How to Make Kombucha

How to Get Started Brewing Your Own Kombucha

Ready to start brewing your own kombucha at home? With just a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), some starter liquid, tea, and sugar—you’ll be fermenting your own bubbly, probiotic-rich drink in no time.

Whether you received kombucha starter kit from me, were gifted one, or purchased a kit, you’ll receive a healthy SCOBY and about 1 cup of strong, active starter liquid to jumpstart your first batch.

Here’s how to get brewing:

You’ll need:

• 1 SCOBY + 1 cup of starter liquid (included)

• 8 cups filtered water

• 1 cup cane sugar

• 5-7 bags of black or green tea or a mixture of both

• A clean 1-quart glass jar

• A breathable cloth or coffee filter + rubber band

Steps:

Brew the tea: Boil your water, dissolve the sugar, and steep the tea for about 10 minutes. Let it cool completely.

1. Add the SCOBY & starter: Pour the cooled tea into your jar, add the starter liquid, and gently place the SCOBY on top.

2. Cover & ferment: Cover the jar with a cloth and secure it with a rubber band. Let it sit at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for 7–10 days.

3. Taste & bottle: Start tasting around day 7. When it’s tangy to your liking, remove the SCOBY (save it with a bit of liquid for your next batch!), pour the kombucha into clean bottles, and refrigerate.

You can also do a second fermentation with fruit or herbs for natural flavor and fizz. You can also use your homemade flavored simple syrups to flavor your second fermentation. Try this blueberry blend, rosemary, or turn your favorite tea into a flavored simple syrup.

For more information and receipes I highly suggest this book which I have myself.

I keep a large vessel of kombucha brewing in my kitchen for easy access.

A new scoby will grow on top to use for future batches.

Several different flavors have been bottled for a second ferment using different simple syrup flavors.