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Make Your Own Kombucha At Home

Here are the basics steps of how you can make Kombucha tea in your own kitchen.

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Step 1Boil water

Boil enough water to fill a medium-large jar.

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35 comments

Jan 17, 2012. 10:09 AMMicahtheDangerous says:

SCOBY: symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast.

Dec 11, 2011. 9:30 PMerothman2 says:

There's not much point, it seems to me, in washing your hands really well, if you're not sanitizing the measuring cups, the jar, and everything else that is going to come in contact with the mixture you're making, just before using them. As with canning, the aim is to keep the recipe safe from potentially harmful organisms. And speaking of organisms, I suppose you could call this a chemical reaction, as you do, but it's a biological process the yeast is alive; it eats the sugar and grows. Great filming and great step-by-step. I'd just think you'd want to clean up your process some for your own safety.

Aug 25, 2010. 9:45 PM2muchfreetime8 says:

im a very how-did-it-start kinda person. how is it that adding unpasturized kombucha to start the "mother" fungus can start the whole thing? i just dont see how it can start. and where does unpasturized kombucha come from anyway? same process u explained? if so, how did the make they're first "mother" culture? i think u konw wat im talking about. thank you

Sep 25, 2010. 7:49 AMmorseson says:

With unpasteurized(Live!) Kombucha, while bottled, the "mother" wont grow, due to the anaerobic environment. The bacteria responsible for the polysacharide mycelium are aerobic.

Given oxygen(clothcover), sugar and purines(tea), the sleeping cultures in a bottle of live kombucha will awaken! The more acidic, the more they thrive.

The bacteria and yeast in kombucha float around in the air, along with all the other molds, yeast and bacteria, IF you create a "must/wort", and DIDNT introduce a kombucha scoby or starter drink; There is a 20% chance you might spontaneously generate one given a prolonged fermentation time. Try IT the traditional way!

May 30, 2010. 6:41 PMnateO says:

Would brewer's yeast work?

May 2, 2010. 9:14 AMCydeSwype says:

You can use dried scoby for dog treats (they prefer it dried to fresh, as it's more like a jerky). I read horses like it also. You can eat scoby dried or fresh (I haven't done this yet, but read of others doing it). There's even a method for using it as a skin treatment:

http://kombuchakamp.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-to-do-with-extra-babies.html

Jan 13, 2010. 11:33 AMcraftinsusan says:

What would you use the dried scoby for? Would you be able to use it(rehydrated) later as a starter?

Jan 13, 2010. 7:53 PMElissaMeyers (author) says:

Unfortunately, the scoby is unable to be rehydrated, (that I know of). I have just heard of people using the dried scoby for art projects. It can be strong, and when dried it feels like a leather.

Sep 11, 2009. 6:30 PMSisterMable says:

Be sure to never use a metal utensil in your tea or on your scoby - use plastic, glass, or just your hands! :)

Mar 11, 2009. 11:16 AMDoctor What says:

Very good and clear! I've got to find some kombucha so I can make my own SCOBY (instead of purchasing one).

191

Mar 12, 2009. 5:31 PM

scoochmaroo says:

We should make a kombucha group and have everyone mail their mothers to each other!

Mar 14, 2009. 12:44 PMElissaMeyers (author) says:

I was actually thinking about doing something like that also! We should definitely. It would be really awesome to have a community of people that share a kombucha family.

191

Mar 15, 2009. 4:46 PM

scoochmaroo says:

Check out the new Kombucha Group I created!
I'm going to be getting a mother from stasterisk here in the bay area,
and I'd love to send my new ones on to someone else.
Let's start a list of people who have some or need some!

Jul 25, 2009. 7:23 AMmeinhardt23 says:

You guys are so cool. I would love to get started with my own 'brew' again. Recently moved in the winter time and lost my scoby. I would love another. Can you help me? the group sounds great, count me in.

Mar 14, 2009. 5:23 PMDoctor What says:

That's a great idea! Wouldn't people have to use refrigerated shipping? And is that available?

191

Mar 15, 2009. 4:46 PM

scoochmaroo says:

I know they do mail-order SCOBYs, so I'll look into how it's done!
Now go join the Group!

Mar 15, 2009. 7:16 PMDoctor What says:

Sweet. Once you find out how to ship them, I would gladly be a part. Just PM me when you find out!

Apr 24, 2009. 12:36 PMFeedTheGrid says:

Please count me in. I love kombucha; I'd like to make my own. FTG

Apr 24, 2009. 12:38 PMFeedTheGrid says:

Well done, Elissa. So, I can grow my own SCOBY from a store-bought kombucha? Sweet. Although, I do like the idea of sending the mothers. Awesome. Thanks for sharing! FTG

Apr 9, 2009. 5:26 PMSeanPatrick says:

Just for clarification the Kombucha mother is not a fungus. The name SCOBY is actually an acronym that describes the makeup of the organism; it stands for symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast.

Mar 31, 2009. 10:47 AMmooshisho says:

I tried 3 times to get my topic posted in the forums, but every time I hit "preview topic," it would disappear, so I'll post it here for now. I had recently gotten a mother from a friend and started to brew my first batch of kombucha. However, she didn't send me the "instructions" for brewing until a little later. She told me that I needed to add apple cider vinegar since I didn't get any starter tea. Right now, I've only the sweet tea mix (black tea + sugar) and the original mother. The original mother is kind of just floating on its side (it was a little too big for my jar) and there is a new mother growing at the surface. It's been sitting out for about 5 days. Will my tea turn out alright even though I didn't have the starter tea or vinegar? Thank you! -- Moo

Mar 12, 2009. 1:40 PMmce128 says:

This is cool, but I don't see the "green" twist for it to qualify for the epilog contest. After all fermentation releases co2.

Mar 14, 2009. 10:10 AMElissaMeyers (author) says:

I guess I was thinking that it is a renewable drink in which all you need is some black tea and sugar. Also, it does require the boiling of water, but I suppose you could do so with an alternative source that does not use gas or electric. But for the most part, you are making your own drink and being free of plastic and glass bottles (besides the jar you are starting with). Recycling is good to do with drinks you buy at the store, but why not just make your own drink and reuse your cup.

Mar 14, 2009. 11:15 AMmce128 says:

Ok, I get where you're coming from... I'm all about the homebrew myself, and was just curious how it fit to that... :)

Mar 14, 2009. 12:24 PMElissaMeyers (author) says:

Because you are interested in homebrewing things/reusing things, you may find my blog interesting. I have just started putting peoples favorite cups/drinking devices on it and having people include a little story about its past and what they put in it.

http://elissameyers.wordpress.com/

Mar 12, 2009. 1:40 PMmce128 says:

maybe if you combined it with one of the algae "bioreactors" as the co2 source?

Mar 12, 2009. 1:04 PMMissChiff says:

I am confused in a few places:

Step 5: If you do not have a SCOBY to start fermenting your tea, you can begin making it by simply pouring in a bottle of unpasteurized kombucha.
I pour the bottle of Kombucha into the pot of cooled tea? Or place the SCOBY in the pot?
Can I used one of the flavored Kombucha drinks? Will it affect the flavor of the SCOBY/resulting kombucha?

Step 6: After growing your first SCOBY ...
What do I do with the tea in that time? Do I leave it in the pot? Do I need to refrigerate it? How long will it take to grow my first SCOBY from a bottle of commercial kombucha?
How long will kombucha last in the fridge? Since it's fermented, is it ok indefinitely?

I've recently fallen in love with Kombucha and crave it every day, so I'm excited to get started. I've been reading all of the instructables about it, but this one seems the most user-friendly. Thanks for your help!

Mar 14, 2009. 10:01 AMElissaMeyers (author) says:

for step 5: If you do not have a SCOBY at all then you would put a bottle of Kombucha in with the cooled pot of tea/sugar inside of a glass jar. Leaving in the Kombucha and tea in the pot can cause a weird chemical reaction so it is best to keep it in glass. If you have acquired a SCOBY already, then you do not need to pour the bottle of Kombucha in at all. You would just put it right in with the black tea/sugar mix in a jar. Also, make sure to get the original Kombucha without flavoring as it will not be as effective when starting to grow your first SCOBY. What I have done, is add flavored black tea to my next batch. for step 6: You will have to leave the tea with Kombucha bottle/SCOBY alone for a couple weeks in the jar. Don't refrigerate it or anything, just leave it out and covered with the cloth on top of your fridge or on a counter. The Kombucha after it has been fermented, should last awhile. I normally drink it within the growing time of my next batch so it is consistently refilled. Best of luck with your Kombucha!