Kombucha Starter Kit - Instructions

If you have purchased from me a Kombucha Starter Kit, you will appreciate these instructions!

Photo by Amanda Porter.

The starter kit includes:

• 250 ml glass jar with live culture a.k.a. mother culture 
• kombucha a.k.a starter liquid
• green and black tea bags
• coffee filter
• elastic band

You will also need:

• 1 L glass jar a.k.a. your brewing vessel.
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups pure water (no chlorine)
• kettle or stove top to boil the water

Instructions:

• Clean and dry your brewing vessel (large glass jar) with water and raw apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Soaps, detergents and chlorine can negatively affect probiotic cultures.
• Bring 1 cup of water to boil and use it to steep the teas in your brewing vessel
• Add 1/2 cup of sugar (I use organic cane sugar) and stir until it dissolves, with a plastic or wooded spoon. It is best to avoid contact with metal when handling kombucha and the mother culture.
• Let the sweet tea cool, adding the second cup of water to speed this up.
• Once the sweet tea is at room temperature, add the starter liquid and culture.
• Using the elastic band from your kit, attach the coffee filter or a cloth to the top of the jar. 
• Place your brewing vessel in a well ventilated place, out of direct sun light, where it can breathe and be left undisturbed. 
• 5 to 7 days later your kombucha should be ready. Give it a taste test. It should be tart but not vinegar. The longer it brews, the culture will use the sugar to make vinegar.

To learn about flavouring your kombucha, please read this previous post.

Enjoy your raw, homemade, alkaline, energy-boosting, probiotic kombucha!

Nathalie at the Bhakti In The Woods Festival, August 15 to 17, 2014.