More reasons to brew kombucha

Have you heard about kombucha?  It is a fermented tea.  I read that it originated in China and other parts of Asia over 2000 years ago.  

To brew it, you will need:

-water
-tea
-sugar 
-SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast) pellicle with kombucha (the starter tea) 

A new batch can be brewed with just the kombucha as starter tea as the SCOBY culture is present in it but it will take a longer time to ferment without the pellicle.  The SCOBY pellicle is usually supplied with kombucha.  However, if you only have the pellicle, you can use two tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to replace the kombucha as the starter tea. New SCOBY pellicles will form as a by-product of the fermentation process.  

I became interested in learning about kombucha when I found out that the SCOBY pellicles used in the production of kombucha can be dried to become a leather like fabric that you can use as art and craft material.  Watch this video to see how the material can be created with kombucha.

As shown in the above video, you can make SCOBY pellicles in petri dishes:

-by pouring two tablespoon of kombucha (must be unflavoured starter tea) into each dish.

If your intention is to make art and craft material with the SCOBY pellicles produced, you can: 

-add colourings of your choice to each dish.

-leave them to ferment for 2-3 weeks till pellicles are formed.

-check thickness of pellicles.

-when thick enough, take them out of the dishes to dry under the sun for a day.
-bring them in to air dry in a well ventilated area.

You can start crafting with them when they are dry.  As to what you can make with them, check out videos shared at GiY: Bio Buddies.  I like how they were able to make lanterns with them.

Other than that, why should anyone take the trouble to brew kombucha?  Based on my research, it is a beverage filled with:

-amino acids

-vitamins B
-vitamins C

-minerals

-antioxidants 

-probiotics

Drinking it regularly will:

-boost immunity.

-enhance mood.

-fight allergies.

-detoxify and defend body of infection and disease.

-detoxify liver which will put you in a happy mood.

-increase metabolism.

-improve digestion.

-rebuild connective tissue. 

-helps with arthritis, gout, asthma, rheumatism.

-cancer prevention

-reduce glucose levels.
-aid healthy cell regeneration.  

The tea you buy to brew kombucha should be organic as you do want them coated in pesticides which can inhibit the fermentation and brewing process and can eventually kill your SCOBY.  These are the type of tea you can use:

-pure black tea (reported to make it much more flavourful).
-green tea
-white tea 
-oolong tea 
-hibiscus tea
-a blend of the above

You should avoid using teas:

-that are scented or flavored teas which can effect the growth of your kombucha culture.

-like Earl Grey that will introduce naturals oils as they float on top and suffocates the SCOBY.

-like Chai which contains cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, all of which have antibacterial properties, that will kill the SCOBY.
-that are herbal like peppermint or chamomile as they will not be able to provide the nutrients necessary to feed your kombucha culture. 

Do not start the process till you have the following utensils on hand:

-stock pot or sauce pan
-long *wooden spoon

-glass jar with a wide opening to ease adding or removing SCOBY pellicles in size of: 

1/2 gallon or 2 quarts (64 oz / 1.9 Liter) glass jar - 2 units 

-Tightly woven cloth to cover the jar like:

clean napkins or
tea towels or

coffee filters or

paper towels

-Airtight Bottles:
Six 16-oz glass bottles with plastic lids or
swing-top bottles or
clean soda bottles

-Small funnel to ease pouring into bottles

*Note: prolonged contact between the kombucha and metal both during and after brewing can affect the flavor of your kombucha and weaken the SCOBY pellicles over time.

To start, wear a pair of gloves and spray Isopropyl Alcohol (IA) on the utensils you will be using:

-spoon
-sauce pan
-jars
-funnel
-cookie tray work surface (if you are also making kombucha leather)

Here are the steps based on all the articles I have read about brewing kombucha.

If you still have doubts about your ability to start, you can watch this video I found on You Brew Kombucha Youtube Channel as the brewer shares a lot of answers to questions that you are most likely to ask as you start brewing your own kombucha. 

You can also learn from Raw Brewing on how to start a Kombucha Brew Log so you can record the processes correctly.  It will help you nail the acidic flavour that you prefer best for your kombucha.

Once you have started brewing your own kombuca and have a collection of pellicles in your SCOBY hotel, check out this article:

10 Smart Ways to Use Your Kombucha SCOBY 

Bags? Make your own!

Do you need to buy more bags to match what you wear?

How about getting yourself a multicolored one that would match most of what you have?  You think that is too gaudy?  Watch this and you may decide to make your own.



Now you know what to do with scarves and stuff made out of fabric in your home that you have intended to scrap.

Working with fabrics? Match the colours.

I think that colours are the most important aspect of craft. The better you are at matching colours, the easier it will be for you to work with scraps in your craft. Here is a "Quilter's Color Wheel" I discovered on SlideShare that you will give you an idea on how you can work with the colours of the materials you have on hand.

Making a Quilter's Color Wheel

view presentation (tags: tutorial wheel color fabric)

Now you can choose colours to stitch with or work on your pin cushion or sew a costume more confidently.

Sewing? You need pin cushions.

If you are sewing, you will most likely end up with scrap materials. Since pin cushions can be handy, might as well learn how to make one with your scraps.

How To Make A Hand Pieced Hexagon Pincushion

view presentation (tags: craft handmade pincushion tutorial)

Instead of using cotton wool, consider crunching up some plastic bags for stuffing your pin cushion.

Heal with torn fabrics and roots.

Have you ever seen a figure of a head carved out of tree stump and roots? I bought one for a friend many years ago and was told that it was from China. The facial features are carved on the stump part of the wood while the roots form the beard.

It should be easy for one to find a suitable plant but to uproot and dry it to work on may be an effort. But if you are on a look out for them, you may be able to find them, all dried up, in parks or by the roadsides. But then it would be a pointless effort if you are not good at carving.

OK, let us not be so ambitious. How about working on the roots of plants that are already dying on you in your garden? What's the point? You can use the roots to create dolls and dress them up with torn fabric. What's the point? Yeah, you want to know if one can make a living out of making dolls, right?

Barb Kobe is doing just that through her dollmaking classes and eBooks. She created dolls with fibers, painted fabric and materials from nature, such as, roots, sticks and clay. She used them as therapeutic dolls to heal herself and to educate, transform beliefs and situations.

She has definitely found abundance from the abandoned. Don't you think?