How to Make Organic Raw Kombucha

Kombucha & Lime

Organic raw Kombucha is a healthy, fermented beverage noted for its nutritional benefits. You can purchase it in bottles or make your own right at home for a fraction of the cost. Making organic raw Kombucha is very inexpensive, as your ingredients are simply white sugar, black tea, water and the Kombucha culture that regenerates itself each batch and can be kept alive for generations. Here's how to make organic raw Kombucha at home.

Things You'll Need

• 4 Organic black tea bags
• 3 quarts water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1-gallon glass jar or bowl
• Kombucha culture or mushroom (see Resources, below)

Instructions

1. 

   Brew four organic black tea bags in three quarts of boiling water. While you do use caffeinated tea on the onset, your organic raw Kombucha will be virtually caffeine-free after it is finished due to the transforming metabolic action of the microorganisms in the Kombucha culture.

2. 

   Add one cup of sugar while tea is still piping hot, leaving tea bags in to brew for about 20-30 minutes. Again, organic raw Kombucha is virtually sugar-free after the fermentation process, although there may be trace amounts of alcohol as a result.

3. 

   Remove tea bags and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Pour into a clean, dry glass bowl or jar. Place the Kombucha culture on top fo the ta mix and cover top with a dry cloth.

4. 

   Allow the organic raw Kombucha to ferment at room temperature for about 8-12 days, until the liquid is sufficiently acidic.

   Rarely, if the area is too humid or conditions are not right, you may see mold growth on the top of the culture -- this Kombucha needs to be discarded and a new batch started.

5. Pour Kombucha into drink-size or quart-size glass bottles. If desired, add about an ounce or two of fruit juice or fruit puree to each jar. Allow to sit at room temperature for about 24 hours before refrigerating. This second fermentation adds flavor and fizz to the Kombucha tea drink.

6. Begin a new batch of Kombucha, using the Kombucha culture from your previous batch.

Tips & Warnings

• See Resources, below, for more on Organic Raw Kombucha.

Resources

• Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
• Kombucha Wonder Drink, Sparkling Himalayan Tonic
• Cultures for Health: Kombucha Culture Starter