Ingredients
- 3 quarts Mineral water
- 1 cup organic unrefined sugar (evaporated cane crystals)
- 4 organic green tea bags
- 1/4 cup dried hibiscus (or your favorite loose-leaf tea)
- 1/2 cup kombucha from a previous culture (go to your natural foods store for this, or if you purchase the the scoby I've linked to below, the kit will come with 1/2 cup of kombucha to get you started)
- 1 kombucha scoby or starter culture
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and add the green tea bags and loose-leaf tea. Steep tea until the water has completely cooled. Remove tea bags and pour cooled liquid through a sieve (to remove the loose-leaf tea) into a 4 quart or larger glass bowl (not plastic). Stir in 1/2 cup kombucha and place the scoby on top. Cover loosely with a clean cloth or towel and transfer to a warm, dark place. Let mixture sit for 7-10 days (I've found that in the warmer months, 7 days is perfect. In the colder months, I let it ferment for at least 8-9 days). When the mixture is ready, the scoby will have grown a spongy pancake and the tea should be slightly sour and fizzy. Remove the scoby and store it in a glass container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it again. (After your first time making kombucha, the scoby will have grown a second spongy pancake. This can be used to make other batches or you can give one away to a friend.) Pour kombucha into glass jars or a pitcher with a tight-fitting lid. Store in your refrigerator.
