Craft naturally fizzy kombucha-style mocktails at home with tea, fruit, and herbs for vibrant flavor and gentle carbonation.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Basic Kombucha-Style Base
01 - 2 quarts filtered water
02 - 8 black or green tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea
03 - 1 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 kombucha SCOBY or 3/4 cup unflavored store-bought kombucha
→ Flavoring Options (select 1–2 per batch or create your own blend)
05 - 3.5 ounces fresh berries such as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries
06 - 1 lemon or lime, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small knob fresh ginger, sliced
08 - 1 sprig fresh mint or basil
09 - 2 tablespoons fruit juice such as pomegranate, cherry, or apple
10 - 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus petals
11 - 1 cinnamon stick or 3–4 whole cloves
# How-To:
01 - In a saucepan, bring 2 quarts of filtered water to a boil. Add tea bags or loose-leaf tea and steep for 10 minutes, ensuring robust extraction. Remove tea bags or strain out loose leaves.
02 - While the tea is still hot, thoroughly stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar until completely dissolved. Allow the sweetened tea to cool to room temperature, avoiding exposure to heat that could compromise the fermentation starter.
03 - Pour the cooled sweet tea into a large, sanitized glass jar. Add the kombucha SCOBY and starter liquid or store-bought kombucha.
04 - Secure the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel fastened by a rubber band. Place the jar at ambient temperature, away from sun exposure, and ferment for 5–7 days.
05 - Beginning on day 5, taste the beverage daily. Once it exhibits a tangy profile and gentle effervescence without excessive acidity, proceed to the next stage.
06 - Extract the SCOBY and reserve 3/4 cup of the kombucha for future batches. Introduce chosen fruits, herbs, or spices to the fermented liquid.
07 - Transfer the flavored kombucha into thoroughly clean bottles, ensuring 1 inch headspace in each. Seal bottles securely and ferment at room temperature for 1–3 additional days to build carbonation.
08 - Once the desired level of effervescence is attained, refrigerate bottles. Strain out solid flavorings prior to serving for optimal clarity and taste.
