Kombucha Brewing Guide: Achieve Ginger-Flavored Rise Kombucha at Home
For those who are new to the world of homemade kombucha, we have a comprehensive guide to help you get started. This article will focus on creating a ginger kombucha that aims to replicate the smoothness and subtle ginger notes of Rise Kombucha, one of Quebec's first kombucha companies.
Ingredients and Equipment
- Kombucha scoby and its liquid culture
- Tea bags
- Sugar
- Filtered water
- Boiling water
- Fresh ginger
- A wide mouth jar (1 gallon)
- A cloth and rubber band
- A funnel with sieve
- Pressure resistant bottles (750ml)
The Process
First Fermentation (F1)
- Brew a strong sweet tea using the provided recipe. Allow it to cool down to room temperature.
- Transfer the cooled tea to the wide mouth jar, along with the kombucha scoby and its liquid culture.
- Cover the jar with a cloth and rubber band, ensuring it's breathable but prevents any foreign debris from entering.
- Store the jar in a cool, dark place for 10 to 15 days for the first fermentation.
Maceration of Fresh Ginger
While the kombucha is undergoing its first fermentation, prepare the fresh ginger. The amounts needed for 3 litres of kombucha are as follows:
- 1/3 cup (30g) for a very subtle flavor
- 1/2 cup (60g) for a very light flavor and heat
- 1 cup (120g) for a very hot flavor in the mouth
Macerate the ginger by slicing it and soaking it in the kombucha liquid for 48 hours to extract the ginger flavor.
Second Fermentation (F2)
- After the first fermentation, set aside the kombucha scoby and about 2 cups (500ml) of liquid in an airtight container in a cool place.
- Strain the macerated ginger, extracting its juice.
- Add the ginger juice to the remaining kombucha in the wide mouth jar.
- Perform the second fermentation by transferring the kombucha into pressure resistant bottles.
- Allow the kombucha to ferment for another 3 to 4 days at room temperature.
Bottling and Storage
- After the second fermentation, carefully bottle the kombucha, being mindful of the pressure to prevent bottles from bursting.
- Store the bottled kombucha in a cool, dark place for up to a week before consuming.
Additional Recipes
For those who enjoy experimenting with different flavors, various spice-based kombucha recipes are available, including Chai Masala Kombucha, Root Beer Kombucha, Chaga and Honey Kombucha, and Maple Kombucha (fenugreek). For a more concentrated ginger flavor, consider extracting the ginger juice and using it in your kombucha. A ginger wine recipe is also provided for additional options.
Remember, David Côté, co-founder of Fermentation Revolution, is known for his contributions to innovative fermentation projects, including Rise Kombucha. His involvement likely includes bringing expertise in fermentation science and possibly helping develop or refine their kombucha offerings. Rise Kombucha's ginger kombucha is often popular due to its balanced flavor, natural ingredients, and the gut-health benefits associated with fermented drinks containing ginger.
Enjoy your homemade ginger kombucha and happy brewing!
- To delve into the world of global cuisines, you can experiment with various spice-based kombucha recipes, such as Chai Masala Kombucha, Root Beer Kombucha, Chaga and Honey Kombucha, and Maple Kombucha (fenugreek).
- A healthy lifestyle includes not only fitness and exercise, but also food and drink, and learning how to make healthy-cooking choices like homemade kombucha.
- For those seeking to improve their health and wellness, kombucha brewing can be a rewarding hobby, providing benefits associated with fermented drinks containing ginger.
- The process of homemade kombucha can be considered as an intersection of science (fermentation) and cooking, as it involves ingredients like sugar, tea, and fresh ginger, and equipment like a wide mouth jar and pressure resistant bottles.