Home Brew Kombucha DAY 1: Making the SCOBY

Sarah's Kombucha Homebrew: Day1: Making the Scoby — This is the start of my very own SCOBY!

And so it begins, my very first batch of home brew *kombucha! Where thought becomes reality, this is five years in the making, and I’m finally making time for it!

I discovered kombucha for it’s probiotic healthy bacteria properties five years ago. I’ve tried many different brands and now I’m on a mission to make my most ultimate kombucha ever to my taste – lavender, mega bubbly, punch of flavor.

*What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea that is often drunk for medicinal purposes. It is known as “The Elixir of Life.” Health benefits include immune support, detoxifier, source for B and C vitamins, source of healthy bacteria called probiotics and more! The taste resembles that of champagne or sparkling apple cider. Having it be a fermented product, there are trace amounts of alcohol! This just aides in the relaxation you feel when you drink it!

To home brew kombucha, I need to start with a *SCOBY. I could buy one online for $10-20, but I really wanted this experience from start to finish.

*What’s a SCOBY?

A SCOBY is a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. It resembles a pancake and feels like a jellyfish. The SCOBY is what feeds and aides in brewing the delicious elixir, kombucha.

Kombucha Scoby — This is what a SCOBY looks like. This is not my SCOBY. Mine will look like this in four weeks.

Making the Scoby

In prep for my start day, making the *SCOBY, I did a ton of research. I chose my organic ingredients very carefully: GTs Synergy Kombucha Organic Raw Original Kombucha, Penta Water (filtered water), Mighty Leaf Tea Black Tea and 365 Organic Cane Sugar from Whole Foods Market.

Sarah's Kombucha Homebrew: Day1: Scoby Ingredients — Ingredients to make a Kombucha SCOBY = organic raw kombucha, filtered water, black tea & sugar.

I learned how to make the SCOBY by watching a few Youtube videos. I like this one in particular:

So after about eight hours of process, I’ve put my SCOBY concoction in a warm dark place to ferment and form over the next 3-4 weeks!

My Kombucha Resources in a “Kombucha Love” Pinterest Board

There is so much information out there about different ways to brew, history, health benefits, how to flavor and more. To help me learn how to home brew kombucha AND to keep track of my process, I’ve created a Pinterest Board titled, “Kombucha Love.” I’ll be posting my process there as well. Follow this board to stay on top of the latest in my journey to the ultimate kombucha!

In Closing

Today, 12-12-12, is the beginning of my Kombucha Home Brew Journey, and I can’t be more ecstatic about it! Today is DAY 1. In just over a month, I’ll have my own home brew of delicious kombucha!

Sarah Beth Rosa