Can You Use Mason Jars for Kombucha?

Without a doubt, mason jars are an ideal vessel for kombucha brewing during the first stage of this process. Glass is a popular material for food storage containers, and it can also be used to make kombucha. Mason glass jars are also toxin-free, have a non-porous surface, and are versatile, so they are safe to use with recycled glass kombucha.

On the other hand, because mason jar lids aren’t as tight, carbonation builds up more slowly. But there is a way to complete the two-stage fermentation with a mason jar. Using two types of containers for the second fermentation is suitable if you want that nice carbonation. 

This article will show how to make kombucha with a mason jar, so let’s look.

What is Kombucha, and is it beneficial for health?

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage with an easy-to-use fermentation system. This type of tea is prevalent and widely brewed in Europe and Russia and is a common tea name in China, Korea, and Japan. 

This is left to ferment for about two weeks to complete the first stage of fermentation; after that, fermented tea is transferred to a bottle, mixed with added sugar and flavor sources, and sealed to carbonate for another week or two to complete the final stage of fermentation.

Foods that undergo a natural fermentation process, such as kombucha tea, gain probiotic properties. Eating these foods may provide benefits such as improved digestion and a more balanced gut microbiome. Kombucha tea aids in the prevention and management of severe health conditions such as high blood pressure and cancer. Kombucha also contains anthocyanins.

On the other hand, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it because kombucha is unpasteurized and contains trace amounts of caffeine and alcohol.

What is the difference between Regular tea and Kombucha tea?

Regular tea is a flavorful hot drink made by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh Camellia sinensis leaves, an evergreen shrub native to China and East Asia. It is the most widely consumed drink in the world, second only to water.

Black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, and rooibos tea are among the most popular tea varieties. Green tea should have a grassy, light, and fresh aroma, whereas black tea should be earthy, floral, and sweet. The Camellia sinensis plant is mainly used to make all of this tea.

On the other hand, Kombucha is made after two or three weeks of fermentation and is full of flavor, depending on the kombucha flavor you’re drinking. Most of the time, your kombucha will taste like a zingier version of tea or a milder version of lemonade.

Ingredients and equipment that need to make Kombucha?

Kombucha is made up of three essential ingredients: yeast, sugar, and black tea. The mixture is set aside for at least a week before starting the first stage of fermentation. During that time, bacteria and acids and a view of alcohol form in the drink.

A one-gallon jar, half-gallon jar, or quart jar is frequently sufficient to brew Kombucha for a large family. Homebrewers typically do not require more giant two-gallon jars, and since you want to make kombucha in mason jars, five mason jars will probably be sufficient.

Because kombucha needs to breathe to build up carbonation, don’t cover your mason jar with a tight bottle. As a result, kombucha should be wrapped in a square of cloth, with the edges held down to the side with a rubber band.

How to make the kombucha in an excellent two-stage fermentation process?

You need to attention mostly to two-stage, and if you maintain the proper process in two-stage, you can make the kombucha. Here is the process of making the suitable kombucha batch and do it properly, as we say.  

1. Make regular tea first

Put enough water in a pot to heat the tea can steep, but not so much that the water boils. Mix the tea and sugar properly, and then add the mixing water into the jar. You can also keep the tea bag submerged in water even after pouring.

2. Let cool the water and add SCOBY

Wait for 10-15 minutes and let cool the mixture to 68-85ºF and remove the tea bags. It is adding scoby in important part which is the living jar for the bacteria and yeast that transform sweet tea into tangy, fizzy kombucha. 

3. Let process the fermentation properly

In the first fermentation of kombucha, the jar fermented for seven days and placed from direct sunlight. In the first stage, no carbonation is needed, and it doesn’t have much of a flavor. Cover with a few layers of the tightly woven cloth and secure with a rubber band the jar, and you can cover with cloth in the second stage. 

After waiting for one week, it’s time to add flavor and wait for carbonation. The second stage process will take 3-4 days, but it will be better to wait for seven days to carbonate properly.

4. Remove SCOBY and taste the kombucha taste

You can drink your kombucha after the initial fermentation period has ended and the SCOBY has been removed. If you decide to flavor your kombucha more after fermentation, the flavor will be present in the finished product.

What should be considered before making Kombucha?

Before getting ready to make the kombucha, consider some factors that you can taste the real Kombucha. So check the factor understand the consideration.

1. Container size

The jar size should be large enough to provide enough kombucha for drinking and that you can add starter tea for the next batch. For example, a quart-sized jar holds about 4 cups of liquid when making kombucha which can meet to demand of a large family. Smaller batches do not yield enough Kombucha to enjoy, whereas larger batches may have the inconsistent flavor or slow fermentation.

2. Right lid

A breathable cloth cover is required for Kombucha to allow air to flow, and it is only required in the second stage of fermentation. If you use a mason jar you can cover the jar with its metal cap but don’t use the metal cap in the second stage if you do that carbonation can be hampered.

3. Choose a durable non-toxic jar

Choose a durable jar that won’t break down easily by accidental droop. On the other hand, it is also crucial to choose a non-toxic jar and metal jar commonly known as toxic containers, so never use metal. 

FAQs

• Question: What kind of jar do you use for kombucha?

Answer: Canning and storage jars in the quart, half-gallon, and gallon sizes are ideal. A larger glass jar with a spigot is a good choice for continuous brew systems. Make sure the spigot inside the jar is made of plastic rather than metal, as metal can harm the kombucha SCOBY.

• Question: Do I need to wash kombucha jar?

Answer: Cleaning the vessel and spigot is only necessary if the spigot becomes clogged with yeast particles or if too much yeast accumulates in the container’s bottom.

• Question: Does kombucha need to be in a dark bottle?

Answer: It is critical to keep fermenting kombucha away from direct sunlight and extreme heat or cold. The kombucha brew does not have to be kept in the dark; it can be kept on the kitchen counter, for example, but not in direct sunlight.

• Question: Why is kombucha so expensive?

Answer: Any home brewer will tell you that making kombucha takes several days, which makes it more labor-intensive than other “soft drinks” like soda.

Conclusion

Today we have discussed the process of making Kombucha and you need to consider the factor for making real kombucha. Today we will show you the making process of kombucha with a mason jar, which is a small container, but if you use a big container, it will taste more good. So don’t choose a jar that can create toxicity in your kombucha batch.