Kombucha — The Homestead Soda Replacement

More Amish families, especially those with children, are brewing kombucha as a healthy alternative to soda — it costs almost nothing and runs on a continuous cycle.

Ingredients

• 8 cups black or green tea (about 2 liters)
• 3/4 cup sugar (about 150g)
• 1 SCOBY, plus 1 cup starter liquid from a previous batch

Method

1. Brew the tea, dissolve sugar in while hot, and let cool completely to room temperature.
2. Pour into a gallon glass jar, add the SCOBY and starter liquid.
3. Cover with cloth and ferment 7 to 14 days — longer means more tart, less sweet.
4. For fizz, bottle with a little fruit juice or mashed fruit and do a second fermentation, sealed, for 2 to 3 days before refrigerating.

Costs pennies a glass versus four to five dollars at a health food store.

Love this one? Get all 20 in our 20 Amish Preservation Favorites Cookbook.