By: Brew Your Bucha Posted: March 18, 2020 in Kombucha
When most hear the word Kombucha, they think of the conventional kind that is brewed with black tea and raw sugar. This is the most common type of Kombucha and is usually what you find on your grocery store shelves. However, that isn't to say that this is the only type of Kombucha around.
Jun Tea Kombucha, which we covered in a previous blog post, is probably the second most popular version. Instead of black tea and sugar, Jun Tea Kombucha uses green tea and honey, which leads to a lighter brew. Moreover, Jun Kombucha also contains many of the antioxidant properties of green tea, giving it a different vibe than regular Kombucha.
Still, that isn't to say there aren't different types of Kombucha that use a variety of teas out there. If you're curious about what other types of Kombuchas exist, then stick around and let us tell you all about these different varieties of Kombucha.
A Word Of Warning
Before we even get into the details, it's important to note that a different SCOBY should be used if you are brewing different types of Kombuchas. For instance, a SCOBY used to brew regular Kombucha should not be used to brew Jun Tea Kombucha as the different type of teas can have negative consequences on your SCOBYs.
So, it's better to either use a spare SCOBY you may have grown through your various batches or buy another one. If you're interested in just buying multiple SCOBYs, we have them available on our shop page.
Also, there are some teas that are better suited for Kombucha than others. The ones we have listed are teas that have been proven to be a great choice when brewing Kombucha. However, flavoured teas and teas containing essential oils, such as Chai Tea, should not be used as they won't work well with the brewing process.
Hibiscus Kombucha
Since we already provided a recipe for Hibiscus Kombucha in our last blog post, we'll keep this one relatively brief. Hibiscus tea is made from dried leaves of the flower, which give the tea a pinkish hue. Thus, using Hibiscus tea for Kombucha will lead to a crimson coloured brew, one that is sure to stand out.
What's nice about using Hibiscus is that you can keep everything else the same in your brew. You still use sugar, preferably organic raw sugar, as the main food for your SCOBY, and the brew times remain the same. All you have to do is replace black tea with hibiscus tea and get started on this new brew!
White Tea Kombucha
Another great variety of tea to use for Kombucha is White Tea. It's obvious that the colour of your brew will be much lighter if you use White Tea instead of dark tea. Furthermore, you'll be greeted with a gentler flavour, one that doesn't have as much impact as regular Kombucha.
One great positive in using White Tea is the host of health benefits that it comes with. Much like Green Tea, White Tea is full of anti-oxidants, and there has been some research that White Tea helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Thus, in addition to its great taste and colour, White Tea also brings a host of healthy advantages to your brew.
Oolong Tea Kombucha
Our final type of tea to discuss is one that you often find served at your favourite Chinese restaurants. However, if you think Oolong Tea is only good for washing down another round of dimsum or chowmein, then I got something to tell you: Oolong Tea makes great Kombucha.
Now, it's important to first note that Oolong Tea Kombucha will taste much differently than other Kombuchas because of the distinct taste of Oolong. Yet, for those who love the tangy notes of Oolong Tea, they also get to enjoy it in their brews. Oolong Tea also has many health benefits, such as boosting your metabolism and mental awareness. However, it's important to get good quality Oolong Tea, preferably organic, to ensure nothing bad goes into.
While we listed three great teas to use for a new batch of Kombucha, there are still many more out there. So, why not experiment and try making a new type of Kombucha today? If you need any equipment including brewing jars and SCOBYs, please visit our shop page. We have everything you need to start making multiple batches of Kombucha right away.