In my previous posts, i shared about my secret elixir and homemade cream cheese. Today, i would like to share another hobby i learned during pandemic. My home brewed kombucha.
What Is Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented drink made from tea, sugar, and starter liquid. This fermented drink have live probiotics and enzymes similar to yogurts. The starter liquid is actually just an old aged fermented tea that is set aside to be used for the next batch. This drink taste fizzy and could be a healthy alternative for sodas.
What you need:
- 10g of oolong tea (black tea) or 5 tea bags
- 200g of wash sugar
- Half a gallon of distilled water
- 2 cups starter liquid
- 1 scoby/pellicle (optional)
- Glass jar
- Cheese cloth
-Add the tea bag in a hot water and wait to cool down
-Add the sugar, starter liquid, and scoby into the lukewarm tea.
-Cover the liquid with cheese cloth
-Store in a warm temperature area but not in direct sun light.
The process of brewing kombucha is quite complex for beginners but it is doable if one is willing to learn.The fermentation process is usually around 7-14 days, depending on the volume of your vessel. At the end of every batch, a new scoby is formed which can be use for the next batch. All the extra scoby is then placed in a single jar called scoby hotel.
I first heard of kombucha during a time when i got stomach issues. Again, like always, i turn to the internet for answers and found a Facebook group consisting of kombucha brewers in our country. One member in the group posted that she have extra scobies which she will give for free. So i humbly ask for 1 scoby and made my research on the process of brewing. Since then, i havent stopped brewing my own booch.
I tried store bought kombucha, which not many brands are available in the grocery, but i personally like home brewed better. Plus, its way cheaper too.
As soon as i had accumulated more than enough extra scobies, i also shared it to my friends and newbie fermenters in our place as my way of paying forward. Because sharing is caring :)
To my fellow Cebuano hivers, feel free to ask a scoby if you wish to start your kombucha journey too😊
That's it for today's blog. See you in my next one!
Sending some love and light,
-JaneXOXO