Top 10 Best Kombucha Starter Kits in 2020 (The Kombucha Shop, Craft A Brew, and More)

Thought to be created in Northeast China thousands of years ago, kombucha has been making waves as a health beverage in the U.S. It's a fermented drink made from a combination of tea, sugar, yeast, and bacteria. It has a sweet-and-sour taste and fizzy mouthfeel. 

After the initial fermentation, there's an optional second fermentation. This fermentation allows you to add flavors and creates natural carbonation. 

Kombucha is not only a tasty drink, but it can provide you with health benefits. Like other fermented foods, such as kimchi and natto, kombucha is packed with probiotics that can support your digestive system and improve your general health. 

To help you save time and effort searching through all of the options online, we've tracked down the best 10 kombucha kits that are easy enough for newbies. Check them out! 

Many people think that making kombucha is complicated and intimidating. However, with the right equipment and instructions, you'll be able to brew some kombucha with confidence! 

In this buying guide, we'll introduce some important points to consider when making a purchase, like how to find the right equipment and make tasty flavors. 

If you are just starting out, you'll want to get a kit that contains the basic brewing items and some extra tools to help you monitor the fermentation process. 

While some kits are marketed as "complete" or "deluxe," you should still check the contents to see if the kit includes all the essentials you'll need for kombucha brewing. 

Brewing kombucha at home requires a glass jar, cloth cover, and rubber band. Glass is the most suitable material for brewing since it reacts well to the brew's acidity and doesn't contain harmful chemicals. For example, BPA is a hormone disruptor that's frequently found in plastic. 

The cloth should be tightly-woven to can keep bugs out of your kombucha. Most people think that cheesecloth is the ideal choice, but it's porous and might allow bugs to sneak in. So you should choose kits that provide safer choices like muslin cloth or coffee filters. You'll then need rubber bands to secure the covering. 

If you still feel nervous and want some extra help, choose a kit that comes with pH test strips and an adhesive thermometer. Usually, pH test strips are used at the beginning stages of fermentation to ensure that the acidification process is actually happening. 

You'll want your kombucha brew's pH level to be below four in the first few days since it's a sign showing that the fermentation process is occurring. The pH level of finished kombucha is usually around 2.5 to 3.5. But, the best way to make sure that it's done is to taste it!

An adhesive thermometer will help you monitor your kombucha throughout the entire brewing process. You'll want the temperature to range from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Low temperatures will slow down the brewing process, while higher temperatures will kill your scoby. 

To make kombucha, you'll need basic ingredients including a scoby, tea blend, and any flavorings you want. In this section, let's go into more detail about those ingredients!

The scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) is definitely the most crucial part of your kombucha brewing. Sometimes it's also referred to as the "mother." It's home to bacteria and yeast and helps facilitate the fermentation process. It also floats to the top of your fermenting kombucha and prevents it from being spoiled by harmful bacteria and the air. 

Also, keep in mind that not all scobys are created equally. To get a great brew, you'll need scobys that are healthy and have a diameter similar to that of your brewing jar. That means for a one-gallon jar, your scoby has to be at least six inches wide. 

Scobys that are too small might slow down fermentation, eventually resulting in a less flavorful kombucha. While some manufacturers do indicate the size of their scobys, most don't. So you might want to read through the reviews to see what people think about its size. 

The kind of tea used will affect the flavor profile of your finished kombucha. Black tea is the most common since it is more robust and can be brewed for a long time without getting too bitter. Therefore, kombucha made from black tea tends to have a bold but balanced flavor. 

If you want a more sophisticated taste, try a blend of black tea and other kinds of tea, such as green tea and oolong tea. A combination of green tea and black tea delivers a smooth, slightly vegetal taste, while a mix between black and oolong tea has a fruity and sweet note. 

Black tea is always a must in the blend since other teas have a subtle flavor profile. So if you use other teas by themselves, they might end up producing a bland-tasting kombucha.

Of course, you can always flavor your kombucha yourself. Some popular flavor ideas are apple cinnamon, lemon ginger, pumpkin spice, or elderberry. It's also tasty to recreate soda flavors, like root beer!

If you're using fruit juice or dried fruit to flavor your kombucha, we recommend using a one-to-four ratio of juice or fruit to kombucha. If you're using herbs or spices, don't forget to consider their strength. For strong herbs and spices like cinnamon and rosemary, don't use too much or they will overpower other flavors.

You can also use flavor extracts like vanilla or almond. Go with a quarter teaspoon per cup of kombucha first and then adjust it to your preference.  

Sugar is the fuel source for your scoby and is absolutely crucial for a successful kombucha brew. White cane sugar is the best choice since the scoby can easily consume it. Brown or whole cane sugars can also work, but they might produce a yeasty flavor and shorten the life of your scoby. 

Avoid replacing sugar with artificial or natural sweeteners like stevia, xylitol, or aspartame. They don't have the required nutrients and might end up starving your scoby. 

Your kit should also contain acidic starter liquid. It helps lower the brew's pH and creates an ideal acidic environment that kombucha microbes can thrive in. 

During the fermentation process, there is a chance that the scoby will get contaminated with bacteria, mold, or wild yeasts. This can happen if you use an unhealthy scoby or unsanitary equipment. Therefore, check your scoby and make sure that there are no black spots, signs of contamination, or mold. 

Make sure to sterilize your equipment before using it. But, bleach or antibacterial soap can kill all the good bacteria and yeast. Instead, clean and then submerge all of your tools in water that is over 160 degrees Fahrenheit for over 30 seconds. Materials that are difficult to clean, like rubber bands, will need to be replaced regularly. 

Another tip is to keep your kombucha away from direct sunlight. You should place your jar of fermenting kombucha in an open, warm environment (about 70 degrees Fahrenheit) with great airflow. Good spots are on your kitchen counter or the top of your fridge. 

You should also use pH test strips to ensure that your kombucha's pH level is below 4.2. Bad microorganisms can grow quickly in an environment with a pH level of 4.5 to 10! 

Usually, the process of brewing kombucha is finished in seven to ten days. However, some people end up brewing kombucha for up to 30 days. A longer brewing time will make the kombucha more acidic and less sweet. If you are sensitive to acidic foods and beverages, avoid brewing kombucha for too long.

The alcohol level of kombucha might go up with long fermentation as well. Usually, kombucha contains less than 0.5 percent alcohol. But, the alcohol content can increase to 3 percent if fermented for too long. 

If you like making drinks at home, it's important to have the best gear. Check out our recommendations for equipment that can make brewing your favorite beverages a breeze! 

With a starter kit, you'll able to brew delicious kombucha in the comfort of your home. Just remember to check what is included in the kit to make sure that it contains all the necessary equipment and ingredients for kombucha brewing. 

Hopefully, you now feel more prepared to make a decision and get started making your own kombucha! 

Author: Thuy Nguyen

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