who, me?

oh, nothing. just drinking a delicious glass of homemade kombucha. this is batch number three, and while it's still not perfect (not fizzy enough), it's way better than my second batch was. which is funny because last time i was quite scientific about the whole thing and this time i was just in a hurry - i lost track of how long i'd fermented the kombucha, and i bottled it quickly and added 1/2 cup of apricot mango juice to each bottle. i also tasted it a lot sooner after putting it in the fridge (maybe three days, instead of closer to a week). so it's sweet/sour, but not too much of either, and has a hint of carbonation. for my next batch, i'm using earl grey tea instead of plain black tea.

kombucha batch number one

i made some kombucha. if you google that word, and click on "images," i can guarantee you'll be horrified. so don't do it. it involves a mushroom-like starter, and fermentation of a sugary tea. the result is a delightfully fizzy, sour carbonated beverage that is vaguely reminiscent of vinegar but in a good way.* on sunday, we invited some brave friends over for a tasting.



















i think there were some words like "oaky" being used here.



















that big jar in the middle of the table is batch number two, and it was there for illustrative purposes only (also to test the mettle of my tasters, as the contents aren't exactly pretty). the verdict was: yummy. not fizzy enough. someone thought a bit too sweet (hence that bottle of lemon juice). and finally, we all survived. i'm going for more carbonation in batch number two.





*i just know someone is thinking, "why?" right about now. well, i'll tell you. kombucha has all kinds of purported health benefits similar to other fermented foods, including those good bacteria that your stomach likes (someone also told me that it can reverse graying hair, which i'm not so sure i believe, but i'll let you know). ever since i first tasted it, when my initial thought was, "weird." i've craved it. and the good kind you can buy at whole foods is really expensive. my friend amanda carried a "mother" (that's what we in the know call the kombucha starter) in a plastic bag on her lap on the bus all the way from new york, just for me. also, it's kind of like homebrewing for non-drinkers, right?