True, a fair amount of this happened last weekend:
Heather and me at Avery Brewing
Source: Heather
However, the brewing I’ve been doing doesn’t involve beer.
I bit the bullet and decided to brew my own kombucha! There are “how tos” all over the web for starting from scratch and growing your own scoby (the bacterial component you need to start the process). While that seems very noble, I took a short cut and purchased a starter kit from Kombucha Brooklyn.
The kit came with everything I needed – a jar, tea bags, sugar, and a baby scoby. All I has to do was follow their simple instructions, cover the jar, and wait 14-28 days.
For the record, mine took 20 days. I’m not exactly sure how to tell when it’s ready… I just got bored with waiting.
The process was fun to watch. It bubbled a little and my scoby-starter grew huge! It covered the top of the ‘buch and was about 1/3 inch thick.
Once it’s done, you remove the scoby, saving it along with 1.5 cups of the brew to start your next batch.
Warning: The scoby is a little gross looking. Don’t be scared. It won’t hurt you.
Next I bottled my ‘buch in old GT’s Kombucha bottles and a Bragg’s bottle. Then I added flavors to two of them – one ginger and one cinnamon. The others I left plain.
They are all pretty tasty, but next time I’d add more flavor. I’d also remember to let it sit on the counter bottled for a few days. That apparently adds more effervescence and allows the flavors to develop as it continues to ferment. Someone didn’t read all the directions…
I immediately started round 2. This time I used pomegranate green tea in the brew. I’ll let you know how it is in 14-28 days! 🙂
***
Not to get too political, but I can’t begin to express how awesome it was to see a sitting president endorse marriage equality. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Did anyone else wake up this morning thinking it was Friday?
What is your favorite Kombucha flavor? I need ideas!
I wish it was Friday. And yay for HUMAN rights! 🙂
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS on Obama and marriage equality!
And I need to get a kit. I don’t know where I can get one, but I’m sure there is somewhere I can purchase one online. This looks like fun, and I love kombucha.
Also, I may or may not have been involved in some brewing of some other sort at one point. It involved corn mash and a still and a basement.
You can order it from the link I posted… I think it was less than $40. It’ll pay for itself in 2 weeks. 🙂
I want to hear more about this other brewing… LOL!
i might try to get the hubby to start brewing this! we just tried it for the first time!
Glad to hear your first batch was a success! Mine takes forever to brew, too… more like 14 days exactly. It depends on the ambient temperature in the room. Can’t wait to see what flavours you make to give me ideas!! Ginger + mint is definitely one of my faves!
Mint sounds fantastic! I want to try something spicy next, I think.
I’ve made my own before but it is no where near as good as GT’s!
Mine isn’t either, but I think with another couple tries I can get closer!
AWESOME!! I’ve always wanted to do this!!
I’m having kombucha withdrawal… I haven’t had any since Sunday! I really need to channel my addition and make my own. And that kit is well worth the money, I’m sure! I can’t wait to hear how round 2 turns out!
I am also totally impressed that you grew your own Scoby. 🙂
I didn’t start from scratch with the scoby – the kit came with a baby!
How cool! Definitely gonna try this soon. That pomegranate green tea sounds like a great base for your next one.
And YAY for not denying rights to anyone based on the opinions of some!
I’ll trade you a scoby for one of your home brews! 🙂
Whoa, this is so cool. I don’t know if I trust myself making that though!
It’s easy – I swear!
I really need to hop back on the kombucha brewing train – it was too much fun! You need to recreate Fire!! =)
yeah I do!! next batch it’s happening!
You’re in my brain. I thought today was Friday too! Then, I got really sad. HAHA! At least it isn’t Tuesday… So I best love the buchi Fire, and I *think* it has a lot of ginger in it. Other than that, I haven’t tried many kombucha flavors so I’m out for the count on suggestions! You’re the coolest brewing your own!
I think it’s ginger and cayenne… I’m going to go buy a bottle and copy the ingredient list. I’ll bring you some when I perfect it1 🙂
I just can’t get into Kombucha! I wish I could because I feel so left out not liking it!
I’m with you chica 🙂 I wish I liked it but I think we should just make our own click of Kombucha haters who secretly wish they were kombucha lovers.
how do you like the cinnamon one? did you put in a cinnamon stick or just a sprinkle?
my favorite flavor is still gt’s gingerade & my ginger flavored kombucha! 🙂
I put a couple of sticks in. It’s good, but I should had added more… or left it on the counter to ferment with the cinnamon in it.
love love love my homebrew too! the scobies get crazy big and multiple! Love it.
what do you do with them?! mine is massive!
it makes more scobies! keep it in the “scoby hotel” when youa re not brewing with a little kombucha. Don’t put it in the fridge. When the other scobies are big enough you can make multiple batches at one time or sell the other scobies!
That is too much fun, you are always doing things that are so very different!
I have to say, I was happy to see the President say what he did, but I question his motives behind doing so. I am all for gay marriage and letting people live their lives how they see fit, but I have a hard time believing he really meant what he said (since he was opposed previously) for anything but gaining votes in November.
yeah, but isn’t it cool that a president is now SUPPORTING marriage equality to get votes? i never thought i’d see that!
Wow, that scoby IS a little scary-looking. Looking forward to hearing about how your brew is!
Gosh – you had me all excited there at first. 😉 Enjoy it Miss Brewmaster!
I dig Kombucha. I first tried it because I had a jumpy stomach…totally fixed me. Nice to hear about your brewing. I’ve been toying with doing so myself. I like all the ginger flavors. And yes…Thank you, President Obama for ushering our culture into a place we should have been in a long time before. Progress rules, boss!
A big kombucha cheers to progress!!
The scoby freaks me out.
Ain’t skered.
I’m not a kombucha fan, but I think it is awesome that you are making your own! And I totally agree with you on President Obama endorsing marriage equality. So awesome!
I LOVE brewing my own kombucha! My absolute favorite tea to use is Vanilla Spice Perfect Energy (I think it’s from Yogi Tea).
Ohhhh… I bet that does make an awesome brew. I’m going to have to get some of that for round 3!
This is so cool, you getting out your inner mad scientist or witch – whichever brews better considering what an awesome job you did 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
LOL! I love it – I was totally channeling my inner witch. 🙂
What the heck is kombucha? I’ve never heard of it before. Except on another blog and I didn’t know what it was then either.
Obama’s announcement was all over the news here too. I’m totally in support of it, but it was weird to see the newspapers here making such a big deal about it.
It’s basically fermented tea. It has a lot of the “good” bacteria and yeast along with the organic acids, active enzymes, amino acids, and polyphenolsin. I find that it is beneficial for digestion. there are other claims that it is good for muscle recovery, cancer recovery, increases energy, sharpens eyesight, aids joint recovery, improves skin elasticity… none of this is proven, but I notice a big difference when I drink them it regularly!
Here’s the Wikipedia article on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha
I asked for this for my bday when I thought I was moving. Sadly no space in my current sardine can. I’m with you on the ginger – thats my go to kombucha. But I also I like hibiscus and elderberry flavored.
I was just thinking about trying my own, too! Thanks for the motivation… we’ll see if I actually get around to it. Have a great weekend!
Ohhhh… let me know! I bet you’d create some cool flavors. 🙂
You did a fantastic job here Laura! Pomegranate green tea sounds like an excellent idea!
Thank you! I can’t wait to try it. It’s on my counter, tempting me as it ferments.
fun!
I’m a weeee bit behind on blog reading but I MUST get one of those kits!!!!
I totally bonded with a stranger in Whole Foods on Saturday explaining kombucha to her and how much I love it. No joke. We hugged afterward.
I love that you grocery store bond too! I was exchanging email with a lady from the farmer’s market for a while. Food brings people together! 🙂
wow i’m super jealous–i really really want to learn how to make kombucha myself. and yes, i wake up most days thinking it’s another!
They offer a kombucha brewing class at a local store & I was thinking about taking it, looks like it would be a lot of fun!
That is so cool! i wish they had something like that around here. If you take it, I want a recap! Please. 🙂