If you haven't heard of kombucha yet, you have been living under a rock. It is the new superfood. Touted as being the answer to a healthy gut biome. I have just finished reading Michael Mosley's book "The Clever Guts Diet". Dr Mosley attributes all kinds of illnesses to an overgrowth of unhealthy gut bacteria such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity and even depression! Enter kombucha! A fermented drink using a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) which supposedly boosts your healthy gut bacteria and therefore improves your overall health. I am a physiotherapist. We like to use evidence-based practice. This means that if there isn't a substantial amount of evidence for something being of benefit, then we shouldn't use it. Kombucha has no such evidence supporting its use in creating a healthy gut biome. Case studies are not real evidence people! Regardless, I have been brewing kombucha for a couple of years now. While I am skeptical it can cure any diseases like some health 'gurus' tout on the internet, it is delicious (and a shit load cheaper to make yourself than to buy for $5 per bottle in the shop). With that in mind. Here is how I brew it up. Step 1 - SuppliesYou will require: - A large saucepan with lid. - A glass bowl with lid - A wooden spoon - 3 plastic or glass bottles - A large 3 1/2L jar with lid (with or without pouring tap) - 3/4 cup of rice malt syrup - Any tea of your choice (I use green tea) - Approximately 10 teabags - A SCOBY - find a friend who brews kombucha and get them to give you a SCOBY from their brew **This is a collection of SCOBYs. Bloody ugly things aren't they? Step 2 - The BrewIn a large saucepan mix together: 3 1/2L of BOILING water, 3/4 cup of rice malt syrup 10 teabags or the equivalent of loose-leaf tea Place the lid on top. Leave it there for the day until the liquid cools to room temperature. Step 3 - CleaningI CANNOT stress enough how important this stage is. I have had countless friends message me with photos of mould growing on their SCOBYs asking what they did wrong! The cleaning process is SO important. Any cases of illness from home-made kombucha have come down to poor cleaning practices. If you EVER see mould growing in your brew, it's gonners. Throw it all out and start again. With that in mind, now is a great time to get out a brand new kitchen sponge. Every time I brew, I replace my kitchen sponge and use the BRAND NEW one to clean my jar. Using your new kitchen sponge, wash the inside of your large glass jar with warm soapy water. If you are using a glass jar with a tap, take the tap apart and wash each piece thoroughly. Then, rinse it all well and air dry it until it is BONE DRY! Do not use last weeks tea towel to dry it because I guarantee you will get mould. |