Kombucha First Fermentation

Kombucha First Fermentation

Making homemade kombucha has three main steps (click the links below to jump around the post):

1. Make SCOBY 7-10 days
2. First Fermentation (6 to 10 days) – makes the actual kombucha tea
3. Second Fermentation (3 to 10 days) – to carbonates the kombucha tea

Kombucha First Fermentation Step By Step

Ingredients

• 4 cups of water boiled
• 2-3 tbsp. loose-leaf black tea
• ¾ cup cane sugar
• 8 cups of cool/cold water
• 1 SCOBY
• 2 cups kombucha starter tea-(any previously fermented Kombucha tea you can buy it)

Utensils

• Steeping vessel (pot + strainer, or french press)
• 1 gallon glass jar
• Food thermometer
• Cotton cloth cover (coffee filter, clean shirt/bandana, fine-weave cheese cloth)
• Rubber band

The Tea

Make a tea concentrate by boiling 4 cups of filtered water. Once boiling, turn the heat off and steep your loose-leaf tea for 15 minutes.

Strain out the tea leaves with a strainer to your fermentation jar.

Add in your sugar do not use a sugar alternative they can at best not ferment at worst dangerous.

Add 8 cups of cool/cold water to the jar to dilute the tea and bring the temperature down.

When the temperature is between 65-80F add the SCOBY and Yeast

Cover with a few layers of the tightly woven cloth to keep out bugs and debris and put rubber band around to hold tight.

There can be a level of fermentation so do not tightly cover and make sure that there is room for growth and foaming in bottle. I recommend to leave a 1/3 empty.

Place somewhere dark with a room temperature (70-75 degrees F, 21-24 C) 7-10 days

Leave it alone for at least a few days and definitely don’t shake it.

Things To Note When Making Your Kombucha First Fermentation

• Glass is always preferable when working with strong alcohol. Avoid plastic as much as possible.
• Use organic ingredients to avoid pesticide residues.

Utensils Tips

Here is a list of the simplest utensils that you can use; the ones Mom should already have in the kitchen:)

Utensils:
– cheesecloth
– saucepan
– small funnel
– glass bottles, or storage containers, for bottling and serving, you can either use the glass Jar you used before, or just buy a second one. 

Other Great Recipes for You to Check Out!

• Strawberry Basil Kombucha
• Kombucha SCOBY
• Peanut Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Beet Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Licorice Grappa Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Aronia Berry Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Chili Agave Liqueur recipe D.I.Y.
• Gooseberry Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Prune Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Etrog Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Pecan Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Peanut Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Beet Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Licorice Grappa Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.
• Aronia Berry Liqueur Recipe D.I.Y.

To spirits and cheers,

Binyomin Terebelo, Master Distiller and Drinkologist.

Image by Alexander Lesnitsky from Pixabay

Binyomin Terebelo

I love hearing from you about why you love something I wrote or published or a recipe I don’t know. I am Master Distiller at Terebelo Distillery, Love all things alcohol. Freelance for Grogmag and blog recipes for buildthebottle.com Weekend Rabbi too.