So you want to make your own signature Kombucha.
As we have often pointed out, it is mainly made with simple ingredients, black or green tea, and white sugar (granulated sugar). Now you just need to get the fermentation process right and you will have the perfect craft. Right?
Well, it is a bit more complicated than that. you need to pay attention to what hot water and tea you are using.
So the question at hand is…
Black, green, white, and oolong teas can all be used and are some of the best tea for Kombucha drink you can possibly make.
They have benefits for your body on their own but combined with the good gut bacteria that you get from fermentation, homemade Kombucha can help you in so many ways!
You may have some more questions…
- But what is the difference between these very different teas?
- Which benefits you can expect from each of them?
- Which tea would work best for you?
Stick with me to find out more in this article – and I’ll cover some of the best (and worst) options for starter teas in your booch.
What does Kombucha Taste Like?
Kombucha is a fermented tea that has a unique flavor profile that can be difficult to describe. Generally, kombucha has a slightly sour and slightly sweet taste with a fizzy mouthfeel. The taste can vary depending on the type of tea used, the length of the fermentation process, and the flavorings added.
The base flavor of kombucha is similar to vinegar or apple cider, with a hint of sweetness that comes from the added sugar during the fermentation process. The tangy flavor can be compared to a mild sourdough bread or a tart apple cider vinegar. The fizziness of kombucha comes from carbon dioxide, which is produced during the fermentation process. The carbonation can vary in intensity depending on the fermentation time and storage conditions.
Kombucha also has a slightly earthy or tea-like taste, depending on the type of tea used. Black tea kombucha will have a stronger tea flavor, while green tea kombucha will have a lighter taste. Additionally, flavorings can be added to kombucha to create a wide range of flavors such as fruity, floral, or spicy. Some popular flavorings include ginger, lemon, raspberry, and lavender.
Overall, kombucha has a unique and refreshing taste that is both sweet and sour with a fizzy mouthfeel.
What Tea Should You Not Use For Kombucha?
To explain the best and worst cases of wrong starter tea we can first tell you what the best options are and why.
The first on our list is the most popular starter tea which is – you guessed it – black tea for kombucha(one of the best teas for kombucha).
Black tea is the one that should be used for the first time.
When you are growing your harmful bacteria or bad bacteria for the very first time, you will need the best black tea for kombucha.
It is more oxidized than the rest of the teas on this list.
It has a unique property that allows it to keep its taste for a very long time, even years which made it so valuable in the past when people traded goods.
It was very worthy because of that while nowadays it is mostly used as a breakfast tea (any type of tea)
It can be your ally if you are fighting obesity or high cholesterol, as well as diabetes.
It can also lower risk factors for heart conditions and high blood pressure, and you only need to drink it daily for a few weeks to promote your health.
However, gut health is the focus when it comes to Kombucha (acidic kombucha).
Black tea can help eliminate bad substances and raise your immunity to avoid infections and illnesses while also nurturing your stomach lining and your bowels.
Another great option you can use when you already have a batch of the bacteria ready for another dose is green tea.
Green tea is filled with antioxidants which means it can help you improve your nervous system and brain function.
It can assist in fat loss just like black tea, types of tea, helps protect your body from cancer and malignant cells, as well as lowers the risk of heart disease.
It has some minerals but be careful when buying – some cheaper brands sell loose-leaf tea leaves that contain too much fluoride, so be careful with that and read the label.
It can additionally boost your brain function since it contains some caffeine content – but not enough to give you the jittery coffee high. It contains just enough to help with memory, focus, and sleep quality.
Green tea can aid you if you are on a weight loss journey as well.
It increases fat-burning and metabolic rates.
This means you won’t be getting as much weight as quickly as you used to.
But remember that you still need to have a balanced diet and exercise regularly to maintain that and reap all the benefits.
Tea may taste like magic – but it doesn’t work like it.
It can help prevent chronic inflammation and cancer. But not if you drink one cup of it after 2 years of being diagnosed. It is a natural remedy which means you have to give it time and have the patience to see how it will affect you.
The three cancers green tea can help prevent and soothe are breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.
If you are tempted to add some milk to your tea – don’t. Resist the urge. Milk plastic bottle can lower the antioxidant value and you’ll be left with a drink that tastes good but has less medicinal purposes. You can get the same tasty kind of healthy drink without wasting perfectly good tea.
Oolong tea is great for giving you the metabolism boost and help you fight stress.
It is a traditional Chinese tea made from the same plant both black and green tea are.
But the process is different.
Oolong tea owes its specific color and taste to the process of oxidation, it oxidizes less than black tea but more than green tea.
loose leaf tea contains many interesting minerals and antioxidants such as Potassium, Magnesium, Niacin, Sodium, and Manganese.
It is one of the beverages that will help you relax due to an amino acid called theanine. It does contain caffeine but so little of it that it will actually calm you down.
It can help reduce high blood sugar and insulin levels as well as lower the risks for type 2 diabetes. It can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure which can be very beneficial in today’s stressful world.
White tea is similar in its benefits since it is rich in antioxidants, it helps reduce inflammation, lose weight, fight cancer, and correct insulin levels.
One thing that is specific about white tea is that it helps with bone and teeth strength and health as well as skin – it slows down the natural skin aging process which we all want!
But what teas shouldn’t you use for starter Kombucha tea?
Well, most herbal teas lack the nutrients for good bacteria to thrive.
Teas with extra flavor are also a no-go. Earl Grey and Chail teas are not the best options since they have some additional flavors such as bergamot oil and spices.
What Is Kombucha Tea?
Kombucha is basically a drink made with the fermentation of sugar and tea. Starter tea is the one we choose to use to help this process of fermentation.
Brewing tea is so easy we highly doubt you need a recipe!
But try to use water that is actually healthy.
Filtered water is great if tap water isn’t that good to drink or the taste is funny.
Starter tea helps your kombucha SCOBY grow, which is basically a colony of bacteria and yeast which for some reason got mixed up with the idea Kombucha is a mushroom.
Kombucha is actually a sugary tea that comes from the same family of vinegar. But the taste differs dramatically. It is mostly non-alcoholic kombucha SCOBY healthy although if you want you can go find some juicy beer-like Kombucha teas out there!
What Does Kombucha Tea Taste Like?
Kombucha can taste differently depending on the process of fermentation, the teas that were added, the sugar and fruits you used, and the percentage of alcohol.
So there is no answer we can provide to help you judge if you will like it or not.
The closes we can get is to the explanation of the sweet and sour mix.
If made more alcohol, you can taste the alcohol but not too much. It is not too fizzy but just right!
It is made with very basic everyday things you already have in your kitchen, so maybe you can imagine how fizzy black tea with sugar would taste.
Your imagination may be fairly close to the finished product actually!
The bacteria and yeast actually look rubbery and brown, making this brew fizzy and sour. They help keep only the good bacteria in and aid in the fermentation process.
This makes Kombucha loaded with probiotics.
If we got you hooked, check out the recipe for some homemade Kombucha tea! but you should also know about kombucha dangers.
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