We help you find the right tea for your homemade Kombucha fermentation
Good and flavorful tea is a basic prerequisite for a tasty Kombucha. Already in ancient China, Kombucha was made with the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. The tea plant belongs to the genus Camellia and the family Theaceae. From all parts of the tea plant (buds, leaves, stems, and flowers), either Black or Green Tea is produced. Black and Green Tea are made from the same tea plant. The variations in tea types arise from different processing methods and different conditions during plant cultivation.
Why do you need tea for Kombucha?
The kombucha culture consists of various yeasts and bacteria and several small microorganisms. It needs nutrients to grow and thrive, e.g., caffeine, nitrogen, and theanine. These are found in the tea varieties of Camellia Sinensis described above. Tea also contains vitamin C and B and provides the Scoby with various antioxidants and polyphenols.
Possible tea varieties for delicious Kombucha
Black Tea
If your Scoby could talk, it would probably advocate for always being combined with Black Tea. A particularly nutrient-rich base with which it can work quickly and ferment rapidly.
Our favorites:
- Golden Monkey
- Darjeeling
- Friesenmischung (Assam, Ceylon, Indian Himalaya)
Green Tea
With Green Tea, you can usually ferment your Kombucha a little faster. It lends a sweet note with a slightly sour finish. However, the Scoby doesn't grow quite as fast with Green Tea as it does with Black Tea.
Our favorites:
- Sencha & Matcha
- New Spring
- Chun Mee
White Tea
White Tea has less caffeine and is high in antioxidants. Its taste is even sweeter than Green Tea. Above all, it is good for mixing with Green or Black Tea. One should not ferment exclusively with White Tea. Your Scoby could suffer from it.
Our favorites:
- Silver Needle
- Shou-Mei
- Oolong Tea
Oolong Tea
Oolong Tea is a Chinese semi-fermented tea with a long tradition. The sun-dried tea imparts a unique taste. Sometimes it tastes a bit smoky or has a sweet honey note. It can be a perfect base for the Scoby and is also a perfect Kombucha companion when mixed with other teas.
Our favorites:
- Red Robe
- Iron Goddess
- Phoenix Mountain
Which water to use for brewing the tea?
It's hard to believe, but the quality of the water plays a significant role in fermentation. This rather inconspicuous ingredient can positively and negatively influence your Kombucha culture. Conventional tap water may have residues of chlorine and chemicals, as well as fluorides. These substances can harm the Scoby. Therefore, it is best to always use filtered water.
Which tea is not good for your Kombucha?
Important! There are a few simple rules to follow when choosing tea.
- Do not use tea with a high content of essential oils or artificial flavors (e.g., fruit tea, sage or lemon balm tea).
- Prefer to use loose tea rather than bagged tea.
- If you use fruit tea or other tea besides black, green, or white tea – only use it for mixing – not pure!
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