How to Make Kombucha at Home (The Beginner’s Guide)

If you’ve ever typed “How do I make kombucha at home?” into ChatGPT or Google, you’re not alone. Kombucha has exploded in popularity thanks to its refreshing flavour, natural fizz and gut-friendly benefits. But it's getting harder to spot the good ones - the rise of cheap canned 'kombucha' has ruined the flavour and is confusing shoppers who want a heathlier option.

There's two ways to rise above it all... Getting your bottled goodies from Holos or by simply brewing kombucha at home! It's easier than you might think, and it’s one of the most rewarding drinks you’ll ever make yourself. In this guide we’ll break down exactly what you need, the steps to follow, and the common questions beginners ask when making kombucha for the first time.

 

What You’ll Need to Brew Kombucha

To brew kombucha at home, you’ll need a few essentials:

• Organic SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast)

• Organic tea (green, or a blend)

• Organic Sugar (the food for fermentation)

• Glass jar

• Breathable cloth + rubber band (to cover and protect your brew)

• Thermometer Strip

💡 Our Kombucha Brewing Kit includes all of this in one box, making your first brew simple, safe and foolproof!

Step-by-Step: How to Make Kombucha at Home

1. Brew your tea base

   • Steep 15g of tea in 2L hot water, add 150g of sugar until dissolved, then let it cool.

2. Add your SCOBY Starter

   • Once the sweet tea is room temperature, pour it into your jar and add the SCOBY starter liquid, approx 300ml.

3. Cover and ferment

   • Cover the jar with a breathable cloth and leave it in a warm temperature (21–25°C).

4. Wait 7–10 days

   • Taste test around day 7. Sweeter = shorter brew; tangier = longer brew eg. 10+ days. 

5. Bottle and flavour (OPTIONAL)

   • Remove the SCOBY and drink your kombucha when you think it's ready! Or pour your liquid into swing top bottles, and flavour with fruit, ginger, or herbs if you like. 

6. Second fermentation (OPTIONAL)

   • At this point it's your choice if you want to leave your bottles sealed for 2–3 days to develop extra fizz. Wether you choose to or not, it's then time to just GET IT IN THE FRIDGE! 

7. Get brewing again

   • That SCOBY you removed? It can restart another batch from the beginning.

FAQs:

Is kombucha safe to make at home?
Yes, if you follow basic hygiene and use a healthy SCOBY. Our kit provides everything you need to start safely. Just make sure you get any sealed vessels into a fridge as soon as possible to reduce unwated fermentation and pressure build up.

Do I need a SCOBY?
Yes — it’s the living culture that makes kombucha possible. That’s why every Holos kit comes with a fresh, organic, liquid SCOBY.

How do I know if it’s gone bad?
Kombucha should never grow fuzzy mold. A healthy brew may form brown strings or a new SCOBY on top, which is completely normal.

Can I reuse my SCOBY?
Absolutely. With proper care, your SCOBY will keep producing batch after batch.

Why Brew With a Kombucha Kit?

You could try piecing this together yourself — sourcing a SCOBY, finding the right teas, working out fermentation ratios. Or you could start with a kit that gives you everything in one box, it contains the very same ingredients that are used to brew every bottle of Awar-Winning Kombucha we put on the shelves.

The Holos Kombucha Brewing Kit includes:

• Organic tea blend (our award-winning recipe)

• A fresh, healthy liquid SCOBY starter

• Organic sugar

• Brewing jar, thermometer & cloth lid

• Step-by-step guide

👉 One kit = everything you need to brew your first batch (and many more).

It also pays for itself: once you’ve brewed a few litres, you’ll have saved money compared to buying bottles at the supermarket.

Ready to Brew?

There’s nothing quite like pouring your own homemade kombucha, knowing you crafted it from scratch. It’s refreshing, gut-friendly, and endlessly customisable.

Get started today with our Kombucha Brewing Kit and join thousands of people discovering the joy of brewing at home.