How do I bottle kombucha tea?

[staceyshoe]

Has anyone done this? I know I've heard of people bottling it, but I googled and didn't find any instructions. DH has a home brew kit for beer that includes bottles, caps, and a bottle capper tool. I wanted to try to capture the kombucha at its peak but also don't want bottles bursting everywhere. Any advice?

[lauradbg]

I'm curious too. Currently, I'm using an airtight glass refrigerator pitcher. That's OK too, right?

Thanks.

[carnelian]

You could go with something fancy like an airlock which lets the carbon out slowly and doesn't allow any air in. These can be bought at a wine supply store or online. Or you can cap the bottle with a balloon which will expand as the fermentation process develops. From what I remember kombucha is fermented for about a month so you'll want to release the air in the balloon periodically. We use the balloon method for all our lacto-fermented drinks. I've not made kombucha myself but the process is very similar to the lacto-fermented drinks so I imagine it would work fine.

[BowenTherapist]

carnelian, do you use just a regular balloon? or is it something special?
i am new to home brewed beverages, does just keeping it in a mason jar do the same as bottling...what i mean is that bottling. i have done that with my kombucha and have never had it explode or anything...it did seem to turn alcoholic though. would bottling stop it from further fermenting?

[BowenTherapist]

can bottled kombucha be kept at room temp, or would it need refrigeration?

[carnelian]

Yep, a regular old balloon works fine. Sometimes it helps to blow it up first and (then release the air) just so the rubber is more pliable. What stops fermentation is refrigeration. Bottling is simply the straining of your fermented liquid from it's initial state be it in kefir grains or with the mushroom etc to a bottle, mason jar etc. and then capping it. Fermentation continues until it is refrigerated. And even then fermentation can continue at a very slow level.

[tayndrewsmama]

: I have my first batch ready in a few days and have no clue what to do.