Flavoring Your Kombucha

10 Easy Recipes for Flavoring Kombucha

Flavor Flav wants more flavor from his Kombucha!

One of the funnest (yes, I said funnest) things about Kombucha is inventing new flavors.
I am a prolific experimenter; from exotic South American super foods to seasonal fruit to healing herbal blends, I continue to push my creative boundaries.
However, improving the flavor is not the only reason for adding these healthy elements to your Kombucha. That’s because the healing properties, anti-oxidants and other vitamins & minerals present in the flavoring agents are also passed on to you in the final beverage.
Allowing the flavored bottles to condition outside the fridge gives the KT a chance to soak up the goodness and get extra bubbly (watch out for too much built up carbonation).
Have you ever noticed that a piece of fruit such as strawberry or blueberry loses all of its color and turns mushy when left in a bottle of KT? That’s because the Kombucha sucks out all the flavonoids, folate and phytonutrients and passes them on to you in a form that is more bioavailable, which means it is easier for your body to absorb the nutrition.
Here is a quick refresher on flavoring:

How to Flavor Kombucha

Flavorings go into the bottle first.

• Flavorings are added only AFTER the primary fermentation brewing cycle – this is to protect the mother culture. To ferment the flavor with a culture, use a spare from your SCOBY Hotel.
• A little bit goes a long way. Start with ¼- ½ tsp of flavoring per 16oz bottle, then increase or decrease as desired.
• Allow the bottle to condition outside of the fridge for 24-36 hours. Remember, carbon dioxide may build up during this period, so store your bottles in a cooler, box or burp them to prevent explosions.
• Taste your creation! Once it has reached the flavor you like best, move it to the fridge to slow the fermentation process.
• Lost your fizz? Let the bottle warm up for an hour or two to reactivate the yeast and natural carbon dioxide.
• Experiment! Fruity, green-y, citrus-y, herbal-y or garlic-y, etc.
• It’s okay to pour unsuccessful experiments down the drain. You might feel attached to all of your KT, even if it isn’t exactly to your liking. No harm in letting some go as part of the experimentation process.
• Use old KT to make fruit fly traps. You can also use it as hair tonic but make sure all of the sugar has been fermented out of it otherwise you end up with sticky hair – yuck!

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10 Kombucha Flavor Recipes
to Spark Your Imagination**

**Note: These flavoring portions are for one 16oz bottle. Use less or more depending on how much Kombucha you want to flavor and your own taste preferences.

Summer Breeze

• ¼ tsp of lavender – lavender is a member of the mint family and is used to calm and soothe
• ½ tsp of chamomile – chamomile is a flower that has been used traditionally to promote a sense of well being

Summer Breeze Kombucha - Lavender and Chamomile

Apple Pie

• fresh apple slices, cored – apples help regulate blood sugar and have a positive impact on the bacteria in the large intestine
• ¼ tsp chai spice - cinnamon increases circulation, cloves are anti-inflammatory, allspice improves digestion

Apple Pie Kombucha - Apple & Chai Spice

Cuzco Chocolate

• ¼ tsp lucuma – a South American super fruit known as the “Gold of the Incas” that is high in beta carotene and B vitamins
• ¼ tsp raw cacao powder – cacao is literally the “food of the Gods” and is high in magnesium, which is good for building strong bones

Cuzco Chocolate Kombucha - lucuma powder & raw cacao powder

Vanilla Rooibos

• ¼ inch organic vanilla bean – vanilla supresses the appetite and soothes the nerves
• ¼ cup of brewed rooibos tisane - rooibos is high in ant-oxidants and naturally caffeine free

Vanilla Rooibos Kombucha - Vanilla Bean & Rooibos Tisane

Cacao Pow

• ¼ tsp raw cacao powder
• ¼ tsp maca powder – a powerful South American adaptogen that boosts adrenal and other gladular function improving energy and libido

Cacao Pow Kombucha - Raw Cacao Powder & Maca Powder

Green Machine

• ½ tsp of organic green power blend – packed with the healing power of wheatgrass, chlorophyll and spirulina

Green Machine Kombucha - Green Superfood Powder

Mate Mint

• ¼ cup brewed yerba mate tisane – chockfull of B vitamins and anti-oxidants, mate provides energy without the caffeine crash
• ¼ tsp organic peppermint – soothes the tummy and kills bacteria

Mate Mint Kombucha - Yerba Mate & Peppermint Tea

Hibiscus Ginger

• ¼ tsp hibiscus – lowers blood pressure and is high in vitamin C
• ½ tsp ginger – aids in digestion and makes great carbonation

Hibiscus Ginger Kombucha - Hibiscus Flower & Organic Ginger

Roseberry

• 1 tb organic rose petals – mild sedative with soothing effects
• ¼ tsp rose hips – packed with vitamin C, excellent for combatting colds
• ¼ tsp elderberries – boost upper respiratory health – perfect for cold season

Roseberry Kombucha - Rose Hips, Rose Petals & Elderberries

Brain Brew

• ½ tsp of Brain Brew – comprised of gotu kola & gingko biloba – improves mental clarity and stimulates circulation in the brain

Brain Brew Kombucha - Gotu Kola & Ginko Biloba

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