Have you ever made it?

don't think i've ever had it. what's it like?

I don't know what it is.

What is it?

basically fermented tea. You can make it yourself, which I'm going to try. Or I usually buy GT's Organic Kombucha at the organic health food store, ginger flavor.


There are many ways to prepare kombucha.
In one method, the beverage is made by placing the culture in a jar, usually a 3 liter glass container, then pouring in cold black tea with sugar. In about 8-12 days, the first portion of the beverage is ready; part of it is removed for consumption, and more tea with sugar is added to fill the jar. A mature kombucha is several centimeters thick and produces a portion of beverage every day. Once a month or two, the liquid needs filtering. If it becomes too sour, remove it, wash the kombucha in water and leave it for a night in clear water, then replace it with its usual sugared tea environment. As the kombucha slowly grows, from time to time slices are taken off it, which can be used to start new kombuchas in separate containers. Approximately ten percent of the liquid from each batch is typically kept as a "starter" liquid for the next preparation.
Another method allows for the bottling and saving of kombucha for later consumption. As in the previous method, the culture is placed into a large glass jar (gallon-sized pickle jars work very well). Boil 12 cups (about 3 liters) of water, then add one cup of white sugar and let the mixture boil for about five minutes. Next, remove from heat and add five tea bags (black or green only; do not use herbal teas). Let the tea steep (covered) until it reaches room temperature, and then pour it into the jar containing the kombucha culture. Cover the jar with a towel and let it sit for seven or eight days (may be slightly longer in colder environments). After this time, pour the kombucha drink into air-tight glass bottles (re-used sauce jars work well also), leaving enough tea with the culture so that it floats a couple of inches off the bottom (this is called the starter tea). Put the filled bottles in the refrigerator for a few days before consumption. This allows the flavor to deepen, and the natural carbonation to build up. Repeat the process as desired, but do not leave the kombucha culture in only the starter tea for longer than two weeks, as it will start to dry out.
Each time the kombucha culture goes through the fermentation process, it creates another layer. After three or four layers have built up, the tea will become sour and taste somewhat like vinegar. At this time, it is important to remove one or two of the layers, which are then either discarded or used to start a new batch.
In every step of the preparation process, it is important that hands and utensils (anything that is going to come into contact with the culture) are kept extremely clean so as not to contaminate the kombucha.

I've tried it.

It's gross to me.

germAphobe!!!!

about GT's organic Kombucha
http://www.naturezone.net/

jerseykrs said:

No beer or wine for you then!

So, basically it's mold.

jerseykrs said:

The whole fermentation process doesn't seem to bother you so much when the beers are going down, does it, Jersey?

FunkMistress said:

you just can't leave me alone today, can you?!?!?

i've seen it at the store, but i don't think i'll be trying it.

jerseykrs said:

Awww, come here, you big baby!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

it's kind of like beer. The gingerade one seems to be the most popular. That one is never in stock.

FunkMistress said:

and FYI, beer tastes good and gets me buzzed damn it!!!

jerseykrs said:

"Finish your beer, Jersey!"

applekisses said:

but you don't eat or drink the culture, like say cheese. You drink the fermented beverage. Like wine or beer...
it does have a small alcohol content and is not recommended for recovering alcoholics.

SpisaRibb said:

ugg, beer.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Blasphemy!

FunkMistress said:

d00d, the shit's gross!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Stop! I don't want to stop loving you!

FunkMistress said:

but i can't help it if i think it's yucky and tastes like ass, man... if beer were less like beer and more like ginger beer, then i'd dig it!


40 oz. edit
[Edited 11/28/06 13:24pm]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

That's more like it.

FunkMistress said:

!

yo, I just googled that shit and it looks like hot boiled placenta.




Fuck that.

jerseykrs said:

LMAO!!!

if I served it to you at a bar you'd think it was beer.

dumb.

jerseykrs said:

that looks like hot boiled placenta? : http://www.naturezone.net/

SpisaRibb said:

THIS looks like poached afterbirth!

jerseykrs said: