Hard kombucha adds a second fermentation to increase alcohol content. Here is how to make it at home.
The process takes 2-3 weeks total. You need a standard kombucha SCOBY plus champagne yeast for the alcoholic fermentation stage.
How To Make Hard Kombucha
Equipment:
- Airlocks
- Bottles
Ingredients:
- One cup of hot water
- One cup of white sugar
- One teaspoon of yeast
- One gallon of kombucha (from first fermentation)
Adding an additional yeast strain – different from the one used in making kombucha – will increase the alcohol content of your hard kombucha. The type of yeast you will use can affect the final flavor, like champagne yeast, which will give you a distinct champagne flavor, or ale yeast, which will provide a more neutral flavor.
Our guide on where to buy Flying Embers kombucha might be helpful.
Method:
Step 1: Mix The Water And Sugar
Mix the hot water and sugar — stir properly until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool to lukewarm, put the yeast, and leave it for five minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
Step 2: Bottle
Transfer the kombucha to bottles that will fit an airlock. Pour an equal amount of yeast slurry into each bottle of kombucha.
Step 3: Airlock
Fill your airlocks with water (to the designated line, or you can read the instructions for this). Put airlocks onto each bottle of kombucha.
Step 4: Allow It To Ferment
Place the kombucha bottles in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight, and let them ferment for one to two weeks. Keep in mind that kombucha will ferment faster at a higher temperature and slower at a lower temperature.
You can tell that it is ready when the flavor is somewhat dry and boozy. If you are not adding flavors, seal the bottles, and transfer them to the fridge to stop the fermentation process.
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Ways To Flavor Kombucha
While drinking kombucha plain and unflavored is fine, flavoring it can be a lot more fun! Here are some of my favorites:
Fruit juice
Add a small amount of fruit juice to each bottle of kombucha. I usually put one-quarter cup of fruit juice in each bottle and then top it with kombucha. Depending on the bottle and how fruity you want your kombucha to be, you can add more or less.
Whole fruit
You can chop up some of your favorite fruit and add them to your kombucha. You can add the chopped fruit directly to each bottle, but you can also transfer the kombucha to a new jar with the chopped fruit in it — just cover the jar, steep for a few days, then strain and pour into a bottle.
Ginger
Adding chopped fresh ginger or juice can make your kombucha spicy and tingly! Do not use ginger powder because it does not dissolve and can make your kombucha taste gritty.
You might be wondering if hard kombucha contains probiotics.
Fresh herbs or whole spices
Chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, rosemary, and thyme, or whole spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, can add a subtle punch of flavor to your plain, unflavored kombucha! I also recommend combining them with your favorite fruit or fruit juice.
Adding fruit juice or chopped fruit helps accelerates kombucha’s carbonation process. The yeast in the kombucha treats the sugars in these ingredients like a fresh meal! So, check each bottle more frequently than usual.
You may also be interested in reading our guide on fermented tea.
4 Health Benefits Of Hard Kombucha
There are many health benefits of drinking hard kombucha instead of your regular beer, including:
1. Hard Kombucha Can Help Improve Gut Health
Most of the purported health benefits of drinking hard kombucha come from the fact that it is a fermented beverage with probiotics. Probiotic bacteria can help restore your gut health and prevent bad bacteria from colonizing your gut. Drinking hard kombucha not only helps you keep a healthy gut but improves your digestion as well.
2. Hard Kombucha Can Help Lower Cholesterol Levels
Drinking hard kombucha can help reduce your LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol) levels and increase HDL (high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol) levels.
3. Kombucha Can Help Manage Diabetes
Drinking hard kombucha can help slow down carbohydrate digestion, which results in lower blood sugar levels. So, to help you manage your blood sugar levels, it can help to have one glass of hard kombucha every day.
4. Hard Kombucha Contains Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals that damage your body’s cells. Hard kombucha contains lots of antioxidants that can help you combat oxidative stress.
What We Actually Do Differently
Full disclosure: we’ve made this recipe dozens of times, and here’s how we’ve tweaked it for our taste:
The measurements above are a solid starting point, but coffee strength is deeply personal. We usually bump up the coffee by about 15% because we like it punchy. If you’re sensitive to bitterness, scale back slightly and compensate with a longer steep time.
Fresh beans make a noticeable difference here. Anything roasted within the last 3 weeks works great. Supermarket beans that have been sitting for months? You’ll taste the staleness. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.