---
title: "Homemade Kombucha — Easy Fermented Tea with a SCOBY"
description: "Versión en Español. Homemade kombucha is sweetened black or green tea fermented with a SCOBY and 100 ml of starter kombucha for 7 to 10 days, then bottled with fruit or herbs for a 2 to 3 day second f..."
url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-kombucha-fermented-tea-recipe/
date: 2026-10-05
modified: 2026-10-05
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/homemade-kombucha-featured.jpg
categories: ["Beverages"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Homemade Kombucha — Easy Fermented Tea with a SCOBY

[Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/receta-de-kombucha-casera-facil-saludable-y-llena-de-beneficios/)

![Homemade kombucha in glass jars](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/homemade-kombucha-featured.jpg)*Homemade kombucha*

Homemade kombucha is sweetened black or green tea fermented with a SCOBY and 100 ml of starter kombucha for 7 to 10 days, then bottled with fruit or herbs for a 2 to 3 day second fermentation that adds fizz. It takes 30 minutes of preparation and about 10 days of fermentation, and makes 4 servings.

A fermented tea with ancient roots in northeastern China, lightly sour, naturally fizzy, and full of live cultures.

Contents

- [1. How to Make Homemade Kombucha?](#How_to_Make_Homemade_Kombucha)
- [2. Nutritional Information](#Nutritional_Information)
- [3. Homemade Kombucha Recipe](#Homemade_Kombucha_Recipe)
  - [3.1. Ingredients](#Ingredients)
  - [3.2. Instructions](#Instructions)
- [4. Additional Tips](#Additional_Tips)
  - [4.1. Always use a starter](#Always_use_a_starter)
  - [4.2. Keep it clean](#Keep_it_clean)
  - [4.3. Burp the bottles](#Burp_the_bottles)
- [5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs)
  - [5.1. 1. Why do I need a starter?](#1_Why_do_I_need_a_starter)
  - [5.2. 2. What is a SCOBY?](#2_What_is_a_SCOBY)
  - [5.3. 3. Where can I get a SCOBY in Chile?](#3_Where_can_I_get_a_SCOBY_in_Chile)
  - [5.4. 4. How do I know it is ready?](#4_How_do_I_know_it_is_ready)
- [6. History of Kombucha](#History_of_Kombucha)
- [7. Recommended](#Recommended)

## How to Make Homemade Kombucha?

A symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) turns sweet tea into a tangy fermented drink, and a second fermentation in bottles adds flavor and bubbles.

## Nutritional Information

Each 250 ml serving of homemade kombucha contains approximately 50 kcal, 13 g of carbohydrates, 0 g of fat, 0 g of protein, 0 g of fiber, 12 g of sugars, 0 mg of cholesterol, and 10 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

## Homemade Kombucha Recipe

**Preparation:** 30 minutes (plus 7 to 10 days fermenting)
**Cooking:** 5 minutes
**Servings:** 4

### Ingredients

- 1 liter (4¼ cups) of filtered water
- 100 ml (⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon) of kombucha (starter)
- 100 g (½ cup) of cane sugar
- 4 black or green tea bags
- 1 SCOBY
- Fruit or herbs to taste

### Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil in a pot. Add the tea bags or loose tea and steep for 5 minutes, then remove the bags or strain. Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir until completely dissolved.

![Green and black tea for homemade kombucha](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/green-black-tea-kombucha.jpg)*Green and Black Tea*

1. Let the sweet tea cool to room temperature and pour it into a sterilized glass jar. Add the SCOBY and the starter kombucha. Cover the jar with breathable cloth and a rubber band so air can circulate but insects cannot get in.

![Filtered water for brewing kombucha](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/filtered-water-kombucha.jpg)*Filtered Water*

1. Leave the jar in a dark, cool place for 7 to 10 days, depending on the weather and the flavor you want. After 7 days, taste it; if it is too sweet, let it ferment a few more days.

![Kombucha SCOBY culture](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/kombucha-scoby.jpg)*SCOBY*

1. Remove the SCOBY and set aside 100 ml of kombucha for the next batch. Pour the rest into glass bottles with fruit or herbs to taste and let it ferment 2 to 3 more days for bubbles. Then refrigerate to stop the fermentation and enjoy it cold.

## Additional Tips

### Always use a starter

The 100 ml of previous kombucha acidifies the tea, protecting it from unwanted microbes and helping the right cultures take over.

### Keep it clean

Sterilize jars and bottles and use clean utensils to avoid contamination.

### Burp the bottles

During the second fermentation, open the bottles briefly once a day to release excess pressure.

| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Black tea | Green tea | 4 bags | Lighter flavor |
| Cane sugar | White sugar | 100 g | Cleaner taste |
| Fruit in bottles | Ginger and lemon | To taste | Spicy and fresh |
| Fruit in bottles | Red berries | A handful | Sweeter, pink color |

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. Why do I need a starter?

The starter acidifies the tea, which protects it from contaminants and lets the bacteria and yeasts of the SCOBY dominate the fermentation.

### 2. What is a SCOBY?

SCOBY stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, a gelatinous disc of mainly Acetobacter bacteria and yeasts that ferment the sweet tea into acids, gases, and other flavor compounds.

### 3. Where can I get a SCOBY in Chile?

Local kombucha makers sell kits with a SCOBY and starter liquid, online marketplaces offer them, and home brewers often share them.

### 4. How do I know it is ready?

Taste it from day 7. It should be pleasantly tart with only a little sweetness left; ferment a few days more if it is still too sweet.

## History of Kombucha

Kombucha has its roots in China, where it has been drunk for a very long time, and it spread to Europe and the Americas in the 20th century. Today it is a popular alternative to sugary soft drinks.

## Recommended

- [Chilean Michemar Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-michemar-seafood-michelada-recipe/)
- [Homemade Oat Water Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-oat-water-agua-de-avena-recipe/)
- [Turmeric and Ginger Shots Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/turmeric-ginger-shots-shot-de-curcuma-recipe/)
- [Golden Milk Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/golden-milk-turmeric-latte-leche-de-oro-recipe/)