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Making 3 liter kombucha at home is very simple. This does not require any special ingredients or complex technologies. The simplest components that can be found in any housewife’s kitchen cabinet are enough.
Rules for preparing kombucha for a 3 liter jar
Kombucha or medusomycete (scientific name) looks like a thick round film of white-brown, yellow or pink, reminiscent of a jellyfish. The main conditions for the development of the body are the presence of sugar and tea leaves. It does not matter what type of sugar is used: regular, fructose or glucose.
Another feature of the medusomycete is its minimal consumption of tea leaves components. It does not absorb tannins, does not absorb aroma and has the color of tea infusion.
Kombucha can only be prepared if you have sugar and brew tea.
There are a number of rules that will help you prepare the most healthy drink, and will also allow you to properly cultivate the mushroom base:
- The medusomycete is kept in a deep glass container with a volume of 3 liters.
- Metal utensils, including stainless steel, cannot be used.
- The jar of drink is stored in a dark place with ventilation, but without drafts.
- The optimal growth temperature for kombucha is 25 °C (at temperatures below 17 °C, the medusomycete slows down growth).
- The container must be closed with a lid or a piece of clean gauze to prevent dust and insects from entering.
- To prepare the drink, use only boiled water (raw water, and even spring water, will not work).
- Sugar is dissolved in water in advance, since grains getting on the surface of the medusomycete can cause a burn.
- A high concentration of tea leaves can inhibit the growth of the body.
- Do not place the mushroom base in hot water.
- A change in the color of the upper surface to brown is a sign of the death of the fungus.
Kambucha cannot be prepared without the use of tea, since only with it does the synthesis of ascorbic acid occur, which stimulates the development of the body.
Store kombucha in a dry container, covered with gauze or thin breathable fabric. Turn it over once a day to prevent mold. As soon as it dries and turns into a thin plate, the mushroom base is put into the refrigerator.
How much sugar and tea leaves do you need for 3 liters of kombucha?
The amount of sugar depends on taste preferences. On average, 70-100 grams are taken per 1 liter of liquid. As for tea leaves for kombucha, 30 g will be enough for 3 liters (at the rate of 10 g per 1 liter).
How to brew a solution for kombucha in a 3 liter jar
Making a solution for kombucha is very simple. First you need to brew the tea. To do this, you can use both black and green or herbal varieties.
The brew is made with a volume of at least 2 liters, after which it is filtered well and cooled to room temperature. Then add sugar to the solution and mix it well until completely dissolved. The liquid is poured into a 3 liter jar.
Kombucha recipes for 3 liters
You can prepare the drink with any type of tea. In addition to black, herbal, floral and green varieties are actively used.
With black tea
Kombucha has a lot of beneficial properties that can be enhanced with additional ingredients. For example, you can stimulate the antiseptic properties of the drink by adding a couple of spoons of honey to the tea.
Required:
- water – 2 l;
- black tea – 20 g;
- sugar – 200 g.
You can add 2 tablespoons of honey to the drink, this will enhance its beneficial properties.
Steps:
- Prepare an infusion: pour 2 liters of boiling water over the leaves and let steep for 15 minutes.
- Strain the tea leaves, add sugar and cool to 20-22 °C.
- Place kombucha in a 3-liter jar, cover the container with clean gauze and leave in a warm, dark place for 3-5 days.
You can get a carbonated drink by pouring the prepared solution into a container, closing it and putting it in a cool place, and wait 5 days.
With green tea
This drink requires more time to prepare. But at the same time they have a milder taste and delicate aroma. The main thing to remember is that drinking tea with meals stimulates digestion and increases appetite.Therefore, it is better to drink kambucha between meals.
Required:
- water – 2 l;
- green tea – 30 g;
- sugar – 200 g.
With green tea, the drink is mild in taste and very aromatic.
Steps:
- Prepare an infusion: pour the leaves into 2 liters of boiled water at a temperature not exceeding 90 °C.
- Leave for 20-25 minutes, then strain the tea leaves and cool the solution to room temperature.
- Place the kombucha in a 3-liter jar, cover with a clean cloth and store in a warm, dark place for 3-5 days.
White or yellow tea can be used in the same way.
With herbs
With the help of herbs, the drink acquires certain medicinal properties. St. John's wort and calendula are recommended for sore throat, blueberry leaves and parsley root for hypertension, motherwort for tachycardia, and rose hips for kidney disease.
Required:
- water – 2 l;
- black tea with bergamot – 20 g;
- dry herbs (mint, oregano, lemon balm) – 30 g;
- sugar – 200 g.
It is recommended to use only loose leaf tea to prepare the drink.
Steps:
- Prepare an infusion: pour a liter of boiling water over the leaves and let it brew for 15 minutes.
- Brew the herbs in the remaining liter of water. Strain both decoctions.
- Pour them into a 3-liter container and add sugar. Cool to 20°C.
- Place the kombucha in a glass container with the solution, cover it with a clean cloth and store in a warm, dark place for 3-5 days.
How to pour kombucha into a 3 liter jar
Before pouring kombucha into a 3-liter volume of solution, it is thoroughly washed in spring or boiled water. It is undesirable to use raw tap water, as it contains many impurities that can negatively affect the growth of medusomycetes.
Before refueling, kombucha should be washed in clean water (boiled, spring water).
Kombucha is placed on top of the solution, after which a 3-liter container is covered with a clean piece of gauze or tulle folded in 2 layers. You should not cover the drink with a lid, as this will “suffocate” it.
How much should kombucha cost in a 3-liter jar?
The infusion period for a kombucha-based drink depends on the following factors:
- Age and size of the medusomycete.
- Ambient temperatures.
- The required strength of the drink.
In the warm season, 2-3 days are enough to infuse 3 liters of kombucha, while in winter this period can be extended to 5 days.
Conclusion
Making 3 liters of kombucha is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Knowing all the intricacies of using this product, you can get an amazingly tasty, and most importantly, healthy drink.
