Gallon jar of kombucha, a new fixture in our kitchen
Kombucha! (I just like saying the word, I confess.)
What is it? It is a probiotic brew of tea and sugar made with a SCOBY (a Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast), a blobby sort of living thing that infuses the drink with good bacteria that are said to be healthy for your gut (when made properly) and B vitamins. This drink is traditional in Russia.
How to make kombucha
1. Put your SCOBY in a clean gallon jar with about a cup and a half of plain kombucha.
2. Bring 3 cups water and 1 cup sugar to a boil and steep 6 organic tea bags in the pan for 15 minutes.
3. Add 8 cups cool water. Make sure the brew is now tepid -- you don't want to hurt the SCOBY!
4. Pour the brew into the gallon jar. Add enough cool water to bring the level to the curve of the top of the jar.
5. Cover with a clean towel or paper towel, secured with a rubber band.
6. Wait. Wait about a week. Wait up to 30 days if you like!
7. Check the kombucha and the SCOBY. If there are any signs of mold, throw out the batch. Otherwise, measure the pH with a testing strip, it should be lower than 4.0. Taste!
8. Bottle your kombucha, leaving about a cup and a half and the SCOBY in the jar to use in the next batch. Leave the bottles on your counter for a day or two before refrigerating for extra fizz.
9. You can put flavoring in your bottles. So far, I've tried strawberries, blueberries, crystallized ginger, dried mango -- all have been good. I'm currently trying dried cherries and raisins in my latest batch.
It's a refreshing drink, not at all sweet because the SCOBY digests the sugar and the calories along with it. It has a slight fizz.
If you are new to kombucha, start slow -- try no more than 4 to 8 oz. to begin with because you might find it cleaning you out a little faster than you like! It is also a diuretic so drink lots of water.
Here in Portland, kombucha has become quite popular. There are large, refrigerated displays of it in any grocery store -- which means lots of people are buying it. I think it is replacing sodas for many, which is not a bad thing.
Sources of info and SCOBYs:
Cultured Food for Life
Cultures for Health
Oregon Kombucha Co.
If you have a local store that specializes in brewing supplies, you are likely to find everything you need there, as well.
Welcome, everyone. Grab a beverage of choice (kombucha if you like!) and pull up a chair! What's on your menu, weekend plans, etc.?
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