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Meta TitleHow to Make Kombucha Tea - iFoodReal.com
Meta DescriptionHow to Make Kombucha at home, a fizzy fermented tea, that is 30 times cheaper than store-bought. You just need water, tea, sugar, starter tea and just follow our easy kombucha recipe!
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How to Make Kombucha with simple ingredients from scratch. This kombucha recipe is easy if you follow our quick video instructions. And costs 30 times less than store bought! We will show you how to grow a SCOBY (you can also buy one or get from a friend), brew kombucha and then even make it fizzy . This is a full guide to homemade kombucha tea that costs 30 times less than store-bought. Aha, that’s right! Table of contents Why Make Homemade Kombucha? What Is a Kombucha Tea? Ingredients and Supplies You Will Need Why Make Homemade Kombucha? Wondering why and how to make kombucha at home? Got “a kombucha problem” and don’t like how much it costs? I don’t blame you. Store bought kombucha costs as much as wine. 1 gallon kombucha = $28 Store bought vs. $0.80 Homemade  = 30 times cheaper Shocked? I was too. This reason alone should be enough to get over any aversion towards kombucha SCOBY , the jellyfish like slimy kombucha “mushroom”, and learn how to make your own kombucha. I have been making my own kombucha for 5 years now. Making kombucha at home is super-super simple once you understand how kombucha tea brewing process works. This post goes into detailed instructions including a video, supplies needed (with affiliate Amazon links I use and trust myself) and a huge section of FAQs. Keep scrolling below or click on any link in the Table of Contents above for a quick jump to your section of interest. What Is a Kombucha Tea? Kombucha tea is a fermented tea made with water, tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. After kombucha SCOBY (mushroom) sits in a sweetened tea for 7-10 days, the result is barely sweet fermented fizzy drink. Most sugar in store bought kombucha comes from added sugar.Kombucha definitely tastes and smells like a fermented product. Something in between apple cider and tea. It tastes depends on type of tea leaves used and flavorings added. There is a big difference in taste between green tea and black tea fermented tea. Ingredients and Supplies You Will Need Ingredients Kombucha SCOBY : You will need to grow your own SCOBY first from a mix of a bottle of store-bought kombucha, tea, sugar and water. However, you can buy fresh SCOBY with starter tea to speed up the process by 2-3 weeks or get one form a friend. Tea : Any caffeinated, flavoured (love Earl Grey tea here) or plain tea like white tea, black tea or green tea works. No decaf tea. You can also use tea bags (I list the amount in the recipe card below). Sugar : White or cane sugar, preferably organic. No brown, coconut or raw sugar. Also no honey, maple syrup, stevia, splenda etc. Water: Can be just tap cold water, doesn’t have to be filtered. Supplies Large glass container : Has to be glass or ceramic minimum 1 gallon size. I always use a glass dispenser with a plastic spout (which is fine!) that makes pouring the brewed kombucha so much easier. Flip top glass bottles : Airtight bottles will keep carbonation in. Fine mesh sieve : Filters out large and small loose leaf tea leaves making your drink super clear. Linen or paper towel and a rubber band: You want to allow air to circulate during the fermentation process. Bottles cleaning tip: With time inside of the bottles accumulate a tea build up. Add 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tbsp uncooked rice, then fill up with hot water half way. Shake, let stand fo 10 minutes, shake well again and rinse. Bottles should be much cleaner now. How to Make Kombucha from Scratch Here is a quick recap of the whole process: Grow or buy a SCOBY First fermentation – brewing kombucha. Second fermentation (optional) – flavoring and making kombucha more fizzy. 1. Grow or Buy Fresh SCOBY with Starter Tea Here is a super easy video recipe  how to grow kombucha SCOBY .  Quick recap: All you will need is a bottle of store-bought kombucha , combined with a few cups of homemade sweet tea and left to ferment for about 2 weeks or until a SCOBY forms on top. Or you can buy fresh SCOBY with starter tea these days. Amazing! You might be able to grow a SCOBY with store-bought flavoured kombucha. Just make sure it contains black tea. For example, I think ginger kombucha will have more chances than mango one. 2. Brew Sweet Tea Now that we have kombucha mushroom, we are ready to brew kombucha also called “first fermentation”. In a large pot, bring water to boil and turn off heat. Add tea leaves and sugar, stir and let cool completely. To speed up the cooling process, place pot in a sink filled with cold water for 30 minutes, or let cool outside (if it’s cold). I use the same pot each time when making kombucha, so now I do not have to measure 14 cups of water every time. 3. Combine Tea and SCOBY In at least one gallon size glass beverage dispenser, add SCOBY and 2 cups of starter tea (the one from growing a mushroom in or store-bought kombucha). Pour cooled tea on top using a fine mesh strainer. Once you pour freshly brewed tea, it is normal to see the SCOBY sink to the bottom or hang sideways. It will float to the top after a few days of fermentation. 4. Ferment Cover with paper or linen towel secured with a rubber band and put in a place with temperatures around or above 21C or 70F degrees (I leave mine on a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight) to ferment for 7-14 days. How do I know my kombucha is brewing? Kombucha will lighten in colour and develop fermented smell. You will also see small bubbles forming and new SCOBY forming on top of the first one. In summer, warmer temperatures speed up the fermentation. And in winter, they slow it down. Keep an eye on the kombucha based on the season and your house temperatures. 5. Taste and Bottle After 7-10 days (less in summer) start tasting kombucha. If it isn’t sweet, has a tangy taste, fizzes as you pour and booch mushroom is floating at the top, then your fermented tea is ready. Pour all of it, minus the 2 cups and SCOBY, using a funnel into an airtight cap bottles and enjoy! 6. Storing Kombucha Tea Does kombucha go bad? Kombucha tea doesn’t go bad but rather keeps fermenting which makes it taste more vinegar-y. Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Fermented tea loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. There is nothing like freshly brewed kombucha. When it’s ready for bottling, I like to pour myself a big glass directly from the dispenser with a spout before bottling the rest up. 7. Repeat Always leave about 2 cups of fermented tea covering the SCOBY in a jug, to keep it hydrated and to be able to start a new batch. To brew next batch, start with step 2 by brewing and cooling the sweet tea. Health Benefits of Fermented Tea One word – PROBIOTICS . Kombucha is a fermented product containing the “good” bacteria. Stronger immune system. Improved digestion. Healthy gut. Detoxification. If you are looking for another way to boost your immune system, detoxify and improve gut health, check out how to make lemon water . How to Flavor and Make Kombucha More Fizzy Freshly poured kombucha tea from the dispenser with a SCOBY is very fizzy. It loses its carbonation once bottled, especially in a fridge. Would you like it to be more fizzy? Then you need to do a second fermentation aka how to make kombucha fizzy . Would you like your kids to drink and love the booch? Would you like to make your own “healthy pop”? Then click and learn everything about flavoring kombucha . Homemade Kombucha FAQs Can I make kombucha without sugar? Unfortunately not. Kombucha is one of few recipes where you have to use white or cane sugar. Raw sugar, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, stevia or any other sweetener will not work. However, you will not be eating 1 cup sugar once tea has fermented. The sugar acts like the food for the bacteria and yeast. They will eat it all up turning into acidity and carbonation. Final kombucha is very low in sugar. Can I use decaf tea for brewing kombucha? No, caffeine is a must for the fermentation process to occur. You can combine a bit of flavored tea with black or green or white tea to add flavor. Should I wash the SCOBY and the jug? No and yes. I don’t rinse the mushroom but if you want to – go for it. Every few batches I wash the jug with biodegradable dish soap (check out the non-toxic cleaners I use ). I have read that you should wash jar with vinegar but because I don’t use conventional harsh dish soap, I am not too scared of the chemicals making my SCOBY “sick”. What to do if I see mold? I honestly never had this issue. Neither any reader has reported it. So it is very rare and what you might think is a mold, is actually new SCOBY growing on top. But if it happens, you have to discard the entire batch and start over again. What is that thin white film on top of my SCOBY? That is a new SCOBY growing – “a baby”. What do I do with SCOBY babies? They keep reproducing. Always leave the top (newer) kombucha mushroom to keep brewing kombucha. Peel off the older one and you have 2 options: Option #1: Give it to friends or start another batch. Option #2:  Compost it. It sucks, it’s a waste but at least it gets composted. Can I cut the SCOBY? Yes, SCOBY is easy to cut with a pair of clean kitchen scissors. In fact, you always should keep only a few SCOBies in your kombucha brewing batch because too many and your fermented tea will be sour. Think of it as a bigger hungry “baby” that will eat sugar faster. However, you should also keep in mind that for best carbonation results the shape of a SCOBY should be the shape of the jar creating a tight seal. Can I eat the SCOBY? Yes, technically. I have seen scoby candy recipes and have heard some folks feeding the mushroom to their dog. How can I increase carbonation without second fermentation? To maintain a bit of a fizz, store kombucha at room temperature (not refrigerated) in an airtight bottle. Carbonation won’t be as strong but still some is better than none. How to store SCOBY? When we went on vacation to Mexico for a month , I placed the jug with SCOBY and about few cups of kombucha in the fridge for 4 weeks. This way the fermentation process slows down. If I want to take a break for a shorter period of time while at home, let’s say 7-10 days, I just let the jar sit on a counter in the same way. Does kombucha have caffeine in it? Yes, a bit. It contains approximately 1/3 the amount of caffeine as the tea it is made with. Can you get drunk from it? Alcohol level in kombucha is 0.5% ABV compared to 5% ABV in beer. Definitely won’t make you drunk. How much of kombucha to drink? Drink as much as desired. There is no right or wrong formula for health benefits. Make sure to drink plenty of water as kombucha is natural detoxifier. And you want to flush the newly released toxins out. Can kids drink kombucha? Yes for sure. My kids love the booch, especially the flavored one. They treat it as pop or juice. Why does it taste like vinegar? You let it ferment too long. Happens to the best of us. I usually make a few cups of strong sweet tea, let cool and add to the jug with the booch. Let sit for another 1-2 days, taste and bottle. Do not add sugar directly to the jug with kombucha as it will not dissolve or help with the acidity. What is the best tea for kombucha? Black tea. Its leaves that have been oxidized for a long time creating a bold flavor. Does kombucha need to be refrigerated? Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Fermented tea loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. More Healthy Drinks Recipes Healthy iced coffee Lemon water recipe Healthy iced tea Healthy frappuccino ▢ 1 kombucha SCOBY ▢ 2 cups previously brewed kombucha , from a jar with SCOBY or store-bought ▢ 14 cups water ▢ 1 cup white or cane sugar , not honey, stevia, raw or coconut sugar ▢ 2 tbsp loose leaf black or green tea , or 8 tea bags Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark Make  kombucha SCOBY . All you will need is a bottle of store-bought kombucha , combined with a few cups of homemade sweet tea and left to ferment for about 2 weeks or until a SCOBY forms on top. Or you can buy fresh SCOBY with starter tea these days. In a large pot, bring water to boil and turn off heat. Add tea and sugar, stir and let cool completely: place in a sink filled with cold water to speed things up, or let sit overnight. In a glass container , add SCOBY and 2 cups of starter tea (the one from growing a SCOBY in or store-bought kombucha). Pour cooled tea on top using a fine mesh strainer . Cover with paper or linen towel secured with a rubber band and put in a place with temperatures around or above 21C or 70F degrees (I leave mine on a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight) to ferment for 7-14 days. It is OK if SCOBY isn’t floating at the top (it will later). After 7-10 days (less in summer) start tasting kombucha. If it isn’t sweet, has a tangy taste, fizzes as you pour and SCOBY is floating at the top, then your kombucha is ready. Pour all of the kombucha, minus the 2 cups and SCOBY, using a funnel into an airtight cap bottles and enjoy! Always leave about 2 cups of fermented tea covering the SCOBY in a jug, to keep it hydrated and to be able to start a new batch. To brew next batch, start with step 2 by brewing and cooling the sweet tea. 🎉 Last step! If you made this recipe, please leave a review and let us know what you think! Store: Kombucha tea doesn’t go bad but rather keeps fermenting which makes it taste more vinegar-y. Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Kombucha loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. Plastic spout: If you have glass dispenser with a tap and it is plastic, know it is fine and normal. That is what I have. Can I use plastic or metal container for making kombucha? No, it has to be glass. What is best tea for making kombucha? Any caffeinated, flavoured or plain tea like white tea, black tea or green tea works. What is ideal room temperature for brewing kombucha? About 68 – 70 F or 20-21 C for bacteria to grow and kombucha ferment. Warmer temperature means faster fermentation. Can I take a break from brewing kombucha? Yes. When we went on vacation to Mexico for a month , I placed the jug with SCOBY and about few cups of kombucha in the fridge for 4 weeks. This way the fermentation process slows down. If I want to take a break for a shorter period of time while at home, let’s say 7-10 days, I just let the jar sit on a counter in the same way. See Recipe Post for more FAQs. Serving: 1 cup , Calories: 30 kcal , Carbohydrates: 7 g , Sodium: 10 mg , Sugar: 2 g Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation. Watch Olena Cooking on Youtube 5 new videos every week You may also like KF Kid Friendly Recipes GF Gluten Free Recipes VG Vegetarian Recipes V Vegan Recipes LS Low Sugar Green Smoothie GF Gluten Free Recipes V Vegan Recipes LS Low Sugar Healthy Iced Coffee Lemon Water Recipe About Olena Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 14 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!
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See my [disclosure policy](https://ifoodreal.com/privacy-policy/). **How to Make Kombucha** with simple ingredients from scratch. This kombucha recipe is easy if you follow our quick video instructions. And costs 30 times less than store bought\! We will show you how to grow [a SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/) (you can also buy one or get from a friend), brew kombucha and then even [make it fizzy](https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/). This is a full guide to homemade kombucha tea that costs 30 times less than store-bought. Aha, that’s right\! ![homemade kombucha in a glass jug](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-4-678x1024.jpg) ![homemade kombucha in a glass jug](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-4-678x1024.jpg) ## Table of contents - [Why Make Homemade Kombucha?](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-why-make-homemade-kombucha) - [What Is a Kombucha Tea?](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-what-is-a-kombucha-tea) - [Ingredients and Supplies You Will Need](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-ingredients-and-supplies-you-will-need) - [Ingredients](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-ingredients) - [Supplies](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-supplies) - [How to Make Kombucha from Scratch](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-how-to-make-kombucha-from-scratch) - [1\. Grow or Buy Fresh SCOBY with Starter Tea](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-1-grow-or-buy-fresh-scoby-with-starter-tea) - [2\. Brew Sweet Tea](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-2-brew-sweet-tea) - [3\. Combine Tea and SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-3-combine-tea-and-scoby) - [4\. Ferment](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-4-ferment) - [5\. Taste and Bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-5-taste-and-bottle) - [6\. Storing Kombucha Tea](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-6-storing-kombucha-tea) - [7\. Repeat](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-7-repeat) - [Health Benefits of Fermented Tea](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-health-benefits-of-fermented-tea) - [How to Flavor and Make Kombucha More Fizzy](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-how-to-flavor-and-make-kombucha-more-fizzy) - [Homemade Kombucha FAQs](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-homemade-kombucha-faqs) - [More Healthy Drinks Recipes](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-more-healthy-drinks-recipes) Expand ## Why Make Homemade Kombucha? Wondering why and how to make kombucha at home? Got “a kombucha problem” and don’t like how much it costs? I don’t blame you. Store bought kombucha costs as much as wine. **1 gallon kombucha = \$28 Store bought vs. \$0.80 Homemade** **\= 30 times cheaper** Shocked? I was too. This reason alone should be enough to get over any aversion towards [kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/), the jellyfish like slimy kombucha “mushroom”, and learn how to make your own kombucha. I have been making my own kombucha for 5 years now. Making kombucha at home is super-super simple once you understand how kombucha tea brewing process works. This post goes into detailed instructions including a video, supplies needed (with affiliate Amazon links I use and trust myself) and a huge section of FAQs. Keep scrolling below or click on any link in the Table of Contents above for a quick jump to your section of interest. ![flavored kombucha in glasses and bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-recipe-9-678x1024.jpg) ![flavored kombucha in glasses and bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-recipe-9-678x1024.jpg) ## What Is a Kombucha Tea? [Kombucha tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha) is a fermented tea made with water, tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. After kombucha SCOBY (mushroom) sits in a sweetened tea for 7-10 days, the result is barely sweet fermented fizzy drink. Most sugar in store bought kombucha comes from added sugar.Kombucha definitely tastes and smells like a fermented product. Something in between apple cider and tea. It tastes depends on type of tea leaves used and flavorings added. There is a big difference in taste between green tea and black tea fermented tea. ## Ingredients and Supplies You Will Need ### Ingredients - **[Kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/):** You will need to grow your own SCOBY first from a mix of a bottle of store-bought kombucha, tea, sugar and water. However, you can buy [fresh SCOBY with starter tea](https://amzn.to/2TmQhtm) to speed up the process by 2-3 weeks or get one form a friend. - **[Tea](https://amzn.to/3qBy5IF):** Any caffeinated, flavoured (love Earl Grey tea here) or plain tea like white tea, black tea or green tea works. No decaf tea. You can also use tea bags (I list the amount in the recipe card below). - **[Sugar](https://amzn.to/3hm58wa):** White or cane sugar, preferably organic. No brown, coconut or raw sugar. Also no honey, maple syrup, stevia, splenda etc. - **Water:** Can be just tap cold water, doesn’t have to be filtered. ![tea, sugar and scoby](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-tea-ingredients-1024x682.jpg) ![tea, sugar and scoby](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-tea-ingredients-1024x682.jpg) ### Supplies - **[Large glass container](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M):** Has to be glass or ceramic minimum 1 gallon size. I always use [a glass dispenser with a plastic spout](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M) (which is fine!) that makes pouring the brewed kombucha so much easier. - **[Flip top glass bottles](https://amzn.to/3Aej5os):** Airtight bottles will keep carbonation in. - **[Fine mesh sieve](https://amzn.to/3hqXctB):** Filters out large and small loose leaf tea leaves making your drink super clear. - **Linen or paper towel and a rubber band:** You want to allow air to circulate during the fermentation process. **Bottles cleaning tip:** With time inside of the bottles accumulate a tea build up. Add 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tbsp uncooked rice, then fill up with hot water half way. Shake, let stand fo 10 minutes, shake well again and rinse. Bottles should be much cleaner now. ![glass jar, glass bottles, mesh sieve, towel and rubber band](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-supplies-1-1024x682.jpg) ![glass jar, glass bottles, mesh sieve, towel and rubber band](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-supplies-1-1024x682.jpg) ## How to Make Kombucha from Scratch Here is a quick recap of the whole process: - **Grow or buy a SCOBY** - **First fermentation** – brewing kombucha. - **Second fermentation (optional)** – flavoring and making kombucha more fizzy. ### 1\. Grow or Buy Fresh SCOBY with Starter Tea Here is a super easy video recipe [how to grow kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/). **Quick recap:** All you will need is a bottle of [store-bought kombucha](https://amzn.to/3jtJbxI), combined with a few cups of homemade sweet tea and left to ferment for about 2 weeks or until a SCOBY forms on top. Or you can buy [fresh SCOBY with starter tea](https://amzn.to/2TmQhtm) these days. Amazing\! You might be able to grow a SCOBY with store-bought flavoured kombucha. Just make sure it contains black tea. For example, I think ginger kombucha will have more chances than mango one. ![GT's kombucha in a bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby.jpg) ![GT's kombucha in a bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby.jpg) ![water in a pot and tea and sugar in a bowl ](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-5-678x1024.jpg) ![water in a pot and tea and sugar in a bowl ](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-5-678x1024.jpg) ![brewed sweet tea in a pot](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-1-678x1024.jpg) ![brewed sweet tea in a pot](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-1-678x1024.jpg) ![scoby and kombucha in a glass jar](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-2-1024x678.jpg) ![scoby and kombucha in a glass jar](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-2-1024x678.jpg) ![scoby on a plate](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-3.jpg) ![scoby on a plate](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-3.jpg) ### 2\. Brew Sweet Tea Now that we have kombucha mushroom, we are ready to brew kombucha also called “first fermentation”. In a large pot, bring water to boil and turn off heat. Add tea leaves and sugar, stir and let cool completely. To speed up the cooling process, place pot in a sink filled with cold water for 30 minutes, or let cool outside (if it’s cold). I use the same pot each time when making kombucha, so now I do not have to measure 14 cups of water every time. ![brewed tea in a pot on the stove](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-678x1024.jpg) ![brewed tea in a pot on the stove](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-678x1024.jpg) ### 3\. Combine Tea and SCOBY In at least one gallon size glass beverage dispenser, add SCOBY and 2 cups of starter tea (the one from growing a mushroom in or store-bought kombucha). Pour cooled tea on top using a fine mesh strainer. Once you pour freshly brewed tea, it is normal to see the SCOBY sink to the bottom or hang sideways. It will float to the top after a few days of fermentation. ![scoby and kombucha in a glass jar](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-2-1024x678.jpg) ![scoby and kombucha in a glass jar](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-2-1024x678.jpg) ![pouring sweet tea through mesh sieve into glass container](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-3-678x1024.jpg) ![pouring sweet tea through mesh sieve into glass container](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-3-678x1024.jpg) ![homemade kombucha in a glass jug](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-4-678x1024.jpg) ![homemade kombucha in a glass jug](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-4-678x1024.jpg) ### 4\. Ferment Cover with paper or linen towel secured with a rubber band and put in a place with temperatures around or above 21C or 70F degrees (I leave mine on a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight) to ferment for 7-14 days. How do I know my kombucha is brewing? Kombucha will lighten in colour and develop fermented smell. You will also see small bubbles forming and new SCOBY forming on top of the first one. In summer, warmer temperatures speed up the fermentation. And in winter, they slow it down. Keep an eye on the kombucha based on the season and your house temperatures. ![brewed kombucha in a glass container](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-5-678x1024.jpg) ![brewed kombucha in a glass container](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-5-678x1024.jpg) ### 5\. Taste and Bottle After 7-10 days (less in summer) start tasting kombucha. If it isn’t sweet, has a tangy taste, fizzes as you pour and booch mushroom is floating at the top, then your fermented tea is ready. Pour all of it, minus the 2 cups and SCOBY, using a funnel into an airtight cap bottles and enjoy\! ![pouring fermented tea through a spout in a bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-6-678x1024.jpg) ![pouring fermented tea through a spout in a bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-6-678x1024.jpg) ![bottled fermented tea](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-7-678x1024.jpg) ![bottled fermented tea](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-7-678x1024.jpg) ### 6\. Storing Kombucha Tea **Does kombucha go bad?** Kombucha tea doesn’t go bad but rather keeps fermenting which makes it taste more vinegar-y. Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Fermented tea loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. There is nothing like freshly brewed kombucha. When it’s ready for bottling, I like to pour myself a big glass directly from the dispenser with a spout before bottling the rest up. ### 7\. Repeat Always leave about 2 cups of fermented tea covering the SCOBY in a jug, to keep it hydrated and to be able to start a new batch. To brew next batch, start with step 2 by brewing and cooling the sweet tea. ![glass jug with scoby](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-8-678x1024.jpg) ![glass jug with scoby](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-8-678x1024.jpg) ## Health Benefits of Fermented Tea One word – **PROBIOTICS**. Kombucha is a fermented product containing the “good” bacteria. 1. Stronger immune system. 2. Improved digestion. 3. Healthy gut. 4. Detoxification. If you are looking for another way to boost your immune system, detoxify and improve gut health, check out [how to make lemon water](https://ifoodreal.com/how-to-make-lemon-water/). ## How to Flavor and Make Kombucha More Fizzy Freshly poured kombucha tea from the dispenser with a SCOBY is very fizzy. It loses its carbonation once bottled, especially in a fridge. Would you like it to be more fizzy? Then you need to do a second fermentation aka [how to make kombucha fizzy](https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/). Would you like your kids to drink and love the booch? Would you like to make your own “healthy pop”? Then click and learn everything about [flavoring kombucha](https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/). ![second fermentation kombucha in the bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-recipe-10-678x1024.jpg) ![second fermentation kombucha in the bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-recipe-10-678x1024.jpg) ## Homemade Kombucha FAQs **Can I make kombucha without sugar?** Unfortunately not. Kombucha is one of few recipes where you have to use white or cane sugar. Raw sugar, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, stevia or any other sweetener will not work. However, you will not be eating 1 cup sugar once tea has fermented. The sugar acts like the food for the bacteria and yeast. They will eat it all up turning into acidity and carbonation. Final kombucha is very low in sugar. **Can I use decaf tea for brewing kombucha?** No, caffeine is a must for the fermentation process to occur. You can combine a bit of flavored tea with black or green or white tea to add flavor. **Should I wash the SCOBY and the jug?** No and yes. I don’t rinse the mushroom but if you want to – go for it. Every few batches I wash the jug with biodegradable dish soap (check out [the non-toxic cleaners I use](https://ifoodreal.com/non-toxic-cleaning-products-that-work/)). I have read that you should wash jar with vinegar but because I don’t use conventional harsh dish soap, I am not too scared of the chemicals making my SCOBY “sick”. **What to do if I see mold?** I honestly never had this issue. Neither any reader has reported it. So it is very rare and what you might think is a mold, is actually new SCOBY growing on top. But if it happens, you have to discard the entire batch and start over again. **What is that thin white film on top of my SCOBY?** That is a new SCOBY growing – “a baby”. **What do I do with SCOBY babies? They keep reproducing.** Always leave the top (newer) kombucha mushroom to keep brewing kombucha. Peel off the older one and you have 2 options: ***Option \#1:*** Give it to friends or start another batch. ***Option \#2:*** Compost it. It sucks, it’s a waste but at least it gets composted. **Can I cut the SCOBY?** Yes, SCOBY is easy to cut with a pair of clean kitchen scissors. In fact, you always should keep only a few SCOBies in your kombucha brewing batch because too many and your fermented tea will be sour. Think of it as a bigger hungry “baby” that will eat sugar faster. However, you should also keep in mind that for best carbonation results the shape of a SCOBY should be the shape of the jar creating a tight seal. **Can I eat the SCOBY?** Yes, technically. I have seen [scoby candy recipes](https://www.liveeatlearn.com/kombucha-scoby-candy/) and have heard some folks feeding the mushroom to their dog. **How can I increase carbonation without second fermentation?** To maintain a bit of a fizz, store kombucha at room temperature (not refrigerated) in an airtight bottle. Carbonation won’t be as strong but still some is better than none. **How to store SCOBY?** When we went on vacation to [Mexico for a month](https://ifoodreal.com/going-mexico-month/), I placed the jug with SCOBY and about few cups of kombucha in the fridge for 4 weeks. This way the fermentation process slows down. If I want to take a break for a shorter period of time while at home, let’s say 7-10 days, I just let the jar sit on a counter in the same way. **Does kombucha have caffeine in it?** Yes, a bit. It contains approximately 1/3 the amount of caffeine as the tea it is made with. **Can you get drunk from it?** Alcohol level in kombucha is 0.5% ABV compared to 5% ABV in beer. Definitely won’t make you drunk. **How much of kombucha to drink?** Drink as much as desired. There is no right or wrong formula for health benefits. Make sure to drink plenty of water as kombucha is natural detoxifier. And you want to flush the newly released toxins out. **Can kids drink kombucha?** Yes for sure. My kids love the booch, especially the flavored one. They treat it as pop or juice. **Why does it taste like vinegar?** You let it ferment too long. Happens to the best of us. I usually make a few cups of strong sweet tea, let cool and add to the jug with the booch. Let sit for another 1-2 days, taste and bottle. Do not add sugar directly to the jug with kombucha as it will not dissolve or help with the acidity. **What is the best tea for kombucha?** Black tea. Its leaves that have been oxidized for a long time creating a bold flavor. **Does kombucha need to be refrigerated?** Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Fermented tea loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. ## More Healthy Drinks Recipes - [Healthy iced coffee](https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-iced-coffee/) - [Lemon water recipe](https://ifoodreal.com/how-to-make-lemon-water/) - [Healthy iced tea](https://ifoodreal.com/lime-iced-tea/) - [Healthy frappuccino](https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-frappuccino/) ![homemade kombucha recipe in a glass dispenser](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fg-kombucha-recipe-1-300x300.jpg) ![homemade kombucha recipe in a glass dispenser](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/fg-kombucha-recipe-1-300x300.jpg) 5 from 32 votes ## How to Make Kombucha By: [Olena Osipov](https://ifoodreal.com/about-olena/) How to Make Kombucha at home, a fizzy fermented tea, that is 30 times cheaper than store-bought. You just need water, tea, sugar, starter tea and just follow our easy kombucha recipe\! Prep: 2 minutes mins Cook: 15 minutes mins Cooling Tea and Fermentation Time: 10 days d 3 hours hrs Total: 10 days d 3 hours hrs 17 minutes mins Servings: [14](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/) servings [Save](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/) [Saved](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fifoodreal.com%2Fkombucha-recipe%2F&media=https%3A%2F%2Fifoodreal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F06%2Ffg-kombucha-recipe-1.jpg&description=How+to+Make+Kombucha&is_video=false) [Rate](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#commentform) [Print](https://ifoodreal.com/wprm_print/how-to-make-kombucha) ### Equipment - [SCOBY](https://amzn.to/3hmm4E8) - [Glass container](https://amzn.to/3DrfB3b) - [Strainer](https://amzn.to/3DvtddN) - [Glass bottles](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M) ### Video ### Ingredients 1/2x 1x 2x - ▢ 1 [kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/) - ▢ 2 cups previously brewed kombucha, from a jar with SCOBY or store-bought - ▢ 14 cups water - ▢ 1 cup [white or cane sugar](https://amzn.to/3C0yIzu), not honey, stevia, raw or coconut sugar - ▢ 2 tbsp [loose leaf black or green tea](https://amzn.to/36gzMBR), or 8 tea bags [US Customary](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/) – [Metric](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/) Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark ### Instructions - Make [kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/). All you will need is a bottle of [store-bought kombucha](https://amzn.to/3jtJbxI), combined with a few cups of homemade sweet tea and left to ferment for about 2 weeks or until a SCOBY forms on top. Or you can buy [fresh SCOBY with starter tea](https://amzn.to/2TmQhtm) these days. - In a large pot, bring water to boil and turn off heat. Add tea and sugar, stir and let cool completely: place in a sink filled with cold water to speed things up, or let sit overnight. - In [a glass container](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M), add SCOBY and 2 cups of starter tea (the one from growing a SCOBY in or store-bought kombucha). Pour cooled tea on top using [a fine mesh strainer](https://amzn.to/3hqXctB). - Cover with paper or linen towel secured with a rubber band and put in a place with temperatures around or above 21C or 70F degrees (I leave mine on a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight) to ferment for 7-14 days. It is OK if SCOBY isn’t floating at the top (it will later). - After 7-10 days (less in summer) start tasting kombucha. If it isn’t sweet, has a tangy taste, fizzes as you pour and SCOBY is floating at the top, then your kombucha is ready. - Pour all of the kombucha, minus the 2 cups and SCOBY, using a funnel into [an airtight cap bottles](https://amzn.to/3Aej5os) and enjoy\! - Always leave about 2 cups of fermented tea covering the SCOBY in a jug, to keep it hydrated and to be able to start a new batch. To brew next batch, start with step 2 by brewing and cooling the sweet tea. 🎉 **Last step\!** If you made this recipe, [please leave a review](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comments) and let us know what you think\! ### Notes - **Store:** Kombucha tea doesn’t go bad but rather keeps fermenting which makes it taste more vinegar-y. Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Kombucha loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. - **Plastic spout:** If you have glass dispenser with a tap and it is plastic, know it is fine and normal. That is what I have. - **Can I use plastic or metal container for making kombucha?** No, it has to be glass. - **What is best tea for making kombucha?** Any caffeinated, flavoured or plain tea like white tea, black tea or green tea works. - **What is ideal room temperature for brewing kombucha?** About 68 – 70 F or 20-21 C for bacteria to grow and kombucha ferment. Warmer temperature means faster fermentation. - **Can I take a break from brewing kombucha?** Yes. When we went on vacation to [Mexico for a month](https://ifoodreal.com/going-mexico-month/), I placed the jug with SCOBY and about few cups of kombucha in the fridge for 4 weeks. This way the fermentation process slows down. If I want to take a break for a shorter period of time while at home, let’s say 7-10 days, I just let the jar sit on a counter in the same way. *See Recipe Post for more FAQs.* ### Nutrition Serving: 1cup, Calories: 30kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Sodium: 10mg, Sugar: 2g Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation. Did you make this recipe?Mention [@ifoodreal](https://www.instagram.com/ifoodreal) or tag [\#ifoodreal](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ifoodreal)\! Like this post? Share it with friends\! 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I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 14 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family\! [More about Olena](https://ifoodreal.com/about-olena/) ### Comments 1. **Rhonda** says: [April 6, 2022 at 7:29 am](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-751779) Good day. This is my first attempt to make kombucha tea. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing, so it should be interesting!! LOL I was wondering if it is possible to make half gallon instead of one gallon — halving the ingredients. PS. I love your website and your “story”…. and you make me want to move over to Vancouver Island!! I live in Ontario 🙂 [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-751779) 1. **Olena** says: [April 6, 2022 at 8:35 am](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-751787) Hi Rhonda. LOL you are funny. Yes, you can half making kombucha recipe. I would follow the recipe for full measurements to grow SCOBY though. You know what I mean? You can also buy SCOBY on our Canadian Amazon to save time. Let me know if you have more questions. Good luck\! Island is magical, once you come visit, you will never be the same. Many people from ON moved here. 🙂 [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-751787) 2. **Dan** says: [March 19, 2022 at 3:05 am](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-751185) ![5 stars](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/rating/stars-alt-5.svg) Thank you for all the help for ideas [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-751185) 1. **Olena** says: [March 19, 2022 at 9:53 am](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-751197) My pleasure. [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-751197) 3. **Karen** says: [January 21, 2022 at 3:21 pm](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-749690) ![5 stars](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-recipe-maker/assets/icons/rating/stars-alt-5.svg) Best recipe I’ve found and this is my third attempt. My question is, now that I’m ready to do another batch, should I remove the older scoby and leave the new one in ? [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-749690) 1. **iFoodReal** says: [January 23, 2022 at 6:07 am](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-749730) Hi Karen, glad you are enjoying it! Always leave the top (newer) kombucha mushroom to keep brewing kombucha. Peel off the older one and you have 2 options: Option \#1: Give it to friends or start another batch. Option \#2: Compost it. It sucks, it’s a waste but at least it gets composted. 🙂 [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-749730) 4. **Dee L.** says: [October 11, 2021 at 10:11 pm](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-747599) Hi Olena,This is my second batch of kombucha,and I am trying your recipe,and using green instead of black tea.i was wondering if I could use applesauce instead of a homemade puree,and pomegranate juice and hibiscus,and do I add all to gallon jar or to each individual bottle? [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-747599) 1. **iFoodReal** says: [October 12, 2021 at 7:01 am](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-747618) Are you flavoring? Follow these directions here: <https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/> [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-747618) 5. **Sandra Wilson** says: [August 12, 2021 at 9:20 pm](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-7/#comment-746756) Hello , well informed thank you , just made bread with Scooby, rose well. [Reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comment-746756) #### Comment navigation [Older Comments](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/comment-page-6/#comments) 5 from 32 votes ([3 ratings without comment](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/)) ### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#respond) This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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**How to Make Kombucha** with simple ingredients from scratch. This kombucha recipe is easy if you follow our quick video instructions. And costs 30 times less than store bought\! We will show you how to grow [a SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/) (you can also buy one or get from a friend), brew kombucha and then even [make it fizzy](https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/). This is a full guide to homemade kombucha tea that costs 30 times less than store-bought. Aha, that’s right\! ![homemade kombucha in a glass jug](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-4-678x1024.jpg) ## Table of contents - [Why Make Homemade Kombucha?](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-why-make-homemade-kombucha) - [What Is a Kombucha Tea?](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-what-is-a-kombucha-tea) - [Ingredients and Supplies You Will Need](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#h-ingredients-and-supplies-you-will-need) ## Why Make Homemade Kombucha? Wondering why and how to make kombucha at home? Got “a kombucha problem” and don’t like how much it costs? I don’t blame you. Store bought kombucha costs as much as wine. **1 gallon kombucha = \$28 Store bought vs. \$0.80 Homemade** **\= 30 times cheaper** Shocked? I was too. This reason alone should be enough to get over any aversion towards [kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/), the jellyfish like slimy kombucha “mushroom”, and learn how to make your own kombucha. I have been making my own kombucha for 5 years now. Making kombucha at home is super-super simple once you understand how kombucha tea brewing process works. This post goes into detailed instructions including a video, supplies needed (with affiliate Amazon links I use and trust myself) and a huge section of FAQs. Keep scrolling below or click on any link in the Table of Contents above for a quick jump to your section of interest. ![flavored kombucha in glasses and bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-recipe-9-678x1024.jpg) ## What Is a Kombucha Tea? [Kombucha tea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha) is a fermented tea made with water, tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast. After kombucha SCOBY (mushroom) sits in a sweetened tea for 7-10 days, the result is barely sweet fermented fizzy drink. Most sugar in store bought kombucha comes from added sugar.Kombucha definitely tastes and smells like a fermented product. Something in between apple cider and tea. It tastes depends on type of tea leaves used and flavorings added. There is a big difference in taste between green tea and black tea fermented tea. ## Ingredients and Supplies You Will Need ### Ingredients - **[Kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/):** You will need to grow your own SCOBY first from a mix of a bottle of store-bought kombucha, tea, sugar and water. However, you can buy [fresh SCOBY with starter tea](https://amzn.to/2TmQhtm) to speed up the process by 2-3 weeks or get one form a friend. - **[Tea](https://amzn.to/3qBy5IF):** Any caffeinated, flavoured (love Earl Grey tea here) or plain tea like white tea, black tea or green tea works. No decaf tea. You can also use tea bags (I list the amount in the recipe card below). - **[Sugar](https://amzn.to/3hm58wa):** White or cane sugar, preferably organic. No brown, coconut or raw sugar. Also no honey, maple syrup, stevia, splenda etc. - **Water:** Can be just tap cold water, doesn’t have to be filtered. ![tea, sugar and scoby](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-tea-ingredients-1024x682.jpg) ### Supplies - **[Large glass container](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M):** Has to be glass or ceramic minimum 1 gallon size. I always use [a glass dispenser with a plastic spout](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M) (which is fine!) that makes pouring the brewed kombucha so much easier. - **[Flip top glass bottles](https://amzn.to/3Aej5os):** Airtight bottles will keep carbonation in. - **[Fine mesh sieve](https://amzn.to/3hqXctB):** Filters out large and small loose leaf tea leaves making your drink super clear. - **Linen or paper towel and a rubber band:** You want to allow air to circulate during the fermentation process. **Bottles cleaning tip:** With time inside of the bottles accumulate a tea build up. Add 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tbsp uncooked rice, then fill up with hot water half way. Shake, let stand fo 10 minutes, shake well again and rinse. Bottles should be much cleaner now. ![glass jar, glass bottles, mesh sieve, towel and rubber band](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-supplies-1-1024x682.jpg) ## How to Make Kombucha from Scratch Here is a quick recap of the whole process: - **Grow or buy a SCOBY** - **First fermentation** – brewing kombucha. - **Second fermentation (optional)** – flavoring and making kombucha more fizzy. ### 1\. Grow or Buy Fresh SCOBY with Starter Tea Here is a super easy video recipe [how to grow kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/). **Quick recap:** All you will need is a bottle of [store-bought kombucha](https://amzn.to/3jtJbxI), combined with a few cups of homemade sweet tea and left to ferment for about 2 weeks or until a SCOBY forms on top. Or you can buy [fresh SCOBY with starter tea](https://amzn.to/2TmQhtm) these days. Amazing\! You might be able to grow a SCOBY with store-bought flavoured kombucha. Just make sure it contains black tea. For example, I think ginger kombucha will have more chances than mango one. ![GT's kombucha in a bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby.jpg) ![water in a pot and tea and sugar in a bowl ](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-5-678x1024.jpg) ![brewed sweet tea in a pot](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-1-678x1024.jpg) ![scoby and kombucha in a glass jar](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-2-1024x678.jpg) ![scoby on a plate](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-growing-a-scoby-3.jpg) ### 2\. Brew Sweet Tea Now that we have kombucha mushroom, we are ready to brew kombucha also called “first fermentation”. In a large pot, bring water to boil and turn off heat. Add tea leaves and sugar, stir and let cool completely. To speed up the cooling process, place pot in a sink filled with cold water for 30 minutes, or let cool outside (if it’s cold). I use the same pot each time when making kombucha, so now I do not have to measure 14 cups of water every time. ![brewed tea in a pot on the stove](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-678x1024.jpg) ### 3\. Combine Tea and SCOBY In at least one gallon size glass beverage dispenser, add SCOBY and 2 cups of starter tea (the one from growing a mushroom in or store-bought kombucha). Pour cooled tea on top using a fine mesh strainer. Once you pour freshly brewed tea, it is normal to see the SCOBY sink to the bottom or hang sideways. It will float to the top after a few days of fermentation. ![scoby and kombucha in a glass jar](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-2-1024x678.jpg) ![pouring sweet tea through mesh sieve into glass container](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-3-678x1024.jpg) ![homemade kombucha in a glass jug](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-4-678x1024.jpg) ### 4\. Ferment Cover with paper or linen towel secured with a rubber band and put in a place with temperatures around or above 21C or 70F degrees (I leave mine on a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight) to ferment for 7-14 days. How do I know my kombucha is brewing? Kombucha will lighten in colour and develop fermented smell. You will also see small bubbles forming and new SCOBY forming on top of the first one. In summer, warmer temperatures speed up the fermentation. And in winter, they slow it down. Keep an eye on the kombucha based on the season and your house temperatures. ![brewed kombucha in a glass container](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-5-678x1024.jpg) ### 5\. Taste and Bottle After 7-10 days (less in summer) start tasting kombucha. If it isn’t sweet, has a tangy taste, fizzes as you pour and booch mushroom is floating at the top, then your fermented tea is ready. Pour all of it, minus the 2 cups and SCOBY, using a funnel into an airtight cap bottles and enjoy\! ![pouring fermented tea through a spout in a bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-6-678x1024.jpg) ![bottled fermented tea](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-7-678x1024.jpg) ### 6\. Storing Kombucha Tea **Does kombucha go bad?** Kombucha tea doesn’t go bad but rather keeps fermenting which makes it taste more vinegar-y. Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Fermented tea loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. There is nothing like freshly brewed kombucha. When it’s ready for bottling, I like to pour myself a big glass directly from the dispenser with a spout before bottling the rest up. ### 7\. Repeat Always leave about 2 cups of fermented tea covering the SCOBY in a jug, to keep it hydrated and to be able to start a new batch. To brew next batch, start with step 2 by brewing and cooling the sweet tea. ![glass jug with scoby](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/kombucha-recipe-8-678x1024.jpg) ## Health Benefits of Fermented Tea One word – **PROBIOTICS**. Kombucha is a fermented product containing the “good” bacteria. 1. Stronger immune system. 2. Improved digestion. 3. Healthy gut. 4. Detoxification. If you are looking for another way to boost your immune system, detoxify and improve gut health, check out [how to make lemon water](https://ifoodreal.com/how-to-make-lemon-water/). ## How to Flavor and Make Kombucha More Fizzy Freshly poured kombucha tea from the dispenser with a SCOBY is very fizzy. It loses its carbonation once bottled, especially in a fridge. Would you like it to be more fizzy? Then you need to do a second fermentation aka [how to make kombucha fizzy](https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/). Would you like your kids to drink and love the booch? Would you like to make your own “healthy pop”? Then click and learn everything about [flavoring kombucha](https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/). ![second fermentation kombucha in the bottle](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kombucha-recipe-10-678x1024.jpg) ## Homemade Kombucha FAQs **Can I make kombucha without sugar?** Unfortunately not. Kombucha is one of few recipes where you have to use white or cane sugar. Raw sugar, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, stevia or any other sweetener will not work. However, you will not be eating 1 cup sugar once tea has fermented. The sugar acts like the food for the bacteria and yeast. They will eat it all up turning into acidity and carbonation. Final kombucha is very low in sugar. **Can I use decaf tea for brewing kombucha?** No, caffeine is a must for the fermentation process to occur. You can combine a bit of flavored tea with black or green or white tea to add flavor. **Should I wash the SCOBY and the jug?** No and yes. I don’t rinse the mushroom but if you want to – go for it. Every few batches I wash the jug with biodegradable dish soap (check out [the non-toxic cleaners I use](https://ifoodreal.com/non-toxic-cleaning-products-that-work/)). I have read that you should wash jar with vinegar but because I don’t use conventional harsh dish soap, I am not too scared of the chemicals making my SCOBY “sick”. **What to do if I see mold?** I honestly never had this issue. Neither any reader has reported it. So it is very rare and what you might think is a mold, is actually new SCOBY growing on top. But if it happens, you have to discard the entire batch and start over again. **What is that thin white film on top of my SCOBY?** That is a new SCOBY growing – “a baby”. **What do I do with SCOBY babies? They keep reproducing.** Always leave the top (newer) kombucha mushroom to keep brewing kombucha. Peel off the older one and you have 2 options: ***Option \#1:*** Give it to friends or start another batch. ***Option \#2:*** Compost it. It sucks, it’s a waste but at least it gets composted. **Can I cut the SCOBY?** Yes, SCOBY is easy to cut with a pair of clean kitchen scissors. In fact, you always should keep only a few SCOBies in your kombucha brewing batch because too many and your fermented tea will be sour. Think of it as a bigger hungry “baby” that will eat sugar faster. However, you should also keep in mind that for best carbonation results the shape of a SCOBY should be the shape of the jar creating a tight seal. **Can I eat the SCOBY?** Yes, technically. I have seen [scoby candy recipes](https://www.liveeatlearn.com/kombucha-scoby-candy/) and have heard some folks feeding the mushroom to their dog. **How can I increase carbonation without second fermentation?** To maintain a bit of a fizz, store kombucha at room temperature (not refrigerated) in an airtight bottle. Carbonation won’t be as strong but still some is better than none. **How to store SCOBY?** When we went on vacation to [Mexico for a month](https://ifoodreal.com/going-mexico-month/), I placed the jug with SCOBY and about few cups of kombucha in the fridge for 4 weeks. This way the fermentation process slows down. If I want to take a break for a shorter period of time while at home, let’s say 7-10 days, I just let the jar sit on a counter in the same way. **Does kombucha have caffeine in it?** Yes, a bit. It contains approximately 1/3 the amount of caffeine as the tea it is made with. **Can you get drunk from it?** Alcohol level in kombucha is 0.5% ABV compared to 5% ABV in beer. Definitely won’t make you drunk. **How much of kombucha to drink?** Drink as much as desired. There is no right or wrong formula for health benefits. Make sure to drink plenty of water as kombucha is natural detoxifier. And you want to flush the newly released toxins out. **Can kids drink kombucha?** Yes for sure. My kids love the booch, especially the flavored one. They treat it as pop or juice. **Why does it taste like vinegar?** You let it ferment too long. Happens to the best of us. I usually make a few cups of strong sweet tea, let cool and add to the jug with the booch. Let sit for another 1-2 days, taste and bottle. Do not add sugar directly to the jug with kombucha as it will not dissolve or help with the acidity. **What is the best tea for kombucha?** Black tea. Its leaves that have been oxidized for a long time creating a bold flavor. **Does kombucha need to be refrigerated?** Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Fermented tea loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. ## More Healthy Drinks Recipes - [Healthy iced coffee](https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-iced-coffee/) - [Lemon water recipe](https://ifoodreal.com/how-to-make-lemon-water/) - [Healthy iced tea](https://ifoodreal.com/lime-iced-tea/) - [Healthy frappuccino](https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-frappuccino/) - ▢ 1 [kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/) - ▢ 2 cups previously brewed kombucha, from a jar with SCOBY or store-bought - ▢ 14 cups water - ▢ 1 cup [white or cane sugar](https://amzn.to/3C0yIzu), not honey, stevia, raw or coconut sugar - ▢ 2 tbsp [loose leaf black or green tea](https://amzn.to/36gzMBR), or 8 tea bags Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark - Make [kombucha SCOBY](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-scoby/). All you will need is a bottle of [store-bought kombucha](https://amzn.to/3jtJbxI), combined with a few cups of homemade sweet tea and left to ferment for about 2 weeks or until a SCOBY forms on top. Or you can buy [fresh SCOBY with starter tea](https://amzn.to/2TmQhtm) these days. - In a large pot, bring water to boil and turn off heat. Add tea and sugar, stir and let cool completely: place in a sink filled with cold water to speed things up, or let sit overnight. - In [a glass container](https://amzn.to/2UeYK1M), add SCOBY and 2 cups of starter tea (the one from growing a SCOBY in or store-bought kombucha). Pour cooled tea on top using [a fine mesh strainer](https://amzn.to/3hqXctB). - Cover with paper or linen towel secured with a rubber band and put in a place with temperatures around or above 21C or 70F degrees (I leave mine on a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight) to ferment for 7-14 days. It is OK if SCOBY isn’t floating at the top (it will later). - After 7-10 days (less in summer) start tasting kombucha. If it isn’t sweet, has a tangy taste, fizzes as you pour and SCOBY is floating at the top, then your kombucha is ready. - Pour all of the kombucha, minus the 2 cups and SCOBY, using a funnel into [an airtight cap bottles](https://amzn.to/3Aej5os) and enjoy\! - Always leave about 2 cups of fermented tea covering the SCOBY in a jug, to keep it hydrated and to be able to start a new batch. To brew next batch, start with step 2 by brewing and cooling the sweet tea. 🎉 **Last step\!** If you made this recipe, [please leave a review](https://ifoodreal.com/kombucha-recipe/#comments) and let us know what you think\! - **Store:** Kombucha tea doesn’t go bad but rather keeps fermenting which makes it taste more vinegar-y. Choice of storage depends on your personal taste buds. Keep at room temperature for up to one week, “burping” bottles every few days to avoid gases build up. After that (or from the start) refrigerate for up to 2-3 weeks. Kombucha loses its carbonation when refrigerated and doesn’t need “burping”. - **Plastic spout:** If you have glass dispenser with a tap and it is plastic, know it is fine and normal. That is what I have. - **Can I use plastic or metal container for making kombucha?** No, it has to be glass. - **What is best tea for making kombucha?** Any caffeinated, flavoured or plain tea like white tea, black tea or green tea works. - **What is ideal room temperature for brewing kombucha?** About 68 – 70 F or 20-21 C for bacteria to grow and kombucha ferment. Warmer temperature means faster fermentation. - **Can I take a break from brewing kombucha?** Yes. When we went on vacation to [Mexico for a month](https://ifoodreal.com/going-mexico-month/), I placed the jug with SCOBY and about few cups of kombucha in the fridge for 4 weeks. This way the fermentation process slows down. If I want to take a break for a shorter period of time while at home, let’s say 7-10 days, I just let the jar sit on a counter in the same way. *See Recipe Post for more FAQs.* Serving: 1cup, Calories: 30kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Sodium: 10mg, Sugar: 2g Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation. [![Olena cooking in her kitchen.](https://ifoodreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screen-Shot-2025-06-26-at-4.23.41-PM-800x709.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/@ifoodreal/shorts) Watch Olena Cooking on Youtube 5 new videos every week You may also like KFKid Friendly RecipesGFGluten Free RecipesVGVegetarian RecipesVVegan RecipesLSLow Sugar ### [Green Smoothie](https://ifoodreal.com/green-smoothie-recipe/) GFGluten Free RecipesVVegan RecipesLSLow Sugar ### [Healthy Iced Coffee](https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-iced-coffee/) [Lemon Water Recipe](https://ifoodreal.com/how-to-make-lemon-water/) About Olena Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 14 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family\!
Shard129 (laksa)
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