In the meantime, folks who have never made kombucha themselves and got quite used to the convenience of buying it at the store are going through major withdrawal from this healthy, enzyme rich, probiotic filled beverage.
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| Image from Wikipedia |
On top of that, homemade tastes infinitely better and there is no risk of too much alcohol like bottles sitting on store shelves for who knows how long as you control the brew time! My kids much prefer mine to store bought any day of the week.
I make about 5 gallons of kombucha every 8 days or so this time of year as it is so hot and we go through it so very fast to keep hydrated. It is so hydrating, you won't believe it - much more hydrating that plain water.
I make the 5 gallons for about $1.60 per gallon. That translates to 20 cents per pint as compared to $2.99 per pint for a bottle of G.T. Kombucha!
Give it a go! It is so easy to do. Here are four video links to show you exactly how:
How to Make Kombucha (for Beginners, Part 1)
How to Make Kombucha (for Beginners, Part 2)
And, if you want to make multiple gallons, here are more advanced videos:
How to Make Kombucha (Advanced, Part 1)
How to Make Kombucha (Advanced, Part 2)
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
14 comments:
Thanks Ms. Healthy Home Economist,
I appreciate having the links together.
Just started my virgin batch last night with my scrawny little scoby.
Pavil, the Uber Noob
I'm wondering where you found out that GT's will be pasteurized. The latest information I could find on it was that it would still be raw when returned to store shelves, but that was almost a month old: http://nativesunjax.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/update-on-unpasteurized-kombucha-from-gt/
Wait, you can buy Kombucha in a store?
Just kidding, though I never have.
It really is a snap to make once you get the hang of it. The links should be helpful for those who want to venture making their own.
I have a question. How many good brews can you get from a mother? I have so many stockpiled in the fridge because I never used one more than two times.
Hi Jennifer, a manager at my healthfood store told me this. There is a lot of rumor swirling around about the GT Kombucha recall, so much of it is probably false. It would be so devastating if it comes back on the shelves pasteurized, though. I am sure the company is very much against this so hopefully it will not happen.
Hi Mary, you can keep the Mother going for quite a long time. I discard a culture when it gets really stained from the tannins in the tea and then go to a fresh culture (baby). If you keep the culture in the fridge for over a month, then it is probably so weakened you should discard.
Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to tell you, I really enjoy your posts and love your videos. I am new at the real food lifestyle and appreciate all the help I can get--and your videos are very helpful. Thank you.
thank you for this reminder for me to make up a new batch of kombucha! it is so good, homemade. =)
thank you so much for visiting my blog and most of all, for leading me to yours!! what a treasure. i can see that i am going to spend hours reading your previous posts - you've shared so much good stuff!
emily
home2learn.wordpress.com
Chaylife and Emily - thanks for the kind words! So glad you are enjoying the blog!
Sarah,
I'm new to Kombucha. What do you do with all the extra mushrooms? I saw a site that sold a quart size mushroom starter kit for $20 w/shipping. Will that grow to your size? Would I use 2 smaller mushrooms for a larger bowl?
thank you,
mary
Hi Everyone .. please note that a couple comments haven't posted yet for some reason. Must be a google glitch. Thanks for your patience.
Mary, you can give away your extra cultures to friends or use them for fertilizer in your garden. They are great in compost.
Ha, I feed the scobys to my worms. We fed one to the dogs once, but I didn't know how safe that was...
GTs is $5.99 here, so I started making my own a while ago. The only bad thing with it being gone - if you forget to save some of your old batch *before* flavoring it, to start your new batch, you can't run to the store to get some plain Kombucha. Can you tell I've done that :).
Does anyone have any tips or ideas on how to flavor the kombucha? I just started my 2nd batch and am still getting used to the whole process.
Hi Marcy, add fresh fruit juice, flavored seltzer water or herbal teas in the proportion that suits your tastebuds to the final kombucha brew. Never add it before it is brewed or while brewing. The flavoring always comes after the final brew is complete.
Thank you so much! I cant wait to try that when this batch finishes brewing! Thank you Thank you Thank you!
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