How to Make a Kombucha SCOBY from Scratch

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Today, we're going to show you how to make a kombucha SCOBY from scratch. If you don't have a SCOBY yet, don't worry – by the end of this post, you'll know exactly how to grow your own.

Let's get started!

To grow a SCOBY from scratch, you'll need a few simple ingredients and a bit of patience. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of unflavoured, raw kombucha from the store (make sure it contains live cultures)
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 8 cups of water
• 4 bags of black or green tea
• A clean glass jar (1-gallon size)
• A cloth or coffee filter and a rubber band

Equipment:

• A pot for boiling water
• A stirring spoon (preferably wooden or plastic)
• A clean, large jar for fermenting

Step 1: Prepare the Sweet Tea Base

First, we'll make the sweet tea base for our kombucha. Boil 8 cups of water in a pot. Once it's boiling, add 1 cup of white sugar and stir until it's completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and add 4 tea bags. Let the tea steep for 10-15 minutes.

After the tea has steeped, remove the tea bags and let the sweet tea cool to room temperature. It's important to let it cool completely, as hot tea can kill the beneficial bacteria and yeast in the kombucha.

Step 2: Add the Store-Bought Kombucha

Once your sweet tea has cooled, pour it into your clean glass jar. Then, add the entire bottle of store-bought kombucha. This will introduce the necessary bacteria and yeast to start forming your SCOBY.

Make sure the kombucha you buy is raw and unflavoured. It should say 'contains live cultures' on the label. This is crucial for starting your SCOBY.

Step 3: Cover and Ferment

Cover the jar with a cloth or coffee filter and secure it with a rubber band. This allows the mixture to breathe while keeping out contaminants.

Place the jar in a warm, dark place where it won't be disturbed. The ideal temperature is between 68-78°F (20-25°C).

Now comes the hard part – waiting. Let your jar sit undisturbed for 2 to 4 weeks. You'll start to see a thin film forming on the surface after a few days. This is the beginning of your SCOBY!

Step 4: Monitor the SCOBY Growth

Check on your jar periodically to make sure everything looks good. Over time, the film will thicken and become more opaque. This is your SCOBY growing!

After about 2 to 4 weeks, you should have a healthy SCOBY that's about ¼ to ½ inch thick. At this point, you're ready to use it to brew your first batch of kombucha.

Step 5: Start Your First Kombucha Brew

Once your SCOBY is ready, you can start brewing kombucha as usual. Keep the liquid your SCOBY grew in as your starter tea. This will help kickstart the fermentation process for your first batch.

Conclusion

And that's it! You've successfully grown your own SCOBY from scratch. Patience and cleanliness are key to ensuring your SCOBY is healthy and ready to brew delicious kombucha.

Have you ever wondered if kombucha is good for you? Is it safe to drink regularly, and what benefits does it bring to our health? Then don’t miss our next post where we will explain all this, plus much more.

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Thanks for reading, and happy brewing!