Fermented Drinks Kombucha-Style Home-Brew (Print)

Lively home-brewed beverages offer herbal flavors, gentle fizz, and customizable mix-ins. Vegan and gluten-free.

# Ingredients:

→ Basic Kombucha-Style Base

01 - 8 cups filtered water
02 - 8 black or green tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea
03 - 1 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 kombucha SCOBY or 3/4 cup unflavored store-bought kombucha as starter

→ Flavoring Options (choose 1–2 per batch)

05 - 3.5 ounces fresh berries such as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries
06 - 1 lemon or lime, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small knob fresh ginger, sliced
08 - 1 sprig fresh mint or basil
09 - 2 tablespoons fruit juice such as pomegranate, cherry, or apple
10 - 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus petals
11 - 1 cinnamon stick or 3–4 whole cloves

# Directions:

01 - Bring 8 cups of filtered water to a boil. Add tea bags or loose-leaf tea, steep for 10 minutes, then remove tea bags or strain out tea leaves.
02 - While the tea is still hot, stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar until completely dissolved. Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature to protect live cultures.
03 - Transfer the cooled sweet tea into a large, sanitized glass jar. Add the SCOBY and the starter liquid, or use unflavored store-bought kombucha as an alternative starter.
04 - Cover the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel, secure with a rubber band, and place in a warm, dark spot away from sunlight for 5 to 7 days.
05 - After 5 days, taste your brew daily. Once it is tangy with mild fizz and not overly sour, it is ready for the secondary flavoring.
06 - Remove the SCOBY and reserve 3/4 cup of kombucha for future batches. Add your preferred fruits, herbs, or spices from the flavoring list to the remaining kombucha.
07 - Pour kombucha into clean bottles, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Seal tightly and let bottles ferment at room temperature for 1 to 3 days to develop natural carbonation.
08 - Once desired carbonation is reached, refrigerate the bottles. Strain out any solid flavorings before serving. For mocktail presentation, serve over ice with a splash of sparkling water and a garnish.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Alcohol-free with gentle fizz
  • Flexible flavor options to customize
02 -
  • Always use glass or BPA-free containers; metal can damage fermentation
  • Fermentation time controls sweetness and tanginess
03 -
  • Cool tea completely before adding SCOBY to prevent harm to fermentation
  • For a mocktail vibe, serve over ice with sparkling water and garnish

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