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Drinks Fermented Health & Lifestyle Recipes

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

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

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} 

 

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 one of my starter kits here.

So let’s dive into today’s 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 things 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 your bottle 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, let’s 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.  Simply reach in with your clean hands and remove the two SCOBY cultures.

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

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

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

Here is what your SCOBY will look like after you have removed it from the kombucha tea.

Simply 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.

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

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 used to it the more you drink the kombucha!  🙂

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

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, as 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.

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

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 the final post in this series).

If you decide to ferment your kombucha to get it a bit fizzier, 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.

Learn What To Do With Your Kombucha After Your Brew Is Done | WholeLIfestyleNutrition.com

Share Your Thoughts

 

As always, let me know if you should have any questions!

How about it, are you ready to tackle brewing your first kombucha?

Final Comment


Halle Cottis/Whole Lifestyle Nutrition is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Comments

  1. Lea says

    July 29, 2018 at 11:41 am

    Great recipe!
    Just to be sure, if I’d like mine to be fizzier, I take the scoby out first and then
    bottle it, then put bottles in a warm, dark place for no more than 2-3 days, then refrigerate, is that correct?
    Thanks 🙂

  2. Amar says

    August 21, 2018 at 8:33 am

    Hi, once we put them in the refrigerator, how long will they last before they spoil (if that is the right word)

  3. Mal says

    December 7, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    I have made my kombucha, bottled it, flavoured it and left it to sit and carbonate for a couple days, now have put it in the fridge ready to drink. However when I had a taste it had a vinegary taste. Is that normal or have I not left it for long enough or something

  4. Leela says

    December 10, 2018 at 4:57 am

    My SCOBY isn’t uniform like the one you’ve shown in your site. When the mother scoby was being transported in a zip-lock bag it was folded for several days. So I suppose a uniform baby SCOBY wouldn’t form from a deformed one. Is this correct? I’m through my first fermentation and have successfully flavored and bottled. Looking forward to health benefits from drinking Kombucha daily.

  5. Lynda says

    December 30, 2018 at 4:59 pm

    I’ve done my 1st batch, bottled and its devine. I removed scooby & I took off baby. Wasn’t sure which 1 to keep, so i threw out mum & kept baby. I placed baby with 1 cup of brewed kombucha tea and placed in fridge. Is that the right way? And will it be ok to use baby to start my next batch?

  6. Graeme says

    January 6, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    My understanding is that by refrigerating your bottled kombucha after it is finished this helps stop the carbonation/fermentation process. I was wondering if it’s possible to temporarily cool the bottles to stop the carbonation/fermentation process by putting it in the fridge but then removing the bottled kombucha to store in a pantry at room temperature.

  7. Heather says

    January 14, 2019 at 9:11 am

    Hi!! I’ve made a few batches of kombucha and they taste great but keep turning out flat. So this time i followed your recommendation and left them out on the counter for 2 days.. with the fruit/juice in them. Was that ok? They have little floating patches of bubbly stuff on the top now that I’ve never seen before, and I want to make sure it’s ok and not ruined!! Thanks!

    • Amanda L Marlow says

      January 19, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      They should be fine. I have found that if there isn’t enough sugar during the second fermentation process, it will turn out flat. Or if you burp it too often.

  8. Amanda L Marlow says

    January 19, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    I made my first batch of kombucha about a month ago. We went away for the holidays so I just put the scobees in a jar with a lid. Can I still use these scobees for my next batch or should I throw them out?

  9. Brett says

    February 3, 2019 at 10:46 pm

    I checked with a local authority and they said dark glass bottles are fine and actually protect the micro organisms from UV light, lots of manufacturers use them so what’s the deal then?

  10. JennC says

    February 20, 2019 at 6:39 pm

    I poured my kombucha into their bottles and tasted it..it is too sweet, and not tart enough, needs to ferment longer. Can I pour it all back into the co trainer with the scoby and ferment longer? Or do I have to start back over?

  11. Ashma says

    February 26, 2019 at 11:29 am

    I made my scoby and started a new batch of kombucha tea. Most of the scoby tea was left in the jar except for a couple of cups I used in my new batch. I covered the jar with leftover tea with coffee filters and left it under the counter. Now two weeks later a new scoby has formed. Is this any good or do I toss it witheverything in the jar? Thank you so much for your comment. Ashma

  12. Amy says

    March 3, 2019 at 8:22 am

    Ive seen a video and heard from a few people that its fine to ferment it longer to remove the sugar. Up to 30 days. Any experience with this? its mainly for a sugar free diet but to be able to enjoy the same benefits…i know it will be very much like vinegar but thats not a problem ill add sweetner.

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