Kombucha Tea
Kombucha Tea – What It Is and How It's Made
Kombucha tea is a fermented tea drink, made from mushrooms, that is said to have many health benefits. Proponents brag that this homeopathic tea can help treat digestive problems, skin diseases, hair loss and cholesterol, just to name a few.
What makes kombucha tea really intriguing is the way it is made. This health food drink is not readily available, and you won’t find it in teabags or bottles on the shelves of your local grocery store. In fact, you usually won’t find this tea bottled or in bags at your local health food store. Kombucha tea is truly unique because it requires both time and effort before you can partake in its proclaimed benefits.
The only way to enjoy this unusual brew is by first purchasing a special kit that is used to make the tea. A kombucha kit contains a starter culture, which is what you make the drink with. The starter culture that comes in your kombucha kit is actually a delicious fermentation of a variety of yeasts and bacteria. Yum. Once you have your culture in hand, here’s how to proceed:
First you make some tea. Any kind of tea is fine. You can use your favorite green tea or an ordinary black tea. Make 2 quarts, and make it strong, which usually means about 2 tablespoons of tea leaves. Steep the tea in boiling water for at least 15 minutes.
Once the tea is thoroughly steeped and nice and strong, strain the leaves out. Next add sugar, approximately 3 ounces to taste, and stir it well so that it dissolves completely. Then let the entire mixture cool down to room temperature.
After the tea has thoroughly cooled, transfer it into the china or glass container that you will use for the fermentation process. Be sure the glass you use is free of lead since the drink will be soaking in the container for several days.
Now the good stuff comes out. At this point, add the starter culture and liquid that came with your kombucha kit. Once the culture is added to the tea, cover the container with a paper towel or cheese cloth and secure it in place with a rubber band.
For the next step, the container should be placed in a warm, dark place away from any direct sunlight. The best temperature for this process is 74-80 degrees F. Then just let it do its thing.
Fermenting of the tea generally takes anywhere from 8 to 12 days. If the air is warmer, the process will go faster. Colder temperatures slow it down. Once you become more familiar with making this tea, you can adjust the length of time to your preferred taste.
As the tea ferments, the sugar will break down and the tea will bubble up, so do not be alarmed if you see this happening. Once this process is complete, you can transfer your tea into individual bottles and seal them with a stopper. Let those sit for about 4-5 more days to finalize the maturation of the tea, and then you are finally free to enjoy!