Kraut, Kimchi ..Kombucha!
Kombucha is a fermented drink like beer and wine. Very low alcohol (under 10%). Kombucha is called a tea, made from (1) Yeast, (2) Sugar, and (3) Black tea. Renew your interest in this fermented tea to improve your health. Make a difference in your life. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start now. [ Note: The sugar is fermented out via scoby / yeast culture. ]
Recipe
Ginger Kombucha
First STEP: Grow kombucha scoby ⬅️ link
Kambucha Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 Scoby purchased or grow komucha scoby from a bottle
1 Cup sugar (sugar needed to feed the fermentation)
5 Organic black tea bags (or 1 tablespoon loose tea)(can use green tea, but not the first batch)
1 Gallon Jar to store kombucha
2 Fresh Ginger (3-inch pieces) Vary to taste.
Glass bottles for storage
2 Cups brewed Kombucha
DIRECTIONS how to make kombucha recipe 1 gallon
1. Everything must be sanitized. I cannot stress this enough. When dealing with fermenting anything it is crucial every piece is clean and sanitized. Wash your hands and all equipment used before you begin. I like to run everything through my dishwasher before I make and bottle. My husband and I brew our own beer and make our own wine. So we are very familiar with making sure everything is super clean and sanitized.
2. Measure out 3.5 quarts of water and place in a pot on the stove. Heat the water until boiling. Some people insist on using distilled water. Boiling filtered water from our fridge has worked perfect for me, and I have been making this for nearly a year.
3. Turn off the heat and add 1 cup of sugar. Stir the sugar until it is completely dissolved. Then add 5 organic black tea bags. This is the brand I use and for the first fermentation from your homemade scoby you should use black tea for a strong brew. Cover the pot so not much water escapes. After you have brewed the kombucha you can then use a combination of black and green tea. But you should have at least a 3 black tea and 2 green for later brews
4. Wait for the tea to cool. It must cool to room temperature before adding the scoby. If not you risk damaging your precious scoby you grew from scratch. Once it is completely cooled, pour the tea into the clean 1 gallon jar and add 2 cups of your previous brew. Then add the homemade scoby to the top.
5. Store in the 1 gallon glass jar with a cloth (cheese cloth-doubled) covered lid with a rubber band. This allows the kombucha to breathe without getting any additional bacteria or fruit flies in your brew. Store in a dark closet that remains cool through out the day and someplace no one will touch it. It needs to remain still to grow the scoby and create the bubbles.
6. Allow to brew for at least 7 days. It may take 10-12 days, depending on the temperature in your home. During the winter months, I allow a little longer brew. Right now 8 days is the perfect time for the flavor and creating the carbonation.
IMPORTANT: The bacteria in kombucha is considered a probiotic. But, if not prepared properly harmful bacteria or mold grows on your scoby Green or gray spots is a sign of mold. Another sign of mold when your scoby is dull and fuzzy looking. NOT glossy. Discard the scoby and start over. TIP: Use cane sugar or white, not honey, stevia, raw or coconut sugar. When shopping for kombucha, it may be best to choose brands that contain under 4 grams (1 teaspoon) of added sugar per serving. TREND: Add turmeric & black pepper Ratio: 100/1. How much? 1 tsp. of turmeric per gal. + a pinch of black pepper. You should not be able to taste the turmeric.
Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) is a culinary symbiotic fermentation culture (starter) consisting of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), acetic acid bacteria (AAB), and yeast. .. provided by Wikipedia.com.
Put a jug in your fridge: Gallon dispensers (5.5 cups) with a spout. (as seen in IKEA.com, Canada)
It Tastes Like Vinegar!
Not true ~ Kombucha is delightfully tart and fizzy. Ginger adds a warm and spicy punch!
Kombucha can be made into vinegar – fermentation period –>6-10 weeks. Use in salad dressings! Other uses: mayonnaise (add 2 tbsp to your mayo recipe). Hair Tonic, Facial Toner, House Cleaner and Healthy Gummies <–recipe.
Criminal Minds At Work!
Mandy Patinkin (actor – Criminal Minds +plus) is a proud advocate of kombucha [kämˈbo͞ochə]!…or Kambuka?
Anyway you say it ~ it ‘s all good!
Kvass – Similar to Kombucha
Kvass
When life gives you stale rye bread, it’s time to make bread kvass!
Kvass is an ancient fermented cereal-based, low alcoholic drink. Kvass is known to reduce the risk of cancer. When it comes to taste, kvass is similar to kombucha. Kvass is a rich source of manganese, vitamin B12, selenium, niacin, iron, copper, and magnesium.
Making Kombucha. This is my favorite video.
He said it best!
The sweetness in this fruit is balanced by its high content of acid, giving it that sweet-sour taste.
TAMARIND contains an impressive amount of essential minerals such as thiamine, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Some of its other prominent nutrients include niacin, calcium, vitamin C, copper, fiber and pyridoxine.
Simply Splendid Food 