Kombucha brewers - list your favorite flavorings!

[Mere]

I am relatively new to brewing and could use some ideas.

So far, we have enjoyed black tea, with 4-5 frozen raspberries per small jar for the second ferment.

[Vaquitita]

I like using a couple cubes of candied ginger and 2-3 dried cherries.

I am looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas. I have not been happy with my kombucha recently and so haven't been drinking it much (though I will happily guzzle a bottle of GT's still). My first adventure in brewing kombucha a few years ago I loved. Then during my subsequent pregnancy I quit making it. I have since started back up a couple times, but have not been as happy with the results. Maybe my tea/sugar preportions are off? what do you use?

[BedHead]

We drink ours straight mostly. My daughter adds a bit of honey to hers sometimes.

I use 1 cup sugar and 4 tea bags per just under one gallon of water.

[Mere]

Originally Posted by BedHead

I use 1 cup sugar and 4 tea bags per just under one gallon of water.

I do exactly this. Well, I use loose tea...4 heaping Tablespoons, so that's probably similar to 4 teabags.

I just started a batch on their second ferment, some with frozen cherries and some with dried cranberries. I love the idea of candied ginger though...yum!

[sunshinestarr]

subbing!

[Naturally organic]

Just been brewing kombucha for a few months. Could I add some of my pickled ginger to it? What is a "2nd brewing"? TIA.

[Naturally organic]

Ooops. Forgot to sub.

[snowbunny]

We really like ours with dried hibiscus petals.

[tolovemercy]

we really like pomegranate-blueberry juice in our kombucha. we do a second ferment--about 3 tb. juice to 16 oz brewed kombucha.

[velcromom]

Our favorites are brewed with green tea and a generous handful of raspberries or diced peaches in the second ferment.

[stilllearning85]

Ihear pineapple is quite delicious! I like blueberries (especially for the color!)

[Mere]

Just reporting back...I tried my kombucha with frozen bing cherries - very good! It definitely lends a cherry overtone to the tea.

I was hoping it might add a ting of natural sweetness so the kids like it more, but it still tastes fairly non-sweet (which is how I like it). Maybe I simply need to add a drop of stevia to it or something to get them on to it, and then wean them off!

[Mrshawwk]

I get my kids to drink it by diluting with water, or adding juice. they really like it mixed with lemonade, and I've been able to add less and less as they get more used to it.

Of the store brands I love the cosmic cranberry. Mixed half and half with my homemade is sooo yummy.. I am going to try mixing straight cranberry juice to see if I get the same effect.

[sarahtdubb]

We have added chopped up ginger, dried mango, and a slice of apple. The apple was really good-- tasted almost like apple cider!

And re: the ? about 2nd ferment. I'm guessing this is once it's bottled? I've also read that it helps to add a piece of fruit because it allows the tea the keep fermenting in the fridge, using the sugars from the fruit.

[haurelia]

Originally Posted by Vaquitita

. Maybe my tea/sugar preportions are off? what do you use?

I use 1/4 c sugar and 1.5 tsp loose black tea per quart of water.

Originally Posted by Naturally organic

Just been brewing kombucha for a few months. Could I add some of my pickled ginger to it? What is a "2nd brewing"? TIA.

The "second ferment" is bottling the brew in containers with a tight-ish seal in order to let it ferment further and get fizzy. Some folks add fruit or juice to continue to "feed" the scoby and get it fizzier and flavored. I'm excited to try this with some stoppered bottles I found at World Market! I like to flavor my brew with ginger after it's finished, I bet pickled ginger would be good, but I'm not sure about how what you pickle your ginger in would affect the kombucha.

[Mere]

I just tried my kombucha with a handful of dried cranberries, and it was goooood!

Interestingly, the jars were sitting on the counter for only 5 days and the ones with cranberries in them formed almost a complete new scoby in that short time!

[LauraLoo]

I like a little squeezed lemon with ginger slices.

[Toolip]

oooohhh! I want to try!

[Naturally organic]

Update on pickled ginger

Tried the kombucha with pickled ginger for a second brewing. WOW! That'll wake ya up in the morning. VERY gingery. But really good.

I boiled my ginger (to soften it) in sugar and vinegar. So, it probably just adds to the flora in the kombucha. Worked great.

Now, I wonder what would happen if I added a pinch of that dried fruit tea I have....

Naturally organic

[Mere]

Naturally organic, are you saying that you pickled your own ginger by boiling it vinegar and sugar? What ratios? I was going to try throwing in a chunk of what looks to be dried ginger covered with sugar...I saw it in bulk at the co-op.

I am really liking my latest brew. I added a T of black cherry juice concentrate to a few bottles - YUM! I added 2Ts to some of the bottles, and of course the kids like those the best. However, I think 1T is good too. I also added a slice of pear and apple to some of the bottles; I've tried the pear, and it's good! It adds a little twist to just plain kombucha. I haven't tried the apple yet.