How to Brew Kombucha at Home (The Easy Way)
A beginner-friendly guide to brewing your own probiotic-rich kombucha using Lifestyle Food teas, honey, and flavourings.
Kombucha has taken over the wellness world – and not just because it looks cool on a café shelf. This fizzy, tangy tea is packed with natural probiotics that can support digestion and overall well-being. But here’s the secret most people don’t know: you don’t need to buy it. You can make your own right at home.
And with Lifestyle Food teas, honey, and flavourings, crafting your own brew is easier (and more fun) than you think.
What You’ll Need
To brew kombucha, you’ll need a SCOBY – that’s short for Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast – which does the fermentation magic. You can usually get one from a friend or order one online.
Ingredients (makes ±2 litres)
- 6 cups filtered water
- 6 Lifestyle Food Rooibos or Green Tea bags
- ½ cup Lifestyle Food Honey
- 2 cups starter tea (from a previous batch, or plain unflavoured store-bought kombucha)
- 1 SCOBY
Optional flavour add-ins:
- Lifestyle Food Ground Ginger
- Lifestyle Food Dried Fruit (e.g. mango, peach, cranberry)
- Fresh herbs like mint
How to Brew Kombucha (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Brew the base tea
- Boil your filtered water.
- Steep the tea bags for 10–15 minutes.
- Stir in the honey until dissolved.
- Let the sweet tea cool completely to room temperature.
Step 2: Start the fermentation
- Pour the cooled tea into a clean glass jar.
- Add your starter tea and gently place the SCOBY on top.
- Cover with a cloth or paper towel and secure with an elastic band.
- Leave to ferment at room temp, away from direct sunlight, for 7–10 days.
Step 3: Taste test
- Start tasting after day 7.
- The longer it ferments, the more tangy and less sweet it becomes.
- When it hits your sweet-spot, you’re ready to bottle.
Step 4: Bottle and flavour (optional)
- Remove the SCOBY and set it aside for your next batch.
- Pour kombucha into clean bottles, leaving 2–3 cm of space at the top.
- Add your flavourings (dried fruit, ginger, herbs) if you want.
- Seal the bottles and leave at room temperature for 2–3 more days to carbonate.
Step 5: Chill and enjoy
- Once fizzy, refrigerate your bottles.
- Serve cold and enjoy the refreshing, probiotic goodness.
From antioxidant-rich Rooibos and Green Tea, to raw Honey and dried fruit with no unnecessary additives, the Lifestyle Food range makes it easy to keep your kombucha natural, wholesome, and delicious. Whether you want a uniquely South African rooibos twist or a classic green tea flavour, we’ve got your brewing base covered.
