Tea’s good for so much more than a cuppa and a sit down. Try this simple and healthful kombucha

You will need:
2 organic green tea bags
2 organic black teabags
200g granulated sugar
1 medium scoby and starter water (you can make your own or buy them here happykombucha.co.uk/collections/kombucha-scobies)
2.5 – 3ltr glass jar
Tightly coven cloth (a tea towel will do)
Elastic band

How to make

1. Add 1.8 litres of water in a saucepan and bring to the boil.

2. Remove from the heat and add the sugar. Stir to dissolve then add the teabags and allow to cool.

3. Once cooled, remove the teabags, without giving them a squeeze, and pour into your glass jar.

4. Stir in the starter water then carefully add the scoby with clean hands. Leave a 5cm gap at the top then place the cloth over the top and secure with an elastic band.

5. Ferment for 7-days at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, but not in a cupboard as it needs air. The scoby may float around and a new one will form at the top and the two may join together, this is just part of the fermentation process.

6. After 7 days start tasting your kombucha daily by pouring a little into a cup. When the taste is the right mix between tart and sweet (this can take up to 10 days) the kombucha is ready. Remove the scoby and pour the kombucha into smaller bottles

Cook’s note: To add flavours you can add fruit, herbs and spices for secondary fermentation. Simply add the fruit to your kombucha, leaving it for several days before drinking before decanting into bottles. This will keep in the fridge for up to three months.

You can find a recipe for Kombucha chutney, as well as lots more ‘Magical Pickles’ in our November issue. The recipes by Rachel de Thample, from her book Fermentation: River Cottage Handbook No.18 (Bloomsbury) include Sea Shanty Fennel, Honey-Fermented Carrot Jam, Fermented Ketchup and Smoky Beetroot Kimchi.

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