Recipe · scoby · China / Russia

Kombucha (1-gallon batch): scoby, 10.0 days

Sweetened tea fermented by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) into a tangy, lightly fizzy beverage. Different from lacto-ferments — kombucha uses acetic acid bacteria + yeast, not Lactobacillus. Included here because bundle users will ask.

Primary
10.0 days
Secondary
3.0 days
Temperature
72-80°F (22-27°C)
Vessel
wide-mouth glass 1-gallon jar + cloth cover

Technique

Brew 1 gallon strong black tea (8 bags or 2 tbsp loose) + 1 cup sugar. Cool to room temp. Add starter liquid (1-2 cups from previous batch or store-bought raw kombucha). Add SCOBY. Cover with tight-weave cloth + rubber band. Ferment 7-14 days at 72-80°F. Taste from day 7 — should be balanced tangy-sweet. For secondary ferment (fizz): pour into bottles with 1-2 tsp fruit juice or ginger, seal, 1-3 days room temp, refrigerate.

Source: Kombucha Kamp — 1-gallon batch recipe. Last verified 2026-05-17.

Run the math: salt % · brine · temperature timing

Frequently asked questions

How do you make kombucha (1-gallon batch)?

Brew 1 gallon strong black tea (8 bags or 2 tbsp loose) + 1 cup sugar. Cool to room temp. Add starter liquid (1-2 cups from previous batch or store-bought raw kombucha). Add SCOBY. Cover with tight-weave cloth + rubber band. Ferment 7-14 days at 72-80°F. Taste from day 7 — should be balanced tangy-sweet. For secondary ferment (fizz): pour into bottles with 1-2 tsp fruit juice or ginger, seal, 1-3 days room temp, refrigerate.

How long does kombucha (1-gallon batch) ferment?

Primary fermentation is 10.0 days, followed by 3.0 days of secondary fermentation. Typical temperature: 72-80°F (22-27°C). Cooler kitchens slow this; warmer kitchens halve it per 10°F increase. Start tasting from day 5.

What ratio for kombucha (1-gallon batch) brine?

See /salt-percentage and /brine for the math; Kombucha (1-gallon batch) uses scoby method.

What vessel for kombucha (1-gallon batch)?

wide-mouth glass 1-gallon jar + cloth cover. Origin: China / Russia. Source: Kombucha Kamp — 1-gallon batch recipe.