As the seasons change, everyone's thoughts have turned towards Thanksgiving and harvest. Everywhere you turn, there are pumpkin spice and apple pie in everything you eat and drink. Don't leave your kombucha behind! Enjoy some exciting new flavours by adding in a few simple ingredients to your second fermentation.
The scoop on Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented drink that uses a special SCOBY culture to convert sweetened tea into a probiotic beverage that tastes great and boasts many health benefits. When making this drink, you can change the flavours by adding fruits and spices to the second fermentation.
The following measurements are approximate depending on what you have at home, and how strong you’d like your flavours. For a fizzier brew, be sure to fill your container of bottles well to leave less air at the top (tip: try swing-top lids!)
Blueberry Ginger
Blueberries always remind me of bears foraging extra foods before hibernation. This blueberry ginger kombucha is perfect for curling up and being cozy.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup blueberries squished up
- 1 inch of ginger cut up into small pieces
Peach Mint
Try juicy peaches, ripe and flavourful, with a splash of mint to freshen your days.
Ingredients:
- 1 peach sliced into small pieces
- 1 tbsp mint leaves (you could use a mint tea bag or fresh mint)
Apple Spice
What better way to celebrate autumn than with the taste of apples to remind you of Thanksgiving and pies?
Ingredients:
- 1 apple sliced into small pieces
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- pinch of whole cloves
Cranberry Orange
A combination of tangy and zesty flavours, cranberry-orange is the perfect reminder of fall. When using citrus, you can cut down on the bitter edge using only the pulp, even though the zest and white parts have more vitamins.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cranberries squished or chopped up
- ½ orange sliced
Pear Ginger Clove
This has to be one of my favourite combinations. The ginger clove flavours are found in so many autumn recipes. You could use either pears or nectarines here.
Ingredients:
- 1 pear sliced into small pieces
- 1 stick of cinnamon (optional)
- pinch of whole cloves
- 1-inch ginger, sliced thin
Directions
-
Combine the ingredients above in a quart (4 cup jar)
-
Fill the jar with kombucha
-
Let sit for 1-2 days before straining and enjoy!
We can’t wait to hear how your kombucha turned out and which flavours were your favourites! Share your autumn flavour creations with us on Instagram by tagging @ecoparent!
You may also enjoy: Fizzy Fun Kombucha, 5 Herbal Teas to Support Your Child’s Health, and 6 Ways to Optimize Your Digestive System.
