Flavouring your Kombucha question

[CaraboosMama]

So...I finally got tired of paying $3.79 a bottle for 16 oz of the GT stuff & decided to start brewing my own kombucha:

It should be ready on Monday (give or take a day - it's been hot out the past few days) and I would like to flavor it or add a little juice when I put it in bottles but I'm not sure how much to use. One recipe I read suggested 2 oz of juice to 10 oz. of kombucha. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

[CaraboosMama]

oh and in case it makes any difference, I used Organic Oolong tea to brew the kombucha. I'd love to hear some of the different combinations people have used. I thought about using Yerba Mate - but wasn't sure if that would work since it isn't actually "tea" but an herb (one source I read recommended against using herbal teas to make K).

[PaulaJoAnne]

I bottle my kombucha in ez cap bottles, and to each one I add one of the following.
5-6 blueberries
5-6 low bush cranberries
1 tsp worth of fresh ginger
1 tsp worth of strawberries
1 tsp worth of peaches
1 cherry chopped into 4 parts
etc.....
They are always highly flavored within two days.

[Karamom]

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

I bottle my kombucha in ez cap bottles, and to each one I add one of the following.
5-6 blueberries
5-6 low bush cranberries
1 tsp worth of fresh ginger
1 tsp worth of strawberries
1 tsp worth of peaches
1 cherry chopped into 4 parts
etc.....
They are always highly flavored within two days.

Do you add the whole fruit during the ferment or is this like a fruit puree you add when it's done?

[PaulaJoAnne]

Never add fruit while it is brewing.
After the kombucha has brewed, we pour it into the ex cap bottles, add the whole berries or little chunks of fruit, cap it, and let them sit for one to two days prior to drinking.
I make 5 gallons at a time. Have an extra busy sil that I make it for, in addition to ours.

[CaraboosMama]

Sounds delicious!

Anyone just add juice when bottling? I love the GT's Citrus Kombucha which is just kombucha & lemon juice...wasn't sure how much to add to get a similar taste.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by CaraboosMama

Sounds delicious!

Anyone just add juice when bottling? I love the GT's Citrus Kombucha which is just kombucha & lemon juice...wasn't sure how much to add to get a similar taste.

Only one way to find out how much.
Do a test!
I have never used juice. Just whole fruits and ginger.

[eirual]

My fav. is adding raspberries (3-4 of them do the trick).

Peaches sounds REALLY good right now.

My favourite "Wonder Drink" flavour is asian pear and ginger, but I've never tired that combo at home. Ginger is good, but I'm getting sick of it and looking for more summer flavours.

[MoonStarFalling]

I sometimes add juice when bottling. The 2oz juice to 10 oz ktea sounds like a good ratio. I don't measure anything.

[TzippityDoulah]

yerba mate wont work as the tanins in black tea help grow the kombucha. some have success with green tea but the scobie doesn't usually last as long.

[CaraboosMama]

Thanks! I love yerba mate but will just enjoy it as is.

[CaraboosMama]

Just as an update w/ some flavor ideas:

I added a few pieces of nectarine to some of the kombucha & it is
deee-licious!!

Added a splash of local black currant juice to the rest - will try it later in the week...thanks for all the suggestions!