Enjoy refreshing kombucha-inspired mocktails made at home with vibrant flavors, gentle fizz, and wholesome ingredients.
# Ingredient List:
→ Basic Kombucha-Style Base
01 - 2 quarts filtered water
02 - 8 black or green tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea
03 - 1 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 kombucha SCOBY or 3/4 cup unflavored store-bought kombucha (as starter)
→ Flavoring Options (choose 1–2 per batch)
05 - 3.5 ounces fresh berries such as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries
06 - 1 lemon or lime, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small knob fresh ginger, sliced
08 - 1 sprig fresh mint or basil
09 - 2 tablespoons fruit juice such as pomegranate, cherry, or apple
10 - 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus petals
11 - 1 cinnamon stick or 3–4 whole cloves
# Directions:
01 - Bring 2 quarts of filtered water to a boil. Add the tea bags or loose-leaf tea and steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags or strain out tea leaves.
02 - While the tea is hot, stir in the granulated sugar until completely dissolved. Allow the sweetened tea to cool to room temperature, ensuring it's not warm to the touch.
03 - Pour cooled sweet tea into a sanitized large glass jar. Add the kombucha SCOBY and starter liquid or store-bought kombucha.
04 - Cover the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel held with a rubber band. Store at room temperature away from sunlight for 5–7 days.
05 - After 5 days, begin tasting daily. When the flavor is tangy and gently effervescent, proceed to the next phase.
06 - Remove SCOBY and reserve 3/4 cup kombucha for future fermentation. Add selected fruits, herbs, or spices to the kombucha.
07 - Transfer kombucha into clean bottles, leaving 1 inch headspace. Seal tightly and ferment at room temperature for 1–3 days to develop carbonation.
08 - Once carbonation is achieved to preference, refrigerate bottles. Strain out solid flavorings before serving chilled.
