How to Prepare Kombucha Tea
Fermented Kombucha tea is prepared for medicinal purposes. People have made claims that the tea helps to detoxify the body, but as of 2010 there is not enough scientific evidence to support any health benefits. The Kombucha mass forms from yeast and bacteria, which creates a culture that people often refer to as a mushroom. Kombucha culture is available at health food stores and the tea can be brewed at home. The cultures that form in the tea can be saved to use in future batches of Kombucha tea. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 3 qts. distilled water
- 1 cup white sugar
- 5 black or green tea bags
- 1 gallon glass container
- Kombucha culture
- Cheesecloth
- Rubber band
- Tongs
- Glass bowls
- Plastic wrap
- Coffee filter
- Quart sized plastic bottles
Instructions
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1
Bring 3 qts. of distilled water to a boil on the stovetop.
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2
Pour in 1 cup of white sugar once the water comes to a rolling boil. Stir the sugar until it dissolves, and then boil the sugar and water mixture for 5 minutes.
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3
Turn the heat off on the stove top. Add 5 black or green tea bags.
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4
Allow the tea bags to steep for 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and discard them. Let the tea cool completely.
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5
Pour the cooled tea into a gallon sized glass container.
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6
Add a Kombucha culture to the glass container. The smooth and shiny surface needs to face upwards. Add ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar.
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7
Cover the opening of the glass jar with cheesecloth. Secure the cheesecloth to the jar with a rubber band.
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Place the glass jar in a well-ventilated location away from direct sunlight. The ideal temperature range to store the tea is between 74 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the tea for six to 15 days.
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9
Brew the tea until it reaches your desired taste. It will have a sparkling apple cider taste, and then the longer it brews the more you will be able to taste the vinegar.
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10
Remove the cultures from the tea with tongs carefully. Store the cultures in individual glass bowls. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator. The cultures will last for four months.
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Pour the tea through a coffee filter into quart sized plastic bottles. Place the tea in the refrigerator.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If mold grows on the Kombucha culture, throw out the culture and the tea. The mold will appear to be either green or black in color.
