DIY kombucha-inspired drinks, offering fizzy, flavorful refreshment. Customize with fruits, herbs, and spices.
# Ingredients:
→ Kombucha-Style Base
01 - 2 quarts filtered water
02 - 8 black or green tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea
03 - 1 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 kombucha SCOBY or 3/4 cup unflavored store-bought kombucha as starter
→ Flavoring Options
05 - 1/2 cup fresh berries such as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries
06 - 1 lemon or lime, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small knob fresh ginger, sliced
08 - 1 sprig fresh mint or basil
09 - 2 tablespoons fruit juice, such as pomegranate, cherry, or apple
10 - 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus petals
11 - 1 cinnamon stick or 3–4 whole cloves
# Directions:
01 - Bring 2 quarts filtered water to a boil. Add tea bags or loose-leaf tea and steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags or strain leaves.
02 - While the tea is hot, stir in granulated sugar until completely dissolved. Allow sweetened tea to cool to room temperature.
03 - Pour cooled sweet tea into a sanitized large glass jar. Add the SCOBY and starter liquid or store-bought kombucha.
04 - Cover the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel secured by a rubber band. Leave the jar at room temperature, away from sunlight, for 5 to 7 days.
05 - After 5 days, taste daily. When brew is tangy and lightly fizzy without excessive sourness, it's ready for flavoring.
06 - Remove the SCOBY and reserve 3/4 cup kombucha for the next batch. Add desired fruits, herbs, or spices to the remaining kombucha.
07 - Transfer kombucha into clean bottles, leaving 1 inch headspace. Seal tightly and let ferment at room temperature for 1 to 3 days for carbonation.
08 - Once carbonation is achieved, refrigerate bottles. Strain out solids before serving.
