🍵 How to Make Your Own Kombucha (Simple, Home-Style Method)
A traditional fermented tea you can make yourself with basic tools
🧂 What You’ll Need
🍬 White sugar (feeds the culture, not you)
🍃 Black or green tea
💧 Clean water
🫙 Glass or porcelain jar
🧫 Kombucha culture (SCOBY) + starter liquid
🧻 Cloth + rubber band
🍾 Bottles for later
🔥 Step 1: Brew the Tea
Boil water and steep tea longer than usual (about 15 minutes). This creates a nutrient-rich base for fermentation.
🍯 Step 2: Add Sugar
Stir sugar into the hot tea until fully dissolved. Let the tea cool completely — heat can damage the culture.
🌡️ Step 3: Cool & Combine
Pour cooled tea into a glass jar. Add starter liquid (about 10%) and gently place the culture on top.
🪟 Step 4: Cover & Rest
Cover with breathable cloth and secure with a rubber band. Store in a warm, calm spot (no sunlight, no movement).
⏳ Step 5: Ferment
Let sit 8–12 days. Shorter = sweeter. Longer = more tangy. Taste after day 7 to decide.
🧪 Step 6: Harvest
Remove the culture, save starter liquid, and bottle the tea. Sediment is normal.
✨ Step 7: Second Ferment (Optional)
Seal bottles and let sit a few days for natural fizz. Store cool once ready.
🔁 Culture Care
The culture may float or sink — both are fine. New layers will form and can be shared or reused.
🌱 Why It Works
Yeast consumes sugar and creates carbonation. Bacteria produce organic acids, giving kombucha its signature flavor.
🤝 Share the Extras
Healthy cultures multiply — pass them on to friends and keep the tradition going.
Simple ingredients. Slow process. Very old wisdom.