By: Brew Your Bucha Posted: OCT 15 2020 in Kombucha
Everywhere you look, you'll see a mention of COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. That's no surprise considering how serious things have become. In an attempt to try to stop the spread of the disease, many nations are imploring their citizens to self-isolate and go into quarantine. This means that thousands of people are being responsible by putting their social lives on hold and staying home.
Quarantine is the new hot word going around these days as anyone who is feeling ill should stop going out in public in order to not risk infecting others. Thus, many people are spending entire days at home as work has been put off for the time being.
This has led to more and more bored people sitting at home with no idea what to do. Maybe you've already gone through your Netflix queue and played all your games . Now you're bored and don't know what to do next. Well, how about I suggest something to get you through this quarantine: brewing your own Kombucha.
What You Need to Get Started
Now, I've covered it in past blog posts, but let's just quickly review what you need to start brewing your own Kombucha at home. Please know that everything I mention can be bought separately or in a brewing kit on our shop page.
The first and most difficult thing to source will be the SCOBY, which is the lifeblood of all Kombucha. Now, SCOBY is an acronym that means Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast, and it honestly looks like a jelly disc. The SCOBY is very soft and squishy and should be stored in its own starter tea, which is the liquid used to brew Kombucha. Now, if you're lucky, you can maybe find a friend who has a spare SCOBY lying around as they do reproduce after several batches of Kombucha. However, finding a SCOBY at the store is much more difficult and may require some online shopping.
Once you get your SCOBY, the other pieces of equipment are much easier to acquire. You want a nice, large glass brew jar for your Kombucha. The jar should be large enough to hold as much Kombucha as you want to brew but not too big that it cannot be stored in a cool, dark place easily. A temperature strip on the jar is a nice addition that allows you to track the temperature of your brew. A cloth with an elastic should be placed on top of the jar to ensure no insects find their way into your Kombucha. Make sure to keep your environment as clean as possible for the best results. Other equipment including bottles, funnels, siphons, or any other tools you think you may need. Some people like to use a heating pad if their homes are especially cold in order to allow the brew to ferment at the right temperature.
Yet, the main thing you need to brew Kombucha is time. Fortunately for those choosing to stay home during this time, they have plenty of free time on their hands. While brewing the Kombucha itself takes about a week, most of the waiting is passive. Most beginners will spend most of their time just learning the ropes, making the process quicker and more efficient as time passes on.
When you're finally ready to start brewing, you can look up several guides online to help you. For instance, our website has a great guide and recipes to get you brewing your own Kombucha today.
Get the Kids Involved
So, if you need a new activity to do with your kids, try brewing Kombucha with them! What's great about brewing Kombucha is that it is a safe yet interactive activity. Moreover, you can teach your kids all about fermentation and microorganisms that are involved in the process, helping them learn more about science. Yet the best part of brewing Kombucha at home with the kids may be the final result: you'll be rewarded with your own very delicious Kombucha at the end of your brew cycle. Get your kids involved and have them pick the flavourings for the second fermentation and even let me them their unique brew a special name. All of this can keep your children interested while also learning about the science of food along the way.
And Remember to be Safe
I know it's a crazy time in the world, and many of us are struggling with coping with the changes. In the end, it's important to stay safe to ensure the safety of your family and your local community.
Be safe everyone.