How to Make Kombucha Tea

In terms of black, green, or white tea brews, Otto suggests, "Anyone who's beginning a home brew should start with a black tea. Scoby microorganisms really love black tea, and the nutrients from it will infuse a lot of life into your scoby. The babies from black tea scobys are twice the thickness as the babies from white tea scobys." There are endless ratios of water, tea, brewing time, and sugar. It all depends on how strong and sweet you prefer your beverage.

Brewmaster Otto suggests this basic tea recipe for beginner kombucha makers:

1. In a sterilized, glass one-gallon jar, brew two or three teaspoons of black tea in three quarts of filtered water.
2. After removing the tea bags, stir in one cup of sugar until dissolved.
3. Cover top tightly with muslin or several layers of cheesecloth to keep bugs and other contaminates from entering. Cool to room temperature.