfamily\n so we can see!\nIt's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine.\nMore Fermentation Resources\nEasy Homemade Fermented Cranberry Sauce\nSwitchel Recipe (Apple Cider Vinegar Drink or Haymaker’s Punch)\nCherry Almond Flavored Kombucha (How to Second Ferment Kombucha)\nHow To Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut\nSteeping Tea for Medicinal Purposes\nHomemade Elderberry Wine\nSparkling Apple Cider – Homemade\nHomemade Kombucha Recipe\nLearn how to make this delicious and probiotic homemade kombucha, or use our continuous brew method to have this drink available every single day!\n4.37\nfrom\n19\nvotes\nPrint\nPin\nCourse:\nDrinks\nCuisine:\nChinese\nPrep Time:\n15\nminutes\nFermentation Time:\n7\ndays\nTotal Time:\n7\ndays\n15\nminutes\nServings:\n16\ncups\nAuthor:\nCarolyn Thomas\nEquipment\n1 Gallon Glass Jar with Lid\nIngredients\n1\nSCOBY\npurchase or get from a friend\n1\ncup\nkombucha\nstarter culture (or kombucha from a previous batch)\n1\ncup\nsugar\n16\ncups\nwater\n6\nbags\nblack tea\nor equivalent loose leaf tea\nInstructions\nWith clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 &frac12; gallon crock.\nIn a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about &frac12; gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.\nAdd tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes.\nAdd remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags.\nMake sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.)\nThe first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter\/milder kombucha.\nFeed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week.\nNotes\nGrab your Kombucha SCOBY here.\nGet a Kombucha Starter Kit here.\nFind your favorite Kombucha loose leaf tea flavors here.\nFruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on.\nDo not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best.\nIf you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out).\nIf your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for.\nYou can bottle\/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). \nTried this recipe?\nWe want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.","attrs_markdown":"![fb-pixel](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=395471667511030&ev=PageView&noscript=1)\n\n![](https:\/\/ct.pinterest.com\/v3\/?event=init&tid=2612884002771&pd[em]=<hashed_email_address>&noscript=1)\n\n[Skip to content](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/#content)\n\n[![Homesteading Family Logo](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Homesteading-Family-Logo-White.svg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\nMenu\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/login)\n\n[Join the Newsletter](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/banner-ad_5-steps.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/5Stepsads)\n\nThis site contains affiliate links to products we recommend. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.\n\n[Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/) » [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/cook\/)\n\n# Homemade Kombucha - A Healthy Summer Drink\n- Posted\n  \n  May 12, 2021\n- in  [Beverages](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/cook\/beverages\/), [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/cook\/), [Recipes](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/category\/recipes\/)\n\n[Carolyn Thomas](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/author\/cthomas\/)\n\n[Jump to Recipe](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/#recipe)\n\n[Print this Post](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=14675)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_6-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_5-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_4-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_3-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_2-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_1-150x150.jpg)\n\n![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Homemade-Kombucha_7-150x150.jpg)\n\nHomemade kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make homemade kombucha? I'm going to show you my simple continuous brew kombucha setup, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started.\n\n![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-1024x683.jpg)\n\nA batch of continuous brew kombucha is right at home in a homestead kitchen. It sits alongside the sourdough starter (no homestead dinner is complete without [**sourdough Parkerhouse rolls**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/parker-house-rolls-made-with-sourdough\/) smothered with [**homemade sweet cream butter**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-butter\/)!), the [**homemade sauerkraut**](https:\/\/youtu.be\/K3CJFzmRhvI) and other fermenting goodies, and perhaps [**a jar of rendered lard**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/rendering-lard-or-tallow\/) for cooking veggies or [**baking a homemade pie**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe-from-scratch\/).\n\n## Why We Love Homemade Kombucha\nKombucha is highly probiotic and filled with vitamins and acids that are important to good digestion and metabolic function. The probiotics [**give your immune system a boost**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally\/). It's high in B-vitamins and antioxidants (polyphenols from the tea), and it tastes so delicious! (**[Source](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9975612\/)**)\n\nEven if you've tried kombucha in the past, we have tricks for getting even the pickiest eaters to love it, and you must try our [**second-ferment kombucha**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha\/), it's so reminiscent of Dr. Pepper\\!\n\nSpeaking of soda, kombucha is a great way to wean your family off of sugary juice drinks, sodas, and sweet iced tea (try [**Instant Herbal Iced Tea**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/herbal-iced-tea\/), **[homemade fizzy ginger bug](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/ginger-bug-recipe\/)**, or [**homemade natural water flavoring**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/natural-water-flavoring\/) too).\n\n## What is Kombucha?\nKombucha is a black sweet tea that has been fermented with the help of yeast and bacteria. This yeast and bacteria form together into what is called a SCOBY. The SCOBY looks like a mushroom, but it’s actually a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (or SCOBY).\n\nWhen I try to explain a kombucha SCOBY, I find it easier to compare it to the “mother” in raw apple cider vinegar.\n\n## Continuous Brew Kombucha\nIn the video above, I showed you our continuous brew kombucha setup. Making kombucha this way is a time-saver. Because we're generally mixing in fresh sweet tea with already fermented kombucha, we find our batches ferment more quickly, and more of the kids enjoy it the first few days when it's a little more on the sweet side.\n\n## Single Batch Kombucha\nMaking a single batch of kombucha means you will need to have a SCOBY for every jar you're using. Most often, people will make their kombucha in a gallon-size jar. This sits out at room temperature for about 5-7 days (and up to 14 days for a more tart kombucha) before it's ready to consume.\n\nAt this point, you can remove the SCOBY and start a fresh batch of kombucha and place the already fermented batch into the refrigerator to be enjoyed.\n\n![A continuous brew kombucha set up with a glass being filled.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Continous-Brew-Kombucha-683x1024.jpg)\n\n## Continuous Brew vs. Single Batch\nSo what's the difference between a continuous brew kombucha and a single batch? Not much, just the vessel in which you store the kombucha, and whether you store it in the refrigerator or out on the counter.\n\nHave you heard of making continuous homemade bone broth? It's a similar idea where you place your bones, veggie scraps and water into a crockpot, then use the broth as needed and top off the broth with more water after each use.\n\nThe difference here is that with a continuous brew kombucha, you're topping off your kombucha with more sweet tea instead of starting a new fresh batch. However, the ingredients and supplies are the same for both methods.\n\n## Ingredients and Supplies Needed\n- **2 \\&frac12; Gallon Crock or 1 Gallon Glass Jar** - We use the continuous brew method using a 2 \\&frac12; gallon crock, if you'd prefer, you can use a one gallon glass jar (or even scale down to ½ gallon and cut this recipe in half).\n- **SCOBY** - You can get a SCOBY from a friend that brews kombucha, or you can purchase one. Make sure it is an active and healthy SCOBY, and comes from a reputable source like [**Farmhouse Teas who sells Oregon Kombucha's Live SCOBYs**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-scoby). When handling your SCOBY, always do so with freshly clean hands. This will prevent introducing foreign bacterias into your SCOBY that can result in mold.\n- **Kombucha Starter** - SCOBYs come with a small amount of starter which is just a small amount of finished kombucha. I've heard of people using store-bought plain kombucha as their starter culture, but I find the best method is to get a SCOBY and some kombucha starter from a friend or [**order a Kombucha Starter Kit from a reputable source**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-starter).\n- **Organic Sugar**\\- Using organic sugar is important to the health of your SCOBY. Conventionally processed sugars and teas contain chemicals that have been developed to specifically kill fungus and bacteria. Since we are trying to grow bacteria, conventional ingredients will weaken and potentially kill your SCOBY. Honey is not recommended for this recipe. Honey is a natural antibiotic and can result in a weakened SCOBY. Please note the sugar is for your SCOBY not for you. The fermentation process will eat the majority of the sugar, leaving you with a lightly sweetened kombucha.\n- **Organic Black Tea Bags (or Loose Leaf Black Tea)** - For the same reason we use organic sugar, we also want to make sure our tea is organic as well. You may be wondering if decaf black tea can be used. Yes, it can! And you can also use green tea! [**Here are some great teas for making kombucha**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-flavors).\n\n![kombucha scoby being lifted out of a jar of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/kombucha-scoby-1024x684.jpg)\n\n## How to Make Kombucha\n1. With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \\&frac12; gallon crock.\n2. In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \\&frac12; gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.\n3. Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes.\n4. Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags.\n5. Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.)\n6. The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter\/milder kombucha.\n7. Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week.\n## Kombucha Tips & Tricks\n- Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on.\n- Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best.\n- If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out).\n- If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for.\n- You can bottle\/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda).\n\n**Did you make this recipe?** If so, we’d love for you to leave a star rating on the recipe card below, then snap a photo and tag us on social media [**@homesteadingfamily**](https:\/\/instagram.com\/homesteadingfamily) so we can see\\!\n\n*It's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine.*\n\n## More Fermentation Resources\n- [Easy Homemade Fermented Cranberry Sauce](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/easy-homemade-fermented-cranberry-sauce-recipe\/)\n- [Switchel Recipe (Apple Cider Vinegar Drink or Haymaker’s Punch)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homemade-switchel-recipe\/)\n- [Cherry Almond Flavored Kombucha (How to Second Ferment Kombucha)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha\/)\n- [How To Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/lacto-fermented-sauerkraut-recipe\/)\n- [Steeping Tea for Medicinal Purposes](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/steeping-tea-for-medicinal-purposes\/)\n- [Homemade Elderberry Wine](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homemade-elderberry-wine\/)\n- [Sparkling Apple Cider – Homemade](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/sparkling-apple-cider\/)\n\n![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-500x500.jpg)\n\n## Homemade Kombucha Recipe\nLearn how to make this delicious and probiotic homemade kombucha, or use our continuous brew method to have this drink available every single day\\!\n\n4\\.37 from 19 votes\n\n[Print](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wprm_print\/homemade-kombucha-recipe)\n\n[Pin](https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/bookmarklet\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fhow-to-make-kombucha%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FLemon-Ginger-Kombucha.jpg&description=Homemade+Kombucha+Recipe&is_video=false)\n\nCourse: Drinks\n\nCuisine: Chinese\n\nPrep Time: 15 minutes minutes\n\nFermentation Time: 7 days days\n\nTotal Time: 7 days days 15 minutes minutes\n\nServings: 16 cups\n\nAuthor: Carolyn Thomas\n\n### Equipment\n- 1 Gallon Glass Jar with Lid\n\n### Ingredients\n- 1 SCOBY purchase or get from a friend\n- 1 cup kombucha starter culture (or kombucha from a previous batch)\n- 1 cup sugar\n- 16 cups water\n- 6 bags black tea or equivalent loose leaf tea\n\n### Instructions\n- With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \\&frac12; gallon crock.\n- In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \\&frac12; gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.\n- Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes.\n- Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags.\n- Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.)\n- The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter\/milder kombucha.\n- Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week.\n\n### Notes\n- [Grab your Kombucha SCOBY here.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-scoby)\n- [Get a Kombucha Starter Kit here.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-starter)\n- [Find your favorite Kombucha loose leaf tea flavors here.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-flavors)\n- Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on.\n- Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best.\n- If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out).\n- If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for.\n- You can bottle\/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda).\n\nTried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.\n\n![A man and wife smiling.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Josh-and-Carolyn.jpg)\n\n### Welcome to Homesteading Family\\!\nJosh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more.\n\n### Sign Up for Updates\nGet the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly.\n\n[Subscribe Now\\!](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n#### Popular Posts\n[![Kids playing with bubbles and a DIY bubble solution.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kids_Bubbles_1_HF-300x222.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bubble-solution\/)\n\n### [DIY Bubble Solution: Easy Homemade Fun for All Ages](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/diy-bubble-solution\/)\n\n[![A woman pulling a jar out of the Instant Pot.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/canning-in-pressure-cooker-300x200.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot\/)\n\n### [Can I Pressure Can in the Instant Pot?](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot\/)\n\n[![A man giving a Kune Kune pig scratches.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Josh_Kune-Kune-Pigs_HF-300x225.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/kune-kune-pigs\/)\n\n### [Kune Kune Pigs - The Ultimate Homestead Pig](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/kune-kune-pigs\/)\n\n[![A stack of pancakes and a jar of pancake mix.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Hero_Pancake-Mix_HF-300x200.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-pancake-mix-at-home\/)\n\n### [How to Make Pancake Mix at Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-pancake-mix-at-home\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Comfort-Food-Anthology-435x1024.jpg)](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/comfort-food-anthology)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Grubbly.jpg)](https:\/\/www.grubblyfarms.com\/?utm_source=homesteading-family&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=q12026%20)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Sidebar_Azure_15.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/azure-side-bar)\n\n#### Read by Category\n[Grow Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n\n[Preserve Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n\n[Thrive Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n\n[Cook Explore](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Affiliate-freeze-dry-at-home-faded-300x600-1.png)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/harvest-right-ad)\n\n[![](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Ads-Set-1_Banner_vertical-293x1024.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/GreenStalk-SBA)\n\n### Healthy Healing at Home\nFree 4 video workshop on how to confidently use homemade herbal remedies\\!\n\n[Get Started](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/healthy-healing-at-home)\n\nMore to Explore\n\n## Continue Reading\n[![A woman standing beside a counter full of homemade dairy products.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Homemade-Dairy_Carolyn_HF-qe3m5882a3sxqs9jj65pj8dljs47w2c5d0dbicipi8.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cultured-dairy-made-simple\/)\n\n### [Cultured Dairy Made Simple](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cultured-dairy-made-simple\/)\nCultured dairy may sound complicated, but it’s actually one of the simplest traditional kitchen skills you can learn. In this post, I’ll explain what\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cultured-dairy-made-simple\/)\n\n[![A woman canning pickles.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Pickles_Carolyn_Canning-rd0m8vidthjvbszty2yapo1atplyvnqd4twoc5ti1s.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-water-bath-canning-safe\/)\n\n### [Is Water Bath Canning Safe? Here’s What Every Beginner Needs to Know](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-water-bath-canning-safe\/)\nIs water bath canning safe? Learn what to watch for, how to know if a recipe is safe and build your canning confidence with\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-water-bath-canning-safe\/)\n\n[![An aerial view of a large garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Aerial-Garden-View_HF-quxgnb3thpehqpan0prvaa1sppav1svzzol35x5j8g.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect\/)\n\n### [Stop Planning and Start Gardening (Even If It’s Imperfect)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect\/)\nAfraid to start a garden? Learn why most people never begin, how to overcome fear of failure, and the simple habits that lead to\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect\/)\n\n[![A man and woman standing in a garden.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Josh_Carolyn_Garden-rf3qtlagyciamrb9e0l13iqtupbfjdwmjfk4yk6mxs.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth\/)\n\n### [Self-Sufficiency Is a Myth (And Why Skills Matter More)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth\/)\nThere was a time when we thought the goal of homesteading was complete self-sufficiency. The dream looked something like this: living far from everything,\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth\/)\n\n[![A picture of a cow's face standing inside a barn.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Cow_Barn_HF-r1pd2614olfnn1vk1yhbicbwgrz4cqkgnz4lju5leo.jpg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet\/)\n\n### [Things to Know Before Calling the Vet](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet\/)\nAfter years of experience (and a few frustrating phone calls), here are the things to know before calling the vet.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet\/)\n\n[![deep pink Spirea](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/853A5205.CR3_compressed-rj8ujp2xzuwmx06lkr0hd232bpajessfb92q9y4asg.jpeg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/plant-identification-mistakes\/)\n\n### [Top 3 Plant Identification Mistakes that Everyone Makes (and How to Avoid Them)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/plant-identification-mistakes\/)\nTop 3 plant identification mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them. Learn easier ways to identify plants accurately and confidently.\n\n[Read More](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/plant-identification-mistakes\/)\n\nPrevious\n\nNext\n\n[![Homesteading Family Logo](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Homesteading-Family-Badge.svg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n\nHelpful Links\n\n- [Join Now](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n- [Sign-In](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/login)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/contact\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts-archive\/)\n\nPopular Categories\n\n- [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n- [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n- [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n- [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n- [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n- [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n\nRecent Blogs\n\n### [Cultured Dairy Made Simple](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cultured-dairy-made-simple\/)\n### [Is Water Bath Canning Safe? Here’s What Every Beginner Needs to Know](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/is-water-bath-canning-safe\/)\n### [Stop Planning and Start Gardening (Even If It’s Imperfect)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect\/)\n\nJoin Our Newsletter\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\nFollow Us\n\n[Youtube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@HomesteadingFamily)     [Facebook-f](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)     [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)     [Pinterest-p](https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)\n\n- © Homesteading Family 2026. All Rights Reserved\n- [Terms & Conditions](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/terms-conditions-user-agreement\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Affiliate Disclaimer](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/affiliate-disclaimer\/)\n\n522 shares\n\n- 522\n\n![]()\n\nHow to Homestead Anywhere Crash Course\n\nJoin me for a FREE live virtual event January 5th – 9th\n\nYes! Sign me up\\!\n\n![]()\n\nClose\n\nGet simple, actionable steps you can take right now to join the homesteading movement, whether you live in a\n\nhigh-rise apartment, a suburban neighborhood or on multiple acres.\n\n[![Homesteading Family Logo](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Homesteading-Family-Badge.svg)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/)\n  - [All Blogs](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/blog\/)\n  - [Grow](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/grow\/)\n  - [Cook](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cook\/)\n  - [Preserve](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/preserve\/)\n  - [Thrive](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/thrive\/)\n  - [Homestead](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead\/)\n  - [Raise](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/raise\/)\n- [Classes](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/store)\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/podcasts\/)\n- [Magazine](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/homestead-kitchen-magazine)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/login)\n\n[Newsletter](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n\nFollow Us\n\n[Youtube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@HomesteadingFamily)     [Facebook-f](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)     [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)     [Pinterest-p](https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/homesteadingfamily\/)\n\nJoin Our Newsletter\n\n[Subscribe](https:\/\/classes.homesteadingfamily.com\/hf-newsletter)\n## Rate This Recipe","attrs_readable_markdown":"[Jump to Recipe](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-kombucha\/#recipe)\n\n[Print this Post](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=14675)\n\nHomemade kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make homemade kombucha? I'm going to show you my simple continuous brew kombucha setup, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started.\n\n![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-1024x683.jpg)\n\nA batch of continuous brew kombucha is right at home in a homestead kitchen. It sits alongside the sourdough starter (no homestead dinner is complete without [**sourdough Parkerhouse rolls**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/parker-house-rolls-made-with-sourdough\/) smothered with [**homemade sweet cream butter**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-make-butter\/)!), the [**homemade sauerkraut**](https:\/\/youtu.be\/K3CJFzmRhvI) and other fermenting goodies, and perhaps [**a jar of rendered lard**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/rendering-lard-or-tallow\/) for cooking veggies or [**baking a homemade pie**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe-from-scratch\/).\n\n## Why We Love Homemade Kombucha\nKombucha is highly probiotic and filled with vitamins and acids that are important to good digestion and metabolic function. The probiotics [**give your immune system a boost**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally\/). It's high in B-vitamins and antioxidants (polyphenols from the tea), and it tastes so delicious! (**[Source](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9975612\/)**)\n\nEven if you've tried kombucha in the past, we have tricks for getting even the pickiest eaters to love it, and you must try our [**second-ferment kombucha**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha\/), it's so reminiscent of Dr. Pepper\\!\n\nSpeaking of soda, kombucha is a great way to wean your family off of sugary juice drinks, sodas, and sweet iced tea (try [**Instant Herbal Iced Tea**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/herbal-iced-tea\/), **[homemade fizzy ginger bug](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/ginger-bug-recipe\/)**, or [**homemade natural water flavoring**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/natural-water-flavoring\/) too).\n\n## What is Kombucha?\nKombucha is a black sweet tea that has been fermented with the help of yeast and bacteria. This yeast and bacteria form together into what is called a SCOBY. The SCOBY looks like a mushroom, but it’s actually a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (or SCOBY).\n\nWhen I try to explain a kombucha SCOBY, I find it easier to compare it to the “mother” in raw apple cider vinegar.\n\n## Continuous Brew Kombucha\nIn the video above, I showed you our continuous brew kombucha setup. Making kombucha this way is a time-saver. Because we're generally mixing in fresh sweet tea with already fermented kombucha, we find our batches ferment more quickly, and more of the kids enjoy it the first few days when it's a little more on the sweet side.\n\n## Single Batch Kombucha\nMaking a single batch of kombucha means you will need to have a SCOBY for every jar you're using. Most often, people will make their kombucha in a gallon-size jar. This sits out at room temperature for about 5-7 days (and up to 14 days for a more tart kombucha) before it's ready to consume.\n\nAt this point, you can remove the SCOBY and start a fresh batch of kombucha and place the already fermented batch into the refrigerator to be enjoyed.\n\n![A continuous brew kombucha set up with a glass being filled.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Continous-Brew-Kombucha-683x1024.jpg)\n\n## Continuous Brew vs. Single Batch\nSo what's the difference between a continuous brew kombucha and a single batch? Not much, just the vessel in which you store the kombucha, and whether you store it in the refrigerator or out on the counter.\n\nHave you heard of making continuous homemade bone broth? It's a similar idea where you place your bones, veggie scraps and water into a crockpot, then use the broth as needed and top off the broth with more water after each use.\n\nThe difference here is that with a continuous brew kombucha, you're topping off your kombucha with more sweet tea instead of starting a new fresh batch. However, the ingredients and supplies are the same for both methods.\n\n## Ingredients and Supplies Needed\n- **2 \\&frac12; Gallon Crock or 1 Gallon Glass Jar** - We use the continuous brew method using a 2 \\&frac12; gallon crock, if you'd prefer, you can use a one gallon glass jar (or even scale down to ½ gallon and cut this recipe in half).\n- **SCOBY** - You can get a SCOBY from a friend that brews kombucha, or you can purchase one. Make sure it is an active and healthy SCOBY, and comes from a reputable source like [**Farmhouse Teas who sells Oregon Kombucha's Live SCOBYs**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-scoby). When handling your SCOBY, always do so with freshly clean hands. This will prevent introducing foreign bacterias into your SCOBY that can result in mold.\n- **Kombucha Starter** - SCOBYs come with a small amount of starter which is just a small amount of finished kombucha. I've heard of people using store-bought plain kombucha as their starter culture, but I find the best method is to get a SCOBY and some kombucha starter from a friend or [**order a Kombucha Starter Kit from a reputable source**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-starter).\n- **Organic Sugar**\\- Using organic sugar is important to the health of your SCOBY. Conventionally processed sugars and teas contain chemicals that have been developed to specifically kill fungus and bacteria. Since we are trying to grow bacteria, conventional ingredients will weaken and potentially kill your SCOBY. Honey is not recommended for this recipe. Honey is a natural antibiotic and can result in a weakened SCOBY. Please note the sugar is for your SCOBY not for you. The fermentation process will eat the majority of the sugar, leaving you with a lightly sweetened kombucha.\n- **Organic Black Tea Bags (or Loose Leaf Black Tea)** - For the same reason we use organic sugar, we also want to make sure our tea is organic as well. You may be wondering if decaf black tea can be used. Yes, it can! And you can also use green tea! [**Here are some great teas for making kombucha**](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-flavors).\n\n![kombucha scoby being lifted out of a jar of kombucha.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/kombucha-scoby-1024x684.jpg)\n\n## How to Make Kombucha\n1. With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \\&frac12; gallon crock.\n2. In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \\&frac12; gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.\n3. Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes.\n4. Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags.\n5. Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.)\n6. The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter\/milder kombucha.\n7. Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week.\n## Kombucha Tips & Tricks\n- Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on.\n- Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best.\n- If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out).\n- If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for.\n- You can bottle\/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda).\n\n**Did you make this recipe?** If so, we’d love for you to leave a star rating on the recipe card below, then snap a photo and tag us on social media [**@homesteadingfamily**](https:\/\/instagram.com\/homesteadingfamily) so we can see\\!\n\n*It's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine.*\n\n## More Fermentation Resources\n- [Easy Homemade Fermented Cranberry Sauce](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/easy-homemade-fermented-cranberry-sauce-recipe\/)\n- [Switchel Recipe (Apple Cider Vinegar Drink or Haymaker’s Punch)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homemade-switchel-recipe\/)\n- [Cherry Almond Flavored Kombucha (How to Second Ferment Kombucha)](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha\/)\n- [How To Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/lacto-fermented-sauerkraut-recipe\/)\n- [Steeping Tea for Medicinal Purposes](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/steeping-tea-for-medicinal-purposes\/)\n- [Homemade Elderberry Wine](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/homemade-elderberry-wine\/)\n- [Sparkling Apple Cider – Homemade](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/sparkling-apple-cider\/)\n\n![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-500x500.jpg)\n\n## Homemade Kombucha Recipe\nLearn how to make this delicious and probiotic homemade kombucha, or use our continuous brew method to have this drink available every single day\\!\n\n4\\.37 from 19 votes\n\n[Print](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/wprm_print\/homemade-kombucha-recipe) [Pin](https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/bookmarklet\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fhow-to-make-kombucha%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FLemon-Ginger-Kombucha.jpg&description=Homemade+Kombucha+Recipe&is_video=false)\n\nCourse: Drinks\n\nCuisine: Chinese\n\nPrep Time: 15 minutes\n\nFermentation Time: 7 days\n\nTotal Time: 7 days  15 minutes\n\nServings: 16 cups\n\nAuthor: Carolyn Thomas\n\n### Equipment\n- 1 Gallon Glass Jar with Lid\n\n### Ingredients\n- 1 SCOBY purchase or get from a friend\n- 1 cup kombucha starter culture (or kombucha from a previous batch)\n- 1 cup sugar\n- 16 cups water\n- 6 bags black tea or equivalent loose leaf tea\n\n### Instructions\n- With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \\&frac12; gallon crock.\n- In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \\&frac12; gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.\n- Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes.\n- Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags.\n- Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.)\n- The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter\/milder kombucha.\n- Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week.\n\n### Notes\n- [Grab your Kombucha SCOBY here.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-scoby)\n- [Get a Kombucha Starter Kit here.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-starter)\n- [Find your favorite Kombucha loose leaf tea flavors here.](https:\/\/homesteadingfamily.com\/fht-kombucha-flavors)\n- Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on.\n- Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best.\n- If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out).\n- If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for.\n- You can bottle\/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda).\n\nTried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

6 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.2 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/
Last Crawled	2026-04-06 02:02:15 (6 days ago)
First Indexed	2021-05-12 13:27:15 (4 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Homemade Kombucha - A Healthy Summer Drink — Homesteading Family
Meta Description	Kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Come learn how to make homemade kombucha!, Homemade kombucha is a delicious and refreshing drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make kombucha at home? We're going to show you our simple continuous brew kombucha set up, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	Jump to Recipe Print this Post Homemade kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make homemade kombucha? I'm going to show you my simple continuous brew kombucha setup, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started. A batch of continuous brew kombucha is right at home in a homestead kitchen. It sits alongside the sourdough starter (no homestead dinner is complete without sourdough Parkerhouse rolls smothered with homemade sweet cream butter !), the homemade sauerkraut and other fermenting goodies, and perhaps a jar of rendered lard for cooking veggies or baking a homemade pie . Why We Love Homemade Kombucha Kombucha is highly probiotic and filled with vitamins and acids that are important to good digestion and metabolic function. The probiotics give your immune system a boost . It's high in B-vitamins and antioxidants (polyphenols from the tea), and it tastes so delicious! ( Source ) Even if you've tried kombucha in the past, we have tricks for getting even the pickiest eaters to love it, and you must try our second-ferment kombucha , it's so reminiscent of Dr. Pepper! Speaking of soda, kombucha is a great way to wean your family off of sugary juice drinks, sodas, and sweet iced tea (try Instant Herbal Iced Tea , homemade fizzy ginger bug , or homemade natural water flavoring too). What is Kombucha? Kombucha is a black sweet tea that has been fermented with the help of yeast and bacteria. This yeast and bacteria form together into what is called a SCOBY. The SCOBY looks like a mushroom, but it’s actually a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (or SCOBY). When I try to explain a kombucha SCOBY, I find it easier to compare it to the “mother” in raw apple cider vinegar. Continuous Brew Kombucha In the video above, I showed you our continuous brew kombucha setup. Making kombucha this way is a time-saver. Because we're generally mixing in fresh sweet tea with already fermented kombucha, we find our batches ferment more quickly, and more of the kids enjoy it the first few days when it's a little more on the sweet side. Single Batch Kombucha Making a single batch of kombucha means you will need to have a SCOBY for every jar you're using. Most often, people will make their kombucha in a gallon-size jar. This sits out at room temperature for about 5-7 days (and up to 14 days for a more tart kombucha) before it's ready to consume. At this point, you can remove the SCOBY and start a fresh batch of kombucha and place the already fermented batch into the refrigerator to be enjoyed. Continuous Brew vs. Single Batch So what's the difference between a continuous brew kombucha and a single batch? Not much, just the vessel in which you store the kombucha, and whether you store it in the refrigerator or out on the counter. Have you heard of making continuous homemade bone broth? It's a similar idea where you place your bones, veggie scraps and water into a crockpot, then use the broth as needed and top off the broth with more water after each use. The difference here is that with a continuous brew kombucha, you're topping off your kombucha with more sweet tea instead of starting a new fresh batch. However, the ingredients and supplies are the same for both methods. Ingredients and Supplies Needed 2 ½ Gallon Crock or 1 Gallon Glass Jar - We use the continuous brew method using a 2 ½ gallon crock, if you'd prefer, you can use a one gallon glass jar (or even scale down to ½ gallon and cut this recipe in half). SCOBY - You can get a SCOBY from a friend that brews kombucha, or you can purchase one. Make sure it is an active and healthy SCOBY, and comes from a reputable source like Farmhouse Teas who sells Oregon Kombucha's Live SCOBYs . When handling your SCOBY, always do so with freshly clean hands. This will prevent introducing foreign bacterias into your SCOBY that can result in mold. Kombucha Starter - SCOBYs come with a small amount of starter which is just a small amount of finished kombucha. I've heard of people using store-bought plain kombucha as their starter culture, but I find the best method is to get a SCOBY and some kombucha starter from a friend or order a Kombucha Starter Kit from a reputable source . Organic Sugar - Using organic sugar is important to the health of your SCOBY. Conventionally processed sugars and teas contain chemicals that have been developed to specifically kill fungus and bacteria. Since we are trying to grow bacteria, conventional ingredients will weaken and potentially kill your SCOBY. Honey is not recommended for this recipe. Honey is a natural antibiotic and can result in a weakened SCOBY. Please note the sugar is for your SCOBY not for you. The fermentation process will eat the majority of the sugar, leaving you with a lightly sweetened kombucha. Organic Black Tea Bags (or Loose Leaf Black Tea) - For the same reason we use organic sugar, we also want to make sure our tea is organic as well. You may be wondering if decaf black tea can be used. Yes, it can! And you can also use green tea! Here are some great teas for making kombucha . How to Make Kombucha With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 ½ gallon crock. In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about ½ gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes. Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags. Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.) The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter/milder kombucha. Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week. Kombucha Tips & Tricks Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on. Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best. If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out). If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for. You can bottle/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). Did you make this recipe? If so, we’d love for you to leave a star rating on the recipe card below, then snap a photo and tag us on social media @homesteadingfamily so we can see! It's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine. More Fermentation Resources Easy Homemade Fermented Cranberry Sauce Switchel Recipe (Apple Cider Vinegar Drink or Haymaker’s Punch) Cherry Almond Flavored Kombucha (How to Second Ferment Kombucha) How To Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut Steeping Tea for Medicinal Purposes Homemade Elderberry Wine Sparkling Apple Cider – Homemade Homemade Kombucha Recipe Learn how to make this delicious and probiotic homemade kombucha, or use our continuous brew method to have this drink available every single day! 4.37 from 19 votes Print Pin Course: Drinks Cuisine: Chinese Prep Time: 15 minutes Fermentation Time: 7 days Total Time: 7 days 15 minutes Servings: 16 cups Author: Carolyn Thomas Equipment 1 Gallon Glass Jar with Lid Ingredients 1 SCOBY purchase or get from a friend 1 cup kombucha starter culture (or kombucha from a previous batch) 1 cup sugar 16 cups water 6 bags black tea or equivalent loose leaf tea Instructions With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 ½ gallon crock. In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about ½ gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes. Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags. Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.) The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter/milder kombucha. Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week. Notes Grab your Kombucha SCOBY here. Get a Kombucha Starter Kit here. Find your favorite Kombucha loose leaf tea flavors here. Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on. Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best. If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out). If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for. You can bottle/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). Tried this recipe? We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.
Markdown	![fb-pixel](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=395471667511030&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?event=init&tid=2612884002771&pd[em]=<hashed_email_address>&noscript=1) [Skip to content](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/#content) [![Homesteading Family Logo](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Homesteading-Family-Logo-White.svg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) - [Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) - [Blog](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/) - [All Blogs](https://homesteadingfamily.com/blog/) - [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/grow/) - [Cook](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cook/) - [Preserve](https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserve/) - [Thrive](https://homesteadingfamily.com/thrive/) - [Homestead](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homestead/) - [Raise](https://homesteadingfamily.com/raise/) - [Classes](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/store) - [Podcast](https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcasts/) - [Magazine](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/homestead-kitchen-magazine) Menu - [Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) - [Blog](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/) - [All Blogs](https://homesteadingfamily.com/blog/) - [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/grow/) - [Cook](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cook/) - [Preserve](https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserve/) - [Thrive](https://homesteadingfamily.com/thrive/) - [Homestead](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homestead/) - [Raise](https://homesteadingfamily.com/raise/) - [Classes](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/store) - [Podcast](https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcasts/) - [Magazine](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/homestead-kitchen-magazine) [Sign In](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/login) [Join the Newsletter](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/hf-newsletter) [![](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/banner-ad_5-steps.jpeg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/5Stepsads) This site contains affiliate links to products we recommend. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. [Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) » [Cook](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/cook/) # Homemade Kombucha - A Healthy Summer Drink - Posted May 12, 2021 - in [Beverages](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/cook/beverages/), [Cook](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/cook/), [Recipes](https://homesteadingfamily.com/category/recipes/) [Carolyn Thomas](https://homesteadingfamily.com/author/cthomas/) [Jump to Recipe](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/#recipe) [Print this Post](https://homesteadingfamily.com/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=14675) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_6-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_5-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_4-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_3-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_2-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_1-150x150.jpg) ![Pinterest pin for homemade kombucha with an image of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Homemade-Kombucha_7-150x150.jpg) Homemade kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make homemade kombucha? I'm going to show you my simple continuous brew kombucha setup, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started. ![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-1024x683.jpg) A batch of continuous brew kombucha is right at home in a homestead kitchen. It sits alongside the sourdough starter (no homestead dinner is complete without [sourdough Parkerhouse rolls](https://homesteadingfamily.com/parker-house-rolls-made-with-sourdough/) smothered with [homemade sweet cream butter](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-butter/)!), the [homemade sauerkraut](https://youtu.be/K3CJFzmRhvI) and other fermenting goodies, and perhaps [a jar of rendered lard](https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/) for cooking veggies or [baking a homemade pie](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe-from-scratch/). ## Why We Love Homemade Kombucha Kombucha is highly probiotic and filled with vitamins and acids that are important to good digestion and metabolic function. The probiotics [give your immune system a boost](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally/). It's high in B-vitamins and antioxidants (polyphenols from the tea), and it tastes so delicious! ([Source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9975612/)) Even if you've tried kombucha in the past, we have tricks for getting even the pickiest eaters to love it, and you must try our [second-ferment kombucha](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha/), it's so reminiscent of Dr. Pepper\! Speaking of soda, kombucha is a great way to wean your family off of sugary juice drinks, sodas, and sweet iced tea (try [Instant Herbal Iced Tea](https://homesteadingfamily.com/herbal-iced-tea/), [homemade fizzy ginger bug](https://homesteadingfamily.com/ginger-bug-recipe/), or [homemade natural water flavoring](https://homesteadingfamily.com/natural-water-flavoring/) too). ## What is Kombucha? Kombucha is a black sweet tea that has been fermented with the help of yeast and bacteria. This yeast and bacteria form together into what is called a SCOBY. The SCOBY looks like a mushroom, but it’s actually a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (or SCOBY). When I try to explain a kombucha SCOBY, I find it easier to compare it to the “mother” in raw apple cider vinegar. ## Continuous Brew Kombucha In the video above, I showed you our continuous brew kombucha setup. Making kombucha this way is a time-saver. Because we're generally mixing in fresh sweet tea with already fermented kombucha, we find our batches ferment more quickly, and more of the kids enjoy it the first few days when it's a little more on the sweet side. ## Single Batch Kombucha Making a single batch of kombucha means you will need to have a SCOBY for every jar you're using. Most often, people will make their kombucha in a gallon-size jar. This sits out at room temperature for about 5-7 days (and up to 14 days for a more tart kombucha) before it's ready to consume. At this point, you can remove the SCOBY and start a fresh batch of kombucha and place the already fermented batch into the refrigerator to be enjoyed. ![A continuous brew kombucha set up with a glass being filled.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Continous-Brew-Kombucha-683x1024.jpg) ## Continuous Brew vs. Single Batch So what's the difference between a continuous brew kombucha and a single batch? Not much, just the vessel in which you store the kombucha, and whether you store it in the refrigerator or out on the counter. Have you heard of making continuous homemade bone broth? It's a similar idea where you place your bones, veggie scraps and water into a crockpot, then use the broth as needed and top off the broth with more water after each use. The difference here is that with a continuous brew kombucha, you're topping off your kombucha with more sweet tea instead of starting a new fresh batch. However, the ingredients and supplies are the same for both methods. ## Ingredients and Supplies Needed - 2 \½ Gallon Crock or 1 Gallon Glass Jar - We use the continuous brew method using a 2 \½ gallon crock, if you'd prefer, you can use a one gallon glass jar (or even scale down to ½ gallon and cut this recipe in half). - SCOBY - You can get a SCOBY from a friend that brews kombucha, or you can purchase one. Make sure it is an active and healthy SCOBY, and comes from a reputable source like [Farmhouse Teas who sells Oregon Kombucha's Live SCOBYs](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-scoby). When handling your SCOBY, always do so with freshly clean hands. This will prevent introducing foreign bacterias into your SCOBY that can result in mold. - Kombucha Starter - SCOBYs come with a small amount of starter which is just a small amount of finished kombucha. I've heard of people using store-bought plain kombucha as their starter culture, but I find the best method is to get a SCOBY and some kombucha starter from a friend or [order a Kombucha Starter Kit from a reputable source](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-starter). - Organic Sugar\- Using organic sugar is important to the health of your SCOBY. Conventionally processed sugars and teas contain chemicals that have been developed to specifically kill fungus and bacteria. Since we are trying to grow bacteria, conventional ingredients will weaken and potentially kill your SCOBY. Honey is not recommended for this recipe. Honey is a natural antibiotic and can result in a weakened SCOBY. Please note the sugar is for your SCOBY not for you. The fermentation process will eat the majority of the sugar, leaving you with a lightly sweetened kombucha. - Organic Black Tea Bags (or Loose Leaf Black Tea) - For the same reason we use organic sugar, we also want to make sure our tea is organic as well. You may be wondering if decaf black tea can be used. Yes, it can! And you can also use green tea! [Here are some great teas for making kombucha](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-flavors). ![kombucha scoby being lifted out of a jar of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/kombucha-scoby-1024x684.jpg) ## How to Make Kombucha 1. With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \½ gallon crock. 2. In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \½ gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. 3. Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes. 4. Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags. 5. Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.) 6. The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter/milder kombucha. 7. Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week. ## Kombucha Tips & Tricks - Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on. - Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best. - If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out). - If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for. - You can bottle/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). Did you make this recipe? If so, we’d love for you to leave a star rating on the recipe card below, then snap a photo and tag us on social media [@homesteadingfamily](https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily) so we can see\! It's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine. ## More Fermentation Resources - [Easy Homemade Fermented Cranberry Sauce](https://homesteadingfamily.com/easy-homemade-fermented-cranberry-sauce-recipe/) - [Switchel Recipe (Apple Cider Vinegar Drink or Haymaker’s Punch)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-switchel-recipe/) - [Cherry Almond Flavored Kombucha (How to Second Ferment Kombucha)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha/) - [How To Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut](https://homesteadingfamily.com/lacto-fermented-sauerkraut-recipe/) - [Steeping Tea for Medicinal Purposes](https://homesteadingfamily.com/steeping-tea-for-medicinal-purposes/) - [Homemade Elderberry Wine](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-elderberry-wine/) - [Sparkling Apple Cider – Homemade](https://homesteadingfamily.com/sparkling-apple-cider/) ![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-500x500.jpg) ## Homemade Kombucha Recipe Learn how to make this delicious and probiotic homemade kombucha, or use our continuous brew method to have this drink available every single day\! 4\.37 from 19 votes [Print](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wprm_print/homemade-kombucha-recipe) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fhow-to-make-kombucha%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FLemon-Ginger-Kombucha.jpg&description=Homemade+Kombucha+Recipe&is_video=false) Course: Drinks Cuisine: Chinese Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes Fermentation Time: 7 days days Total Time: 7 days days 15 minutes minutes Servings: 16 cups Author: Carolyn Thomas ### Equipment - 1 Gallon Glass Jar with Lid ### Ingredients - 1 SCOBY purchase or get from a friend - 1 cup kombucha starter culture (or kombucha from a previous batch) - 1 cup sugar - 16 cups water - 6 bags black tea or equivalent loose leaf tea ### Instructions - With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \½ gallon crock. - In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \½ gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. - Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes. - Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags. - Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.) - The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter/milder kombucha. - Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week. ### Notes - [Grab your Kombucha SCOBY here.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-scoby) - [Get a Kombucha Starter Kit here.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-starter) - [Find your favorite Kombucha loose leaf tea flavors here.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-flavors) - Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on. - Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best. - If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out). - If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for. - You can bottle/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). Tried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram. ![A man and wife smiling.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Josh-and-Carolyn.jpg) ### Welcome to Homesteading Family\! Josh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more. ### Sign Up for Updates Get the latest homesteading tips delivered to your inbox weekly. [Subscribe Now\!](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/hf-newsletter) #### Popular Posts [![Kids playing with bubbles and a DIY bubble solution.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kids_Bubbles_1_HF-300x222.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/diy-bubble-solution/) ### [DIY Bubble Solution: Easy Homemade Fun for All Ages](https://homesteadingfamily.com/diy-bubble-solution/) [![A woman pulling a jar out of the Instant Pot.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/canning-in-pressure-cooker-300x200.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot/) ### [Can I Pressure Can in the Instant Pot?](https://homesteadingfamily.com/pressure-can-in-the-instant-pot/) [![A man giving a Kune Kune pig scratches.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Josh_Kune-Kune-Pigs_HF-300x225.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/kune-kune-pigs/) ### [Kune Kune Pigs - The Ultimate Homestead Pig](https://homesteadingfamily.com/kune-kune-pigs/) [![A stack of pancakes and a jar of pancake mix.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hero_Pancake-Mix_HF-300x200.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-pancake-mix-at-home/) ### [How to Make Pancake Mix at Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-pancake-mix-at-home/) [![](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Sidebar_Comfort-Food-Anthology-435x1024.jpg)](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/comfort-food-anthology) [![](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Sidebar_Grubbly.jpg)](https://www.grubblyfarms.com/?utm_source=homesteading-family&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=q12026%20) [![](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Sidebar_Azure_15.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/azure-side-bar) #### Read by Category [Grow Explore](https://homesteadingfamily.com/grow/) [Preserve Explore](https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserve/) [Thrive Explore](https://homesteadingfamily.com/thrive/) [Cook Explore](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cook/) [![](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Affiliate-freeze-dry-at-home-faded-300x600-1.png)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/harvest-right-ad) [![](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ads-Set-1_Banner_vertical-293x1024.jpeg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/GreenStalk-SBA) ### Healthy Healing at Home Free 4 video workshop on how to confidently use homemade herbal remedies\! [Get Started](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/healthy-healing-at-home) More to Explore ## Continue Reading [![A woman standing beside a counter full of homemade dairy products.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Homemade-Dairy_Carolyn_HF-qe3m5882a3sxqs9jj65pj8dljs47w2c5d0dbicipi8.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultured-dairy-made-simple/) ### [Cultured Dairy Made Simple](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultured-dairy-made-simple/) Cultured dairy may sound complicated, but it’s actually one of the simplest traditional kitchen skills you can learn. In this post, I’ll explain what [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultured-dairy-made-simple/) [![A woman canning pickles.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Pickles_Carolyn_Canning-rd0m8vidthjvbszty2yapo1atplyvnqd4twoc5ti1s.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/is-water-bath-canning-safe/) ### [Is Water Bath Canning Safe? Here’s What Every Beginner Needs to Know](https://homesteadingfamily.com/is-water-bath-canning-safe/) Is water bath canning safe? Learn what to watch for, how to know if a recipe is safe and build your canning confidence with [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/is-water-bath-canning-safe/) [![An aerial view of a large garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Aerial-Garden-View_HF-quxgnb3thpehqpan0prvaa1sppav1svzzol35x5j8g.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect/) ### [Stop Planning and Start Gardening (Even If It’s Imperfect)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect/) Afraid to start a garden? Learn why most people never begin, how to overcome fear of failure, and the simple habits that lead to [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect/) [![A man and woman standing in a garden.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Josh_Carolyn_Garden-rf3qtlagyciamrb9e0l13iqtupbfjdwmjfk4yk6mxs.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth/) ### [Self-Sufficiency Is a Myth (And Why Skills Matter More)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth/) There was a time when we thought the goal of homesteading was complete self-sufficiency. The dream looked something like this: living far from everything, [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/self-sufficiency-is-a-myth/) [![A picture of a cow's face standing inside a barn.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Cow_Barn_HF-r1pd2614olfnn1vk1yhbicbwgrz4cqkgnz4lju5leo.jpg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet/) ### [Things to Know Before Calling the Vet](https://homesteadingfamily.com/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet/) After years of experience (and a few frustrating phone calls), here are the things to know before calling the vet. [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/things-to-know-before-calling-the-vet/) [![deep pink Spirea](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/853A5205.CR3_compressed-rj8ujp2xzuwmx06lkr0hd232bpajessfb92q9y4asg.jpeg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/plant-identification-mistakes/) ### [Top 3 Plant Identification Mistakes that Everyone Makes (and How to Avoid Them)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/plant-identification-mistakes/) Top 3 plant identification mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them. Learn easier ways to identify plants accurately and confidently. [Read More](https://homesteadingfamily.com/plant-identification-mistakes/) Previous Next [![Homesteading Family Logo](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Homesteading-Family-Badge.svg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) Helpful Links - [Join Now](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/homestead-kitchen-magazine) - [Sign-In](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/login) - [Contact Us](https://homesteadingfamily.com/contact/) - [Blog](https://homesteadingfamily.com/blog/) - [Podcast](https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcasts-archive/) Popular Categories - [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/grow/) - [Preserve](https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserve/) - [Thrive](https://homesteadingfamily.com/thrive/) - [Cook](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cook/) - [Homestead](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homestead/) - [Raise](https://homesteadingfamily.com/raise/) Recent Blogs ### [Cultured Dairy Made Simple](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cultured-dairy-made-simple/) ### [Is Water Bath Canning Safe? Here’s What Every Beginner Needs to Know](https://homesteadingfamily.com/is-water-bath-canning-safe/) ### [Stop Planning and Start Gardening (Even If It’s Imperfect)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/stop-planning-and-start-gardening-even-if-its-imperfect/) Join Our Newsletter [Subscribe](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/hf-newsletter) Follow Us [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@HomesteadingFamily) [Facebook-f](https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/homesteadingfamily/) [Pinterest-p](https://www.pinterest.com/homesteadingfamily/) - © Homesteading Family 2026. All Rights Reserved - [Terms & Conditions](https://homesteadingfamily.com/terms-conditions-user-agreement/) - [Privacy Policy](https://homesteadingfamily.com/privacy-policy/) - [Affiliate Disclaimer](https://homesteadingfamily.com/affiliate-disclaimer/) 522 shares - 522 ![]() How to Homestead Anywhere Crash Course Join me for a FREE live virtual event January 5th – 9th Yes! Sign me up\! ![]() Close Get simple, actionable steps you can take right now to join the homesteading movement, whether you live in a high-rise apartment, a suburban neighborhood or on multiple acres. [![Homesteading Family Logo](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Homesteading-Family-Badge.svg)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) - [Home](https://homesteadingfamily.com/) - [Blog](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/) - [All Blogs](https://homesteadingfamily.com/blog/) - [Grow](https://homesteadingfamily.com/grow/) - [Cook](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cook/) - [Preserve](https://homesteadingfamily.com/preserve/) - [Thrive](https://homesteadingfamily.com/thrive/) - [Homestead](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homestead/) - [Raise](https://homesteadingfamily.com/raise/) - [Classes](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/store) - [Podcast](https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcasts/) - [Magazine](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/homestead-kitchen-magazine) [Sign In](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/login) [Newsletter](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/hf-newsletter) Follow Us [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@HomesteadingFamily) [Facebook-f](https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/homesteadingfamily/) [Pinterest-p](https://www.pinterest.com/homesteadingfamily/) Join Our Newsletter [Subscribe](https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/hf-newsletter) ## Rate This Recipe
Readable Markdown	[Jump to Recipe](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-kombucha/#recipe) [Print this Post](https://homesteadingfamily.com/?print-my-blog=1&post-type=post&statuses%5B%5D=publish&rendering_wait=0&post_page_break=1&columns=1&font_size=normal&image_size=none&links=parens&show_site_title=1&show_title=1&show_author=1&show_url=1&show_date=1&show_content=1&pmb_f=print&pmb-post=14675) Homemade kombucha is a refreshing probiotic drink that's perfect for rehydrating during the summer months. Did you know it's so easy to make homemade kombucha? I'm going to show you my simple continuous brew kombucha setup, and teach you how to get your own kombucha started. ![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-1024x683.jpg) A batch of continuous brew kombucha is right at home in a homestead kitchen. It sits alongside the sourdough starter (no homestead dinner is complete without [sourdough Parkerhouse rolls](https://homesteadingfamily.com/parker-house-rolls-made-with-sourdough/) smothered with [homemade sweet cream butter](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-make-butter/)!), the [homemade sauerkraut](https://youtu.be/K3CJFzmRhvI) and other fermenting goodies, and perhaps [a jar of rendered lard](https://homesteadingfamily.com/rendering-lard-or-tallow/) for cooking veggies or [baking a homemade pie](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-pumpkin-pie-recipe-from-scratch/). ## Why We Love Homemade Kombucha Kombucha is highly probiotic and filled with vitamins and acids that are important to good digestion and metabolic function. The probiotics [give your immune system a boost](https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally/). It's high in B-vitamins and antioxidants (polyphenols from the tea), and it tastes so delicious! ([Source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9975612/)) Even if you've tried kombucha in the past, we have tricks for getting even the pickiest eaters to love it, and you must try our [second-ferment kombucha](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha/), it's so reminiscent of Dr. Pepper\! Speaking of soda, kombucha is a great way to wean your family off of sugary juice drinks, sodas, and sweet iced tea (try [Instant Herbal Iced Tea](https://homesteadingfamily.com/herbal-iced-tea/), [homemade fizzy ginger bug](https://homesteadingfamily.com/ginger-bug-recipe/), or [homemade natural water flavoring](https://homesteadingfamily.com/natural-water-flavoring/) too). ## What is Kombucha? Kombucha is a black sweet tea that has been fermented with the help of yeast and bacteria. This yeast and bacteria form together into what is called a SCOBY. The SCOBY looks like a mushroom, but it’s actually a “symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast” (or SCOBY). When I try to explain a kombucha SCOBY, I find it easier to compare it to the “mother” in raw apple cider vinegar. ## Continuous Brew Kombucha In the video above, I showed you our continuous brew kombucha setup. Making kombucha this way is a time-saver. Because we're generally mixing in fresh sweet tea with already fermented kombucha, we find our batches ferment more quickly, and more of the kids enjoy it the first few days when it's a little more on the sweet side. ## Single Batch Kombucha Making a single batch of kombucha means you will need to have a SCOBY for every jar you're using. Most often, people will make their kombucha in a gallon-size jar. This sits out at room temperature for about 5-7 days (and up to 14 days for a more tart kombucha) before it's ready to consume. At this point, you can remove the SCOBY and start a fresh batch of kombucha and place the already fermented batch into the refrigerator to be enjoyed. ![A continuous brew kombucha set up with a glass being filled.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Continous-Brew-Kombucha-683x1024.jpg) ## Continuous Brew vs. Single Batch So what's the difference between a continuous brew kombucha and a single batch? Not much, just the vessel in which you store the kombucha, and whether you store it in the refrigerator or out on the counter. Have you heard of making continuous homemade bone broth? It's a similar idea where you place your bones, veggie scraps and water into a crockpot, then use the broth as needed and top off the broth with more water after each use. The difference here is that with a continuous brew kombucha, you're topping off your kombucha with more sweet tea instead of starting a new fresh batch. However, the ingredients and supplies are the same for both methods. ## Ingredients and Supplies Needed - 2 \½ Gallon Crock or 1 Gallon Glass Jar - We use the continuous brew method using a 2 \½ gallon crock, if you'd prefer, you can use a one gallon glass jar (or even scale down to ½ gallon and cut this recipe in half). - SCOBY - You can get a SCOBY from a friend that brews kombucha, or you can purchase one. Make sure it is an active and healthy SCOBY, and comes from a reputable source like [Farmhouse Teas who sells Oregon Kombucha's Live SCOBYs](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-scoby). When handling your SCOBY, always do so with freshly clean hands. This will prevent introducing foreign bacterias into your SCOBY that can result in mold. - Kombucha Starter - SCOBYs come with a small amount of starter which is just a small amount of finished kombucha. I've heard of people using store-bought plain kombucha as their starter culture, but I find the best method is to get a SCOBY and some kombucha starter from a friend or [order a Kombucha Starter Kit from a reputable source](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-starter). - Organic Sugar\- Using organic sugar is important to the health of your SCOBY. Conventionally processed sugars and teas contain chemicals that have been developed to specifically kill fungus and bacteria. Since we are trying to grow bacteria, conventional ingredients will weaken and potentially kill your SCOBY. Honey is not recommended for this recipe. Honey is a natural antibiotic and can result in a weakened SCOBY. Please note the sugar is for your SCOBY not for you. The fermentation process will eat the majority of the sugar, leaving you with a lightly sweetened kombucha. - Organic Black Tea Bags (or Loose Leaf Black Tea) - For the same reason we use organic sugar, we also want to make sure our tea is organic as well. You may be wondering if decaf black tea can be used. Yes, it can! And you can also use green tea! [Here are some great teas for making kombucha](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-flavors). ![kombucha scoby being lifted out of a jar of kombucha.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/kombucha-scoby-1024x684.jpg) ## How to Make Kombucha 1. With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \½ gallon crock. 2. In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \½ gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. 3. Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes. 4. Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags. 5. Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.) 6. The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter/milder kombucha. 7. Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week. ## Kombucha Tips & Tricks - Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on. - Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best. - If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out). - If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for. - You can bottle/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). Did you make this recipe? If so, we’d love for you to leave a star rating on the recipe card below, then snap a photo and tag us on social media [@homesteadingfamily](https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily) so we can see\! It's important to note that I am not a certified medical practitioner. This post is not intended to diagnose or treat but is for informational purposes only. Please contact your healthcare professional before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine. ## More Fermentation Resources - [Easy Homemade Fermented Cranberry Sauce](https://homesteadingfamily.com/easy-homemade-fermented-cranberry-sauce-recipe/) - [Switchel Recipe (Apple Cider Vinegar Drink or Haymaker’s Punch)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-switchel-recipe/) - [Cherry Almond Flavored Kombucha (How to Second Ferment Kombucha)](https://homesteadingfamily.com/cherry-almond-flavored-kombucha-how-to-second-ferment-kombucha/) - [How To Make Your Own Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut](https://homesteadingfamily.com/lacto-fermented-sauerkraut-recipe/) - [Steeping Tea for Medicinal Purposes](https://homesteadingfamily.com/steeping-tea-for-medicinal-purposes/) - [Homemade Elderberry Wine](https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-elderberry-wine/) - [Sparkling Apple Cider – Homemade](https://homesteadingfamily.com/sparkling-apple-cider/) ![A mason jar filled with kombucha with lemons and fresh ginger sitting on the table next to the glass.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lemon-Ginger-Kombucha-500x500.jpg) ## Homemade Kombucha Recipe Learn how to make this delicious and probiotic homemade kombucha, or use our continuous brew method to have this drink available every single day\! 4\.37 from 19 votes [Print](https://homesteadingfamily.com/wprm_print/homemade-kombucha-recipe) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fhow-to-make-kombucha%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fhomesteadingfamily.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F05%2FLemon-Ginger-Kombucha.jpg&description=Homemade+Kombucha+Recipe&is_video=false) Course: Drinks Cuisine: Chinese Prep Time: 15 minutes Fermentation Time: 7 days Total Time: 7 days 15 minutes Servings: 16 cups Author: Carolyn Thomas ### Equipment - 1 Gallon Glass Jar with Lid ### Ingredients - 1 SCOBY purchase or get from a friend - 1 cup kombucha starter culture (or kombucha from a previous batch) - 1 cup sugar - 16 cups water - 6 bags black tea or equivalent loose leaf tea ### Instructions - With clean hands, place SCOBY and starter in the 2 \½ gallon crock. - In a separate jar (a gallon jar works nicely), dissolve the sugar in about \½ gallon of boiling water. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. - Add tea bags. Brew for 10-15 minutes. - Add remaining water to make a full gallon, and remove tea bags. - Make sure the tea is cooled enough to the touch, and add to the crock. (If your tea is too hot, you can kill your SCOBY.) - The first batch of kombucha will be completely ready within 5-7 days. If you are weaning off sweetened drinks and a first-time kombucha drinker, you can start drinking a couple of days earlier for a sweeter/milder kombucha. - Feed your kombucha (or repeat the process of making a gallon of cooled sweet tea) about once per week. ### Notes - [Grab your Kombucha SCOBY here.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-scoby) - [Get a Kombucha Starter Kit here.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-starter) - [Find your favorite Kombucha loose leaf tea flavors here.](https://homesteadingfamily.com/fht-kombucha-flavors) - Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentations. To prevent them from getting inside our crock, we place a tea towel over the opening of the crock before placing the lid on. - Do not add hot tea to your SCOBY. This can burn your SCOBY which will kill it and cause mold growth. Cooled tea to body temperature is best. - If you forget to feed your continuous brew weekly (or if it sits too long) the SCOBY won’t go bad, but the kombucha will turn tangy and close to a vinegar (depending on how long it sits out). - If your kombucha gets too acidic, you can bottle it and place it into a dark pantry, it will continue to ferment and is great for use in salad dressings or other recipes where apple cider vinegar is called for. - You can bottle/refrigerate, or do a second fermentation to flavor your kombucha and make it fizzier (more like soda). Tried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.
Shard	3 (laksa)
Root Hash	2754722797036447603
Unparsed URL	com,homesteadingfamily!/how-to-make-kombucha/ s443