My Kombucha Is Done, Now What?…And How To Bottle Kombucha Tea ~ {Part 3}

by Halle Cottison Mar 27, 2013 - 13 Comments

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Our Kombucha Series

We are half way through our kombucha series!  In a few days you will be enjoying some delicious and healthy kombucha.
Here is a list of our full kombucha series:

1. What is kombucha and why is it so healthy for you? {Part 1}
2. Learn how to brew kombucha with this easy step by step tutorial. {Part 2}
3. My kombucha is done, now what?…And how to bottle kombucha tea {Part 3}
4. A collection of kombucha recipes {Part 4} Coming soon…

Where To Purchase A Kombucha Starter Kit

If you are just getting started, make sure that you buy your kombucha starter kit from a reliable source.

• I got my starter kit from Sara at Healthy Families For God and I have to tell you, it is by far the BEST price out there!  I ordered it and in just a few short days it was on my doorstep!

So lets dive into todays lesson, my kombucha is done, now what…and how to bottle your kombucha tea.

Your Brew Is Finally Done Fermenting, Now What? 

Yes, your brew has FINALLY finished fermenting and you have the desired taste that you are looking for…now what?  There are several simple steps to follow and in a few short days you will be enjoying your first homemade kombucha!
There are several thing to note:

• Do not use anything metal from this point on.  Use plastic utensils and a plastic funnel.  Metal will react with the kombucha.
• Before you remove your SCOBY, sanitize your hands with white vinegar.  Do NOT use soap, you could kill your SCOBY.
• Sanitize you botttle with hot water or white vinegar.  I ran mine through the dishwasher with no soap, just hot water.
• Clear glass ONLY!  You can buy clear bottles here.  These bottles are the exact bottles that I use, and I love them!

Ok, now that we have the basics covered, lets start bottling some kombucha!

Removing the SCOBY

The first thing you want to do is remove the SCOBY from your kombucha.  Note that I have the “mother” SCOBY and a “baby” SCOBY.  The original SCOBY that you used has created a baby.  You need to remove both of these.  Simple reach in with your clean hands and remove the two SCOBY cultures.

Your mother and baby might still be attached like this one.  You can either leave them attached or pull them apart.

Here is what your SCOBY will look like after you have removed it from the kombucha tea.  Simple put it in a clean jar with 1/2-2/3 cups of tea from this batch cover with a lid and store in your pantry until you are ready to brew your next batch of tea.  This is called a SCOBY hotel.
I just take my SCOBY and 2/3 cups starter (tea from this batch) and place it into a clean jar and start the process all over again and start brewing a new batch.  The baby SCOBY I passed on to my neighbor so she can start her first brew.

What’s That Stuff Floating In My Kombucha?

When you are adding starter tea to your SCOBIES, you might notice some sediment in your jar of tea or some stingy like substances hanging off your ladle…This is NORMAL and is harmless!
If this bothers you, simply run your kombucha through a sieve or sifter and this will remove all of your floating objects from you kombucha.  I leave mine in the tea.  You get use to it the more you drink the kombucha! 

Bottling Your Kombucha

Now place a funnel into your clean bottle and pour your kombucha right into the bottle.  Fill the bottle almost to the top, leaving a maximum headspace of 1″ or less.  The less you have the more carbonation that you will have.
Please note, NEVER shake kombucha it can explode.  The higher you fill the bottle, the more likely you are going to need to burp your kombucha to relieve the gas bubbles a bit.

Once you have filled your kombucha bottles, place the lid on your kombucha.  You have three options from this point.

1. You can drink the kombucha as is and put in the refrigerator.  It will have less fizz with this method but still taste amazing.
2. You can cap the kombucha and store in a warm, dark place and allow it to sit for 2-3 days.  This will create a really fizzy kombucha.
3. You can make kombucha soda (recipe coming in final post in this series).

If you decide to ferment your kombucha to get it a bit more fizzy, simply place the cap on the kombucha and store in a warm, dark place for 2-3 days.  I stored mine in the pantry.

Where Do I Store My Kombucha?

After 2-3 days remove your kombucha from the pantry (or your dark warm place) and place in the refrigerator.  If your kombucha developed a baby SCOBY in the bottle, remove and toss and then drink.
Do not leave your kombucha in the pantry past the 2-3 day period.  It is very important to move it to the refrigerator.  This will stop the fermentation process completely.
That is it!  You now know how to make your own kombucha!  Not hard at all, was it?!!
Later this week we will dive into making kombucha “soda” (so easy to make) and I will also have a great list of amazing kombucha recipes for you all to try.