Simple homemade Kombucha

Step-by-step guide to make Kombucha

The SCOBY (mother) is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that we use to make the magic.

The cheapest method to get one is to ask a friends that makes kombucha, as they’re likely to have new scobys that they can donate to you.

what do you need for the First Fermentation
  • 3 litres of  water
  • 200g white sugar
  • 2 Tbsp (green or black) loose leaf (or 8 individual bags)
  • 1 SCOBY
  • 450 ml unflavoured kombucha (from previous batch or store-bought kombucha)
  • A large glass/ceramic container
  • 1 Piece of clean muslin (or coffee filters, paper towels, napkin,..)
  • 1 Rubber band or string
First Fermentation Instructions:
  1. Bring 1/4 of the water to a boil in a clean saucepan. Remove from heat, dissolve the sugar into it and add the tea.
  2. Add the remaining water and let it cool down to room temperature (above 35°C will harm the scoby)
  3. Pour the tea into your large jar, gently place the SCOBY and the starter kombucha liquid inside.
  4. Cover with a cloth and secure with a rubber band or a string.
  5. Put the jar in a dark place at room temperature, for 6 to 10 days. The warmer the air temperature, the faster the kombucha will ferment.

note: Reserve 2 cups from this batch to use as starter kombucha for your next batch.

Second Fermentation

At this stage the kombucha will end the fermentation in a bottle and you can add different flavours, but it’s ready for drinking from this point.

Herbs and spices, fruits and vegetables can be added either fresh, in pieces, from frozen, dried or in juice form.

The kombucha will get more fizzy the longer it is stored. To slow down the process you can put the bottle in the fridge.

how to make homemade Hemp Milk (como fazer Leite de cânhamo em casa)

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Hemp milk is delicious,easy and quick to do at home.

If you have a nut-allergies this is the perfect non-dairy milk alternative.

  • 1/2 cup hemp seeds (whole seeds soaked overnight if using shelled no need to soak)
  • 4 cups water
  • ¼tsp vanilla bean paste (optional)

Put all the ingredients into a high speed blender and blend on high speed for about 2minutes and half, (until fully liquified). Strain the pulp through a milk bag or a cheesecloth. Store in a glass container in the fridge for up to a week, remember to shake every time you are about to use.

TIPS:

*Sweetened hemp milk: add a few Medjool dates to the mix or 3-4 tbsp or agave nectar

*chocolate hemp milk: add  3 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the mix, and 4-6 dates or other natural sweetener to taste.

PT:

O leite de cânhamo é  delicioso e fácil de fazer em casa.

  • 1/2 caneca de sementes de cânhamo (se forem com casca demolhar, sem casca não é preciso)
  • 4 canecas de água 
  • ¼tsp de pasta de baunilha (optional)

Colocar as sementes num processador de alimentos (liquidificador, bimby, etc.) e adicionar a agua. Triturar na velocidade máxima por 2 minuto e meio aproximadamente. Coar num coador de rede ou pano e colocar o leite vegetal num frasco de vidro. Guardar no frigorifico, dura até uma semana. Agitar sempre antes de beber.

DICAS:

* Leite de cânhamo adocicado: adicionar algumas tâmaras à mistura ou 3-4 tbsp de néctar de agave (ou outro qualquer adoçante a gosto)

* Leite achocolatado de cânhamo: adicionar 3 colheres de sopa de cacau em pó na mistura, e 4-6 tâmaras.

watermelon and passionfruit juice (Sumo de melancia e maracujá)

watermelon and passionfruit juiceThe passionfruit adds lots of flavor to the watermelon juice, its just a perfect combination.

  • 2 passion fruits, halved, pulp removed
  • 1/4 medium watermelon, seedless, peeled, chopped

Place the watermelon and the passion fruit in the blender and blend until smooth (you can add 1/4 glass of water and filter the mixture by using a sieve, normally I don’t do any of the two). Serve and enjoy.

TIPS: Add some ice blocks and serve immediately.

Sumo de melancia e maracujá

PT-  O maracujá acrescenta um sabor extra ao sumo de melancia, juntos combinam na perfeição.

  • 2 maracujás, cortados ao meio, remover a polpa
  • 1/4 melancia média, sem sementes, descascada, e cortada em pedaços mais pequenos.

Colocar a melancia e os maracujá no liquidificador e bater até ficar homogêneo (pode-se adicionar 1/4 copo de água e filtrar a mistura, normalmente eu não o faço). Servir e desfrutar.

Dicas: Adicionar gelo e servir imediatamente.