Prairie Food Co-op Community Grocery

PFC, Kombucha, and Women's Wellness, oh my!

Many of our PFC Owners enjoy brewing kombucha at home, including our Community Investment Coordinator, Jess Buttimer.  Jess will be sharing her kombucha brewing tips this week at the Women's Wellness Wednesday event hosted by Orange Theory Glen Ellyn and Glen Ellyn Living Magazine.

Kombucha is delicious fermented tea with many possible benefits. You have to decide if kombucha is right for you, but Jess likes to use it as a soda/beer/wine replacement and fermented food addition every evening.

Jessica's favorite resource for all things kombucha is Cultures of Health, where you can find thorough instructions, tips, and links to purchase all you need. But, here are the basics to get you started...

 

The Basics

Kombucha is a delicious and nutritious, but oh-so-pricey in the stores!  Easily make your own custom creations at home for a fraction of the cost with a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) and a few simple ingredients. 

  1. Brew sweet tea according to the tea, sugar, & water ratios below, allow it to cool to room temp & strain
  2. In a glass, metal-free container, combine sweet tea, starter tea, and SCOBY. Cover with towel secured by a rubber band.
  3. Store at room temp in a dark area. Wait 7-20 days, to taste.
  4. Bottle tea in air-tight containers, leaving enough leftover to use as the starter tea for your next batch.
  5. Optionally (and recommended), add a 1-3 Tablespoons of fruit juice to each bottle of tea to flavor to taste. Jessica's favorites are lime, lemon, and Trader Joe's Power 7 red fruit juice. Allow bottles to sit at room temperature in the dark for 2-3 additional days before storing in the refrigerator.

Ingredient Ratios

One-Quart Batch:

  • 1½ teaspoon loose tea OR 2 tea bags
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2-3 cups water
  • ½ cup starter tea or vinegar

Half-Gallon Batch:

  • 1 tablespoon loose tea OR 4 tea bags
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 6-7 cups water
  • 1 cup starter tea or vinegar

Gallon Batch:

  • 2 tablespoons loose tea OR 8 tea bags
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 13-14 cups water
  • 2 cups starter tea or vinegar

 

Happy Brewing!

Best, Jess

P.S. - If you need a SCOBY, I usually have many to share! Email me at: invest [@] prairiefood.coop

P.P.S - Watch the video below to be INSPIRED by PFC! 

 

Together we built this. Join us.

BECOME AN OWNER