How to grow your own scratch kombucha. Plan for growing kombucha at home from scratch

Kombucha, popularly referred to as jellyfish, comes from Japan. It has been known since ancient times for its healing effect on the human body. It is the best remedy in case of problems with the kidneys and gallbladder. If you want to always have delicious and healthy drink you can borrow a part of a medusomycete from someone. In a nutrient medium, it begins to grow actively. In order to grow a complete tea mushroom It will take time and patience as the full process takes at least 2 months.

Growing kombucha

Kombucha in scientific terminology is called medusomycete, as it looks like a sea jellyfish. It is a thin film with a smooth mucous surface. Below are accumulations of microorganisms, including yeast and acetic acid bacteria. They are the ones who do the main job.

When in a nutrient medium (juice, tea), it is common for medusomycetes to grow to unlimited sizes. The liquid it floats in turns into a carbonated drink.

Growing a mushroom from scratch step by step at home:

1. First you need to prepare a nutrient medium. To do this, brew a weak leaf tea(green or black, without artificial additives) and add sugar (at the rate of 2-3 tablespoons per 1 liter of liquid). Some replace sweet sand with honey, but the taste ready drink will be different from the original. Do not use tea bags or sweeteners..
2. Strain the sweet solution and pour it into a liter glass jar until 2/3 of the volume is filled.
3. Close the lid and clean in a warm dark place for a week. During this time, a thin film forms on top of itself - this means that it was possible to successfully conceive the body of the fungus. The container with the composition is left in the same place for another 1.5-2 months.
4. After the allotted time, the jellyfish grows significantly, but is still weak in structure. Therefore, they carefully take it out so as not to damage it, wash it with warm boiled water and placed in a larger jar.
5. Fresh is poured into it sweet tea.
6. Cover with gauze folded in several layers on top, and again put in heat.
7. In summer, final preparation takes 3 days, in winter - at least a week.

Kombucha at an early stage of development

With a properly prepared tea solution chinese mushroom floats to the surface. If it sank, then a mistake was made at one of the stages. This should not be frustrating, as it is enough to rinse the body and immerse it in fresh tea leaves.

How to make a drink from rose hips

If the use of the drink is meant not only to quench thirst, but also to improve health, then instead of a tea solution, an infusion of rose hips should be used. This will be a good prophylactic during the cold season and in winter, when the immune system is especially weakened.

The principle of growing a mushroom is almost the same, with the exception of some nuances:

1. Prepare an infusion of wild rose: both fresh and dried fruits, which are available in free pharmacy sales, are suitable. Fall asleep in a thermos 4 tbsp. spoons and pour boiling water (500 ml). Close the lid and leave to infuse for 5 days.
2. After the expiration due date begin to grow the mushroom directly. To do this, first wash a three-liter glass jar, where the resulting rosehip infusion is poured. Add a pre-prepared tea leaves: 1 tablespoon of black tea in a glass of boiling water.
3. Add 5-6 tablespoons of granulated sugar, mix and put in heat for a day.
4. The next day, the liquid is driven through the gauze and returned to the container. Cover with gauze folded in several layers and keep warm.

Further, the process develops according to standard technology (as in the previous version) - after about 2 weeks, a vinegar smell will appear, which quickly passes. The fungus will form completely in 1.5-2 months.

Medusa mycete care

Since the reserves of the drink produced by the fungus are depleted rather quickly, they must be replenished periodically. As necessary, add the liquid required for full growth and development. Even the remains of used tea leaves are suitable, if they are pre-strained.

In order for the mushroom not to wither, certain care is needed:

The neck of the jar is covered with gauze and fixed with an elastic band. This is important to consider, since when using a sealed roof, there will be no air access inside and the jellyfish will stop developing. In addition, it is more convenient to drain the finished drink with gauze - there is no need for subsequent filtration.
Every 20 days, the mushroom is taken out and washed in cool boiled water. The tea solution is prepared fresh, where the washed mushroom is placed.
If the drink becomes sour in taste and cloudy, it means that it has been overstayed. It is usually poured out and replaced with freshly brewed tea.
No less important are the conditions of detention: the optimum air temperature is 20–26 ° C. In the cold and in the sun, the substance dies. Already at a mark of 17 degrees, the body of the fungus begins to exfoliate strongly, growth is inhibited and an algal coating forms on the surface.
It is recommended to constantly drain the finished drink into a separate jar and store it in the refrigerator. In summer, this is done once every 72 hours, in winter - every five days. Then add a new portion of sweet tea to 2/3 of the volume of the jar.
The thickness of the mushroom should not exceed 4–5 cm. The top is regularly removed and transferred to a separate container. The lower layers are not touched, as they are the most valuable.

To enrich the taste of the drink, it is permissible to add all kinds of herbs: blackberries, plantain, nettles, wild roses, strawberries.

The drink infused for a month has the greatest healing saturation. Keeping it longer is not rational and unhealthy: the liquid turns into vinegar and is not suitable for consumption.

This tool can be used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. After a week of exposure to heat, fungal kvass begins to ferment and acquires an alcoholic aftertaste. Then a part is cast and put in the cold for drinking, and fresh tea solution is poured into the container.

How to properly divide a mushroom

Few people independently grow kombucha from scratch. Usually, a part is separated from an adult whose thickness has exceeded the allowable limits. A characteristic sign of readiness for division is the stratification of the structure visible along the rim.

It is better not to touch the young thin substance so as not to injure. Even a slight plucking is unacceptable, since integrity cannot be violated at the growth stage.

A fragment of the fungus placed in a beneficial environment successfully begins to grow and takes the form of the container in which it is located. With the right approach during division, the risk of death of a medusomycete is minimized.

How to properly divide a mushroom:

1. In the place of delamination, the body is carefully separated into plates, which should freely move away from each other. If you have to make an effort, then you need to postpone the procedure for 1-2 days until the mushroom is fully ripe. You cannot tear the original body. It is not uncommon for the mother fungus to divide on its own: it sinks to the bottom, and a daughter thin film floats to the surface.
2. Each layer is washed warm water and placed in a separate jar with freshly prepared tea solution. Since the film is very thin, it must be handled with extreme care so as not to tear. For the first 2-3 days, it can lie flat at the bottom or take a vertical position, but eventually it will emerge.

Get tea kvass immediately succeed in a different way, taking more time. In fact, this is also a division, only by growing in the finished drink. Pour the drink, prepared before this 5-6 days, into a clean glass containers and cover with gauze. It is removed away from sun exposure for several days. As a result, a thin film is found on top, which is a new mushroom.

Kombucha has been known to people for centuries. Like any product, it experienced moments of popularity and complete oblivion. Today, many of our fellow citizens are just getting used to this unusual phenomenon. Some people still don't know what it is. And those who already know how to grow kombucha at home successfully use this product in everyday life.

Biology and chemistry

An organism formed by the coexistence of a yeast fungus with an acetic acid bacterium is called zooglea. This is how Kombucha is formed. Its closest relative is the kefir mushroom. It is not as common as tea, but also has its admirers. And the produced infusions are similar in composition and taste.

Kombucha is an example of cohabitation yeast fungus(Schizosaccharomycodes ludwigii) with a bacterium (Acetobacter xylinum). Microorganisms form a colony that looks like a jellyfish. In its lower part, covered with filamentous processes, chemical processes take place, converting a solution of sweet weak tea into a complex of healing substances. You can grow kombucha yourself to get this set of health components.

History of appearance

Scientists know for certain that kombucha is one of the oldest organisms. But they cannot establish his homeland. This form of life probably originated in some kind of reservoir, the composition of which was similar to tea. Most likely, it happened in Ceylon. It is known that even the ancient Greeks knew how to grow kombucha. In China and India, this drink was used to prolong life. From there he came to Manchuria, Japan and Siberia. Later, the beneficial properties of kombucha also attracted Russians. After the Russo-Japanese War, they brought him in the form of a trophy. From Russia, it spread to Europe.

Scientists drew attention to an unusual drink. First they tied him healing properties only with acetic acid bacteria. Ordinary people appreciated first of all the taste of the drink. Thanks to this, it quickly spread throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and neighboring countries. During the war, kombucha practically disappeared. Those who knew how to cook kombucha understood that it needed sugar and tea leaves. These products were in short supply. There were not enough of them even for children. Therefore, most people stopped growing this crop. And already in the post-war period, the product experienced the peak of popularity in Europe.

Many names

Abroad, the drink is called "kombucha" - in memory of Dr. Kombu, who healed the Japanese emperor with it. Such names as tea kvass, mushroom kvass, sea mushroom, Volga jellyfish, Manchurian mushroom, Japanese sponge. The Chinese call it "kam-boo-ha". One of the scientific names for the fungus is "jellyfish".

Infusion of kombucha and its properties

Homemade kombucha has not in vain attracted attention for many centuries in a row. Its infusion can be called a real storehouse of useful components. The taste of the drink is sweet and sour, it contains a small percentage of alcohol. The older the infusion, the more acidic it is. Most delicate taste a drink that has been in preparation for a week.

The infusion contains sugar, organic acids (acetic, lactic, carbonic, kojic, gluconic), wine alcohol, many enzymes, aromatic substances, vitamins and antioxidants. Thanks to gluconic and kojic acids, it has antibiotic properties.

Cultivation of kombucha at home

After a temporary oblivion, the healing culture again came under the close attention of the inhabitants. The question of how to grow kombucha at home has become relevant again. For those who have just begun their acquaintance with the mushroom, it will be useful to know that it cannot live in water. He definitely needs tea. Surprisingly, the mushroom does not consume most of the components of tea. He needs only purines, without which the synthesis of ascorbic acid is impossible. These substances are found in tea.

The drink will turn out to be useful only if you familiarize yourself with the simple rules before growing kombucha. The experience of breeding medusomycete at home shows that it easily adapts to any conditions. The range of permissible temperatures is quite wide. However, it is impossible to freeze a jar of infusion. Therefore, it is not recommended to keep it on the window. Like any other creature, the mushroom breathes oxygen. You do not need to clog the jar, just cover it with a napkin.

Pour the mushroom only with boiled water. Sugar and tea must be dissolved in it in advance. And later, warm tea can be added directly to the jar. But dropping tea leaves there is absolutely not worth it. Too much strong tea inhibits fungal growth. For the preparation of the base, both black tea and green tea are suitable. Excellent mushroom obtained in a rosehip. In this case, it is impossible to allow berries to get into the infusion, it is worth using only a sweet decoction. The taste of the infusion can be varied with herbs: bergamot, lemon balm, mint, oregano. Honey will enrich the infusion with phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron. Periodically, the mushroom should be washed in clean water. As you can see, caring for kombucha is not such a difficult matter. But the result from it is quite tangible.

Kombucha - cooking recipe

Three liter jar 2 liters of boiled water will be required. You can’t pour more, otherwise the fungus will suffocate. This amount of liquid will require 2 teaspoons of tea leaves and 5 tablespoons of sugar. The tea leaves need to be poured with boiling water, insist, strain and only then pour into the water. Sugar also needs to be dissolved in advance. In no case should you pour it on a mushroom! Otherwise, the sugar crystals will simply burn the kombucha. The recipe involves immersing the plate in a solution that has cooled to room temperature. The optimum temperature for it is + 17-25 degrees.

A healthy mushroom floats peacefully in the infusion on the surface, gradually turning ordinary weak tea into an elixir of health.

If the fungus is sick

The first sign of illness is the flooding of the body of the fungus to the middle of the jar or to the bottom. Caring for kombucha during an illness is difficult. First, rinse it with warm water. If the solution is less than a week old, it must be diluted in half with boiled water. If it is already old, you will have to pour it out. A weakened fungus should be inspected for visually noticeable damage. If there are any, they must be removed. The fungus can be stratified into plates and resettled in different banks. In this case, they will need rest. Do not pour tea solution into a jar. A couple of days the fungus should rest in the water. It can sink and sink to the bottom, but later rise again. This will be a signal that the fungus has recovered and is ready to begin its duties.

Kombucha without seedlings

In order to grow kombucha from scratch, you need to be patient. You will have to wait two months. Pour 0.5 liters of strong sweet tea into a clean jar, cover the neck with a rag and put the jar in a warm place. After the mushroom is formed into a single whole, it must be washed and relocated to the usual environment - a solution of weak sweet tea.

Indications for use

Exact science has studied the properties of infusion for a long time. Today we can confidently talk about a number of diseases that can be cured with the help of kombucha. First of all, the infusion is indicated for the following ailments:

Liver disease and gallbladder problems.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hypotension.
Tonsillitis.
Angina.
Infectious eye diseases
Acute period of dysentery.
Chronic enterocolitis.
Scarlet fever.
Diphtheria.
Typhoid fever.
Influenza, ARI, SARS.
Diseases of the ear, throat, nose.
Gastritis.
Conjunctivitis.
Haemorrhoids.
Infected wounds.
Tuberculosis.
CNS disorder.
Burns (relieves the condition).
Constipation.
Hypertension.
Adaptation after antibiotics.

Kombucha in cosmetology

Many of those who decide to learn how to grow kombucha are going to not only drink its infusion, but also use it for skin care. Its beneficial effects are simply legendary. Infusion of kombucha stimulates excretory processes in the skin, accelerates blood circulation, improves complexion. The range of application of infusion and plates is unusually wide. Mushroom tea products are not only useful for beauty, they also heal.

An old infusion is used to tone the face. The mushroom should live in it for a month or even more. This tool surpasses even tonics of leading manufacturers.
The body of the mushroom divided into plates can be used as a mask. You can't keep it on your face for long! Otherwise, the acid environment will dry out the skin. After the procedure, the skin should be wiped with a towel, erasing coarsened cells. In conclusion, a nourishing cream will come in handy.
A hair mask made from infusion of mushroom and honey will accelerate their growth, make them obedient and shiny. To prepare the mask, you need to heat a glass of infusion in an enameled bowl and melt a spoonful of honey in it. This product is applied to the hair for an hour, and then washed with water.
Based hair rinse tea infusion softens water, helps fight dandruff. The older the infusion, the less it needs to be added to the water. On average, a quarter cup per liter of water is enough. For the same purpose, it can be added to a regular bath.
The pedicure completely removes the coarsened layer of the skin. Rags soaked in infusion should be applied to the feet, tightened from above cling film and wear cotton socks. With this mask, you can safely go to bed. And in the morning, remove dead and detached skin with the blunt side of the knife. The effect of the procedure is stunning - the skin becomes pale pink, soft, minor abrasions and cracks heal. It also has a beneficial effect on the nails - they brighten, become smooth.
A manicure bath will help rejuvenate your hands. For her, an infusion older than a month is suitable. You need to keep your hands in it for about 20 minutes. After that, it is recommended to rub them thoroughly with a rough towel and apply a light cream.
It also makes an excellent mouthwash. It fights pathogenic flora, freshens breath, and soothes gums.

Contraindications

Despite all the beneficial properties of kombucha, not everyone can use it. Even grown with my own hands fungus can be harmful to health. It is not recommended for those who suffer from diabetes. It is a poor helper for those who have problems with any fungal diseases. Particular care should be taken by pregnant and lactating mothers. And all other categories of citizens should not forget that the infusion contains a small percentage of alcohol.

How to store the infusion

Those who have already learned how to grow kombucha with their own hands, how to care for it, sooner or later face the problem of storage. Ideally, this problem shouldn't exist. It is enough to drain the liquid from the jar every 3-5 days and add tea there. After all, the most useful is just a fresh product. But if there is a need for harvesting, the infusion should be poured into sterile jars or bottles, corked and stored in the refrigerator. The shelf life of the infusion is no more than a month. Further it does not bring any benefit. But if he still lived to such an age, you should not throw him away. You can make wonderful vinegar from it. For this open jar you need to hold at room temperature for 5-6 days. This vinegar is stored like ordinary table vinegar and is great for culinary and cosmetic purposes.

Kombucha and science

Studies of the infusion and the organism of the medusa mycete started in the postwar years. The therapeutic effect of the agent in various diseases has been clarified and described. And in 1949, the antibiotic "Medusin" was created from the components of the fungus. IN industrial production he never did, but gave rise to research useful properties medusomycete. Development is currently ongoing. Unfortunately, not enough attention is paid to them. This is mainly due to the lack of funding for the industry. Microbiologists and pharmacists are experimenting with the composition of tea, with the combination of microorganisms that form the body of the fungus. Scientists are trying to influence the synthesis of certain substances. But there is no talk of any breakthrough yet.

But ordinary people, especially those who have learned how to grow kombucha on own kitchen, successfully use it unique properties. From mouth to mouth, stories about the healing effects of infusion are passed on. Perhaps someday the best minds on the planet will be seriously interested in kombucha and develop drugs for diseases. In the meantime, the infusion of kombucha for many remains just a favorite refreshing drink with healing properties.

In the late 80s, kombucha lived in almost every home. Resembling both a jellyfish and a multi-layer pancake pie, he ate scarce tea and sugar, got fat and was considered a panacea for most diseases. Kombucha infusion is a wonderful drink that gives strength, quenches thirst and allows you to set the tone for the body for the whole day. It was willingly distributed to relatives, friends and complete strangers, carefully separating the top layer.

Today, the forgotten kombucha is once again becoming extremely popular. However, it is not easy to get it: it is sold on various Internet forums, sent from other countries across the ocean, and they are very distressed when the mushroom dies.

But it is quite possible to grow kombucha at home “out of nothing”. However, you need to be patient, because the process of growing kombucha is long.

tea mushroom(another name is Japanese mushroom, sea mushroom) consists of different types yeast fungi and bacteria of acetic fermentation. It is the symbiosis of these cultures that allows Kombucha to process sweetened tea into a healthy and tasty drink.

There are several recipes for how to grow kombucha on your own.

Recipe #1

Brew fresh strong tea, add 1 teaspoon of sugar and leave for three days in a warm place. A thin oily film will begin to form on the surface. This is the germ of Kombucha. After a month and a half, when the membrane gets stronger, it must be transferred to a new jar and poured with cooled weak sweetened tea at the rate of 5 teaspoons of sugar per 2 liters of tea. Water for tea must be boiled, because raw water contains a lot of potassium salts, which can kill the fungus. Do not cork the jar with the mushroom, but simply cover it with a napkin. Keep away from a window as cold and direct sunlight inhibit the development of kombucha. The fungus will grow into a familiar firm texture and shape. According to some recommendations, the young embryo should be placed for several minutes in a weak solution. apple cider vinegar. And after that it can be sent to a permanent place of residence. As a rule, kombucha lives in a fairly spacious container (for example, in a three-liter jar) with a wide mouth, filled with sweetened tea, the neck of the jar is necessarily covered with gauze.

Recipe number 2

Another way to get kombucha is to use apple juice. To do this, leave apple juice at the bottom of the container for 1.5–2 months. The substance formed as a result on the surface of the juice should be placed in a nutrient medium from a slightly sweetened tea leaves before the subsequent formation of Kombucha. The neck of the jar must be covered with a two-layer gauze.

Recipe number 3

According to another recipe, kombucha can be grown from kvass home cooking. To do this, pour freshly prepared homemade kvass unfiltered and put in a warm place. Do not close the lid, as free air access must be ensured. In a few days, a thin film forms on the surface. The young mushroom will grow and try to occupy the entire surface of the liquid, thereby blocking the access of air to the solution in which it grows. In this regard, the fermentation process may slow down. To prevent this from happening, you need to carefully bend the edges of the mushroom, letting air in. After a few days, the embryo will turn white a little and become more noticeable against the background of the drink. Now you can transplant the young kombucha to a permanent place in a jar of sweetened tea.

Recipe number 4

Pour 100 g of live unpasteurized beer into a jar, add 1 teaspoon of sugar and pour in 2 teaspoons of sour wine. Stir and place in a warm and preferably dark place. After a few days, the surface of the mixture will be covered with a thin film - the embryo of the future fungus. It should be carefully removed and transferred to a jar with a pre-prepared solution of tea with sugar.

Recipe number 5

Kombucha can be obtained from the process of making homemade apple cider vinegar. Take apples, without wormholes and rot, and grate with a core on a coarse grater. Put in a glass dish and pour boiled warm water at the rate of 1.5 liters of water for every 400 g of grated apples. Add 10 g of yeast and 100 g of honey for each liter of water. Yeast can be replaced with a piece of dry bread, and sugar can be used instead of honey. Keep the container with the mixture open in a dark place at room temperature for 10 days. The contents must be gently mixed with a wooden spoon 2-3 times a day. Then transfer the mass into a gauze bag and strain. Pour the liquid into a new glass dish, cover with gauze and leave it like that to continue the fermentation process. Apple cider vinegar ripens within 40-60 days. By this time, the liquid calms down and becomes transparent. And on the surface, the so-called vinegar uterus is formed - a dense jellyfish, which is nothing more than a young kombucha. Next, it must be placed in a pre-prepared nutrient medium from sweet tea and insist.

Everyone at least once had to meet this miracle in the bank.

Its discoverers are Japanese, they call it sea kale.

In our own open spaces, he received the name - kombucha.

Outwardly, it resembles a constantly growing jellyfish.

Smooth on top and loose at the bottom, where a huge number of yeast bacteria are located, which are involved in the tea-making process.

How is kombucha used at home? Its benefits to the body

The use of tea fungus tincture can be classified as alternative medicine. With its help, get rid of various diseases and prevent their recurrence:

Sleep disturbances and insomnia;

Headache;

Unstable arterial pressure;

Stress and loss of strength;

Chronic runny nose;

Chronic tonsillitis;

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

kidney disease;

Liver disorders;

Diseases genitourinary system;

Disorders in the work of the cardiovascular system;

rheumatic heart disease;

Polyarthritis;

Atherosclerosis.

Using kombucha is quite simple. First you need to make tea. You can add various useful herbs containing no oils. Usually added Linden blossom, wild rose, birch leaves, nettles, wild strawberries. After the brewed tea is infused for an hour, it is carefully filtered, pre-prepared tea is added to it. sugar syrup and pour it all into a three-liter jar, where everything is stirred with purified water. Now a well-washed kombucha is placed here and the jar is covered with clean gauze.

Within a week, the tea will be saturated with yeast bacteria and acetic acids. It can be tried. Kombucha should taste like kvass - just as sharp and sparkling. If the sharpness is not enough, then you should wait until the domestic jellyfish prepares a drink. This may take up to two weeks.

How to use kombucha for health benefits? Fans and connoisseurs of this drink are advised to drink it up to 0.5 liters per day. On an empty stomach in the morning a glass of tea from house mushroom help wake up, invigorate and activate digestive system. During the day, it is recommended to drink kombucha one hour before meals or 3 hours after meals. A glass of miraculous tincture at night will prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, calm and set the body for a restful sleep.

The use of kombucha will help to cope with overweight, improve the condition of hair and nails, get rid of problem skin.

Harm from the use of kombucha

It should be remembered that the finished kombucha drink contains a large number of acetic acids, yeast bacteria that cause fermentation and sugar. Therefore, its use is permissible during pregnancy and breastfeeding only under the condition of the absolute health of the mother and the absence of allergic reactions in her.

Children can also drink kombucha. But given the fermentation processes, you should not accustom kids to this drink from early childhood.

The presence of acids, yeast bacteria and sugar in the drink makes it forbidden for people with diseases such as:

Increased acidity of the stomach;

Diabetes;

Fungal diseases.

Individual intolerance to kombucha, of course, also has a place to be. And in the presence of undesirable manifestations, after taking such tea, you should refuse it.

Kombucha at home: how to grow?

Growing kombucha at home is quite simple if you know some simple rules. To grow a miracle originally from Japan, you will need:

Kombucha sprout;

Three liter clean jar;

Ready-made brewing of ordinary black tea - 100g per 1 liter of water;

Sugar - no more than 60 gr;

Clean gauze.

The washed shoot of the fungus is placed in a clean three-liter jar. Separately brew tea, add sugar to it and mix thoroughly. Sugar should dissolve completely. Kombucha does not like when particles of undissolved sugar fall on it. This can cause him to get sick or even die.

Carefully pour kombucha with brewed tea. We cover with gauze so that dust and other unwanted debris do not get inside.

The process of growing kombucha at home has been launched.

Kombucha at home: why does it die?

How to start the process of growing kombucha at home is now clear. But the important question is how to save it? What secrets do you need to know to protect the tea jellyfish from disease and death?

The cause of many diseases of kombucha is poor care for it:

1. First of all, kombucha needs to allocate its permanent place. It should be warm and bright, but direct sunlight has a detrimental effect on the fungus;

2. Direct sunlight or indoor temperature below 18 degrees provides good soil for the development of blue green algae in a jar of kombucha. With such a violation of the conditions of the fungus, algae cover it, as well as the walls of the jar and float in the entire solution. It is necessary to thoroughly rinse the mushroom, wash and dry the jar, correct errors in the content of kombucha, then the algae will no longer return;

3. Contact with undissolved sugar or tea leaves on kombucha will cause brown spots to appear on it. This is how the affected areas of the tea jellyfish are stained, which will have to be separated from it;

4. Small flies that often flock to a plate of fruit in summer time very fond of kombucha. They sit on it and lay their eggs. After that, the emerging fly larvae feed on the fungus, destroying it. This is another reason why a jar of kombucha needs to be covered with multilayer gauze;

5. Young mushrooms with insufficient acidity are more susceptible to negative environmental influences than adult specimens. If violated temperature regime or indoors are often smoked, mold appears on the surface of the fungus. Most often, such kombucha can only be replaced. But you can try to save kombucha at home. To do this, it is well washed with water, and then doused with boiled vinegar. After that, the mushroom must be placed in a clean tea leaves and monitor its condition. And finally, it is necessary to eliminate the causes that caused this disease.

When caring for kombucha at home, it must be washed regularly with cool running water. The older the mushroom, the larger it is. This tea jellyfish grows layer by layer. Each of them is clearly expressed. When there are many layers, this indicates the good health of a living organism. But dealing with such a ward is getting more and more difficult. The increasing size makes it difficult to remove it from the jar. Often this leads to tears and cuts in the kombucha. This can hardly be attributed to a critical lesion of his tissues. The fungus quickly recovers, as it has excellent self-regeneration. But in order to facilitate the process of caring for a Japanese tea comrade, it is better to carefully remove a certain number of layers from it.

The older and larger the mushroom, the faster it copes with the preparation of the drink. The drink is yeast bacteria and acids. Therefore, it is necessary to be on time, to drain the finished infusion. Otherwise, overexposure of kombucha in the juice formed by it, you can ruin it. The content of acid in the jar is growing every day. Having reached a critical point, the acid will begin to corrode the fungus itself. He will show this by trying to roll over on his side.

With this fundamental knowledge, you can easily grow kombucha at home and use its gift with health benefits.

Kombucha at home: healing cosmetology

Kombucha infusion has long been known for its unique cosmetic properties. The content of acetic acids in it allows you to effectively cleanse the skin of the face from impurities, as well as lighten age spots. For such purposes, it is recommended to use infused tea for as long as possible. But it is important to ensure that the kombucha itself does not begin to suffer due to increased acidity in its living environment:

Cleansing compresses are made from heated infusion of kombucha. In warm tea, gauze is moistened, put on the face and kept for 10 minutes;

Ice cubes from kombucha will help to narrow pores, tone up and provoke the production of natural collagen;

Nourishing face masks, diluted with infusion of homemade tea jellyfish, will greatly enhance their beneficial effect,

You can simply wipe your face with an infusion of kombucha. This will cleanse and brighten it. You can restore strength and shine to your hair by rinsing them with kombucha.

As you know, the beauty of the skin is hidden in the depths of the body. tea prepared Japanese mushroom, perfectly cleanses the body of toxins, heavy substances and excess cholesterol. It saturates it with beneficial bacteria, which leads to the normalization of all systems. Consequently, a person is filled with strength, energy and regains a radiant healthy appearance.

Growing kombucha at home is not at all difficult if you follow simple rules. Well, the benefits of this healing drink are always obvious.

Kombucha (medusomycete) is useful, perfectly quenches thirst on hot summer days, and is used in cosmetology. Medusomycete easily reproduces by division and grows quickly even from a small piece. How to grow kombucha from scratch? It turns out that everything is quite simple. The main thing is to be patient to wait until it grows.

How to grow your own kombucha

There are several ways to get kombucha at home. It is not difficult to guess that it can be grown from tea leaves. This is the most suitable environment for him. But there are many other ways to grow jellyfish from scratch at home, so everyone will find the most suitable recipe for themselves.

Important! Not many people know about medicinal properties kombucha, but it was with them that he became famous.

Growing from scratch from tea

First of all, you need large-leaf black tea. Optional to buy expensive varieties, take the most common one, but make sure that it does not contain various flavoring, aromatic and other additives. Inventory should be prepared: a 3-liter jar, gauze, a teapot for tea leaves. Of the products, except for tea, you need sugar, boiling water.

Rinse well the jar where the drink will be infused. Cleanliness is a very important factor, if the bottle is washed unreasonably, then due to food residues and microbes, the fungus will simply die before reaching the required size. It is important not to use chemicals when washing. Apply soda. Do not forget to rinse the jar well with clean running water at the end.
Brew tea with the calculation of 5 tbsp. spoons of tea in 0.5 liters of water. Let him insist.
When the tea has cooled, add 7 tbsp. spoons of sugar. Mix well. All grains of sugar should be completely dissolved.
The resulting broth is filtered using a sieve or gauze, poured into a pre-prepared jar.
The bottle is covered with gauze folded in a couple of layers, put in a warm place, where it will be for 6 weeks. During this time, the medusa mycete will grow.

Important! Mushroom cultivation is possible from both black and green tea. The benefits of kombucha will not decrease from this.

Growing from wild rose

When using an infusion of mushroom grown from rose hips, you will get a pleasant-tasting drink and a healthy, immune-boosting remedy. Especially useful is the use of such drinks in autumn and early spring, when the body so needs additional vitamins.

To grow a medusomycete on a wild rose, you must follow the recommendations:

First of all, it is necessary to prepare an infusion of wild rose in a thermos. Pour in the fruits (4 tablespoons). Fill the berries with boiling water (0.5 l). The thermos is tightly closed with a lid. Leave the infusion for 5 days.
Wash the jar in which the cultivation is supposed to be well. Pour the infusion into the bottle.
Brew tea with the calculation of 1 tbsp. teaspoon for 1 tbsp. boiling water. Add the resulting tea leaves to the rosehip infusion.
Pour into a jar 5 tbsp. spoons of sugar. Stir until all sugar crystals are completely dissolved. Leave the infusion for a day. Strain through cheesecloth.
Strained infusion is covered with gauze. Defend in the same way as when grown on tea leaves.

When grown in this way, the appearance of kombucha can be expected in 1.5-2 months.

Important! After a few weeks, the infusion will have a vinegar smell. This is fine. It indicates that the fermentation processes are successful. Within a week, a film will appear on the surface of the tea leaves, from which a medusomycete will form. After that, the smell quickly disappears.

Growing with apple cider vinegar

It is necessary to leave a bottle of apple cider vinegar in a warm, fairly dark place for at least 2-2.5 months. When sediment appears at the bottom of the bottle, pour the contents into the sweetened tea prepared in advance. The resulting mixture is kept for some time. After a couple of weeks, you can see that a thin film has appeared on the surface of the liquid, which will later grow and become a full-fledged kombucha.

Important! When grown by this method, high-quality apple cider vinegar is used, which does not contain various additives, preservatives. If you use a low-quality product, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve the desired result.

How to grow from a piece

If you have friends who have fairly developed kombucha specimens, just ask for a piece to breed. Medusomycete grows rapidly and exfoliates. Often there are people who sell it not only in the market, but also on the Internet. The only thing you need from you is to know how to properly care for the mushroom until it adapts to new conditions.

If there is a piece of kombucha, you need to prepare a solution for it.

To do this, you need to make tea. For 1 liter of water, 2 teaspoons of tea are enough. It doesn't matter which tea you choose, black or green.
Add a little sugar (40-50 g) to it and stir until all the sugar crystals dissolve.
Cool the tea leaves to room temperature, pour into a clean jar.

Important! Dishes must be perfectly clean. Otherwise, mold may form in the jar, due to the appearance of which the infusion may simply deteriorate.

Part of the mushroom is placed in this container. From above, cover the bottle with gauze folded in several layers, put it in a warm, dark place. After 7-10 days, you can enjoy a delicious effervescent tincture.

Important! Do not close the jar with a lid. Medusomycetes must breathe freely. Otherwise, the infusion can quickly deteriorate.

mushroom care

Now you know how to properly grow kombucha. But it is very important to properly care for the jellyfish in order to enjoy this healthy refreshing drink for a long time.

Initially, 0.5 liters of liquid is enough for the development of kombucha. But over time, the medusa mycete begins to grow rapidly, so the amount of solution is periodically increased, gradually bringing it up to 3 liters. To do this, you can use the leftover tea leaves. It is re-filled with boiling water, sugar is added, and then allowed to cool. Already chilled tea can be safely poured into a jar.

Be careful with adding sugar. Its quantity should not exceed 2 tbsp. spoons for 1 liter of water. Also make sure that the tea is completely dissolved in the tea leaves and its grains do not fall on the surface of the fungus.

Important! Keep it clean so that mold does not form in the infusion.

Every month it is necessary to thoroughly wash the mushroom. Take it out of the jar. Movements must be careful and accurate, so as not to damage. Put the mushroom on a wide plate, rinse well with water. After that, leave to dry a little in the air (no more than 3 minutes). Gently place in normal environment. It is worth considering that tap water often unsuitable for washing. Filter or boil it before use.

Important! Healthy kombucha floats on the surface of the infusion. If he changed color or began to exfoliate unnaturally, then the medusomycete is sick. It is better to refrain from drinking infusion.

There are many myths associated with caring for kombucha. Consider the most popular of them:

If the color of the medusa mycete has changed, turned white, it may simply develop, a new layer is formed. For the same reason, small bubbles or gaps may appear on the surface of the medusomycete in the form of round holes.
The appearance of long threads in the jar that come out of the base of the jellyfish and look like legs are not harbingers of something terrible. This phenomenon is observed quite often.
When transplanted into a jar, did the mushroom go to the bottom? Don't panic, give him some time to stand up and adapt. It will definitely float to the surface.
The mushroom has turned brown, will not rise from the bottom. The medusa is sick. It is better not to use such an infusion.

Storage rules

After receiving the drink, you must follow the rules for its storage:

the mushroom should stand in a dark place;
temperature up to +25 degrees;
regularly drain the infusion (in winter 1 time in 5 days, in summer - 3 days);
store the drink in the refrigerator;
do not infuse the drink for more than 1 month;
pinch off the upper layers of the fungus (optimum thickness 4-5 cm).

The infusion is quite easy to prepare at home, you just need to be patient. But do not forget that in order to get a delicious healthy drink, the mushroom must be properly looked after.

The peak of popularity of kombucha falls on the beginning of the 80s. Then this miracle product, and as such it was recognized by both the people and medicine, was present in almost every family. And no one considered the incredible consumption of sugar and tea, since the panacea for all diseases was worth such sacrifices. Over time, he went into oblivion, and was replaced by various dietary supplements. But everything is returning to normal, and today there is again increased interest and demand for kombucha.

Kombucha features

Official medicine has proven that kombucha (aka kombucha, medusomycete) really has therapeutic and prophylactic properties and can become an alternative to expensive pharmaceuticals. The unusual taste of the drink increases the tone of the body, gives strength and vigor, and, in addition, successfully fights various diseases.

The popularity of kombucha is also explained by unpretentiousness. Create the minimum conditions for it, the necessary nutrient medium in the form of sweet tea, and it will grow and develop very rapidly.

The biological origin of the puff jellyfish is due to the community of living cultures such as bacteria and yeast. In the course of the vital activity of organisms so different in nature and other characteristics, sweet tea is transformed into a sour drink that has a number of healing properties:

the risk of cancer is reduced;
the protective function of the liver increases;
the metabolism of the body is normalized and the process of purification from toxic substances is activated;
the intestinal microflora is restored;
the level of cholesterol decreases;
activities are normalized of cardio-vascular system and blood pressure;
improves the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
increases the activity of the musculoskeletal system.

And this is not the whole list of advantages of kombucha. A drink saturated with organic acids, vitamins, enzymes and trace elements helps to reduce weight. It quenches thirst, dulls the feeling of hunger, but does not replace daily ration food intake. In combination with a fractional and balanced diet, kombucha is an auxiliary component in weight loss. The use of kombucha, as in other therapeutic and prophylactic cases, should be regular.

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Indications for use

Based on research on the properties of the tea product, it is recommended as one of the means to help recovery in the following diseases:

ARI, influenza, tonsillitis;
scarlet fever;
diseases of the ear, throat, nose;
viral eye infections;
problems with the liver or gallbladder;
dysentery;
tonsillitis;
diphtheria.

A tonic drink can simultaneously serve as a diuretic and cholagogue. It also helps with hypertension, hair loss, nail fungus and various cosmetic procedures.

Contraindications

Not everyone is allowed to use kombucha. For a certain category, there are contraindications: with increased acidity of the stomach, patients with diabetes mellitus, drivers are allowed to use only a fresh tea drink, and those who have problems with fungal diseases should refrain.

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Cooking kombucha

The process of growing kombucha at home is simple, but requires accuracy and consistency. The procedure itself takes about a month and a half, so patience and time will be needed.

Growing kombucha from tea leaves

It is advisable to prepare a glass jar with a volume of 3-5 liters, wash it well with the addition of soda and leave to dry naturally.
To prepare the nutrient solution in a separate container, 3 tsp. green or black brewed tea pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Drain, add 5 tbsp. granulated sugar and cool.
Pour the cooled tea into a prepared jar and place in a warm but dark place.
Cover the neck of the glass container with a piece of gauze and tie with a braid or fix with an elastic band. Periodically, it is necessary to open for a short time to replenish the liquid with oxygen.
After four days, you will notice a thin film on the surface - this is the beginning of the birth of kombucha.
After 10-20 days, the contents of the can lighten up, a sour smell appears, and the film increases in size.
By the end of the process, a mobile thickened substance is already formed on the surface. The formed kombucha is transferred to a clean container and a new nutrient solution is prepared, with which it is poured.
The drink in the first jar is ready, it must be filtered and stored in a cool place so that the fermentation process stops. And the infusion of the second jar can already be consumed after 5-7 days.

The grown jellyfish is unpretentious, but requires care, cleanliness and lack of bright light.

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Growing from wild rose
Rosehips themselves are saturated with vitamins, and a drink made from them is a godsend for boosting immunity, preventing viral diseases and other disruptions in the body.

Select dense, evenly colored fruits, rinse, dry a little and chop. 6 art. l. pour into a clean thermos, pour boiling water in a volume of 0.6 liters. Close and put for 6 days. Then strain and pour into a three-liter jar, adding a tea solution there, which is prepared in the following proportion: 1 tbsp. l. tea, 5 tbsp. l. sugar, and steep boiling water in a volume of 220 ml. Place gauze on the neck of the container and leave in a warm, dark place. Then repeat the previous method.

Kombucha apple cider vinegar
You can independently grow a jellyfish from homemade vinegar own cooking.

washed up sour apples dry and grate with a core on a coarse grater. fruit puree(approximately 400 gr) put in a clean jar and pour cold boiled water. Add 150 g honey and 15 g yeast. After that, the container remains open, it must be placed in a dark place. The mass should be stirred daily.

Ten days later applesauce it is necessary to squeeze through several layers of gauze, and pour the resulting liquid into a clean jar, cover with a thin cloth and leave for 1.5-2 months for fermentation.

At the final stage, the liquid becomes lighter, and a multi-layered jellyfish grows on its surface. It is transferred to a clean bowl with sweet tea and then according to the usual scheme.

Kombucha on beer
Mix 100 ml live beer, 10 ml wine vinegar, 5 grams of sugar. Pour the mixture into a container, cover the neck, and put in a warm place until a film forms on the surface. When it is 2 mm thick, then move it to a bowl with sweet tea. A week later, the drink is ready.

These methods are for those who are just starting to master the art of growing kombucha. For those who are more fortunate and have shared a piece with them already finished product the process is greatly simplified. And if you connect fantasy, then the healing qualities of the medusomycete increase significantly.

Herbal kombucha
The preparation scheme is standard, and herbal collection choose according to your disease. Pour 200 grams of herbs with 3 liters of boiling water and leave overnight. Add a little honey to the infusion and place the mushroom in it. A week later, tea-infusion will be obtained. Thus, you can prepare a tonic drink based on hibiscus.

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Medusa mycete care

Growing kombucha is part of the task. For its development and reproduction, proper care. An indicator of health, first of all, is buoyancy. If he began to sink to the bottom and does not rise to the surface on his own, it means that he is “ill” and it is time to save him. Optimum temperature should not exceed 25 degrees.

The thickness of the jellyfish should not exceed 4 cm. The excess layer that appears should be carefully separated from the top and laid out in other jars. The lower part is the most productive.

The term of the curative effect of the finished drink is not more than one month. Subsequently, they are lost taste qualities, it will be more vinegar than an invigorating elixir. After keeping the liquid for a week, it is half drained and stored in the refrigerator. And the newly filtered tea kvass is added to the jar. When a new portion is ready, pour the part again and replenish with fresh tea leaves.

The volume of liquid in the tank

During growth, the fungus needs more liquid medium, about 3 liters. And when you pour a drink, make up for the shortage each time by adding liquid. This may be unfinished tea leaves, which are cooled, sweetened per liter of boiling water 2 tbsp. l. sugar and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Undissolved sugar that has fallen on kombucha is one of the causes of jellyfish disease.

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Bath days for kombucha

Every two weeks, the medusomycete must be bathed, carefully removed from the jar. Rinse gently with warm water, taking care not to injure. Then leave for a couple of minutes on a plate to breathe air. Strain the contents of the jar and pour into a clean container. And wash the jar and return the mushroom to it.

The habitat of the fungus itself should be clean, without signs of turbidity, and the tea product should be light in color.

Growing kombucha at home does not require special knowledge and abilities. It is enough to adhere to a strict recipe, step by step technology and observe the conditions of its storage.

Video: how to grow kombucha from scratch

Few people know about kombucha now. And by the way, back in the eighties, he was in almost every home. Mothers and grandmothers kept something resembling a jellyfish in three-liter jars, looked after it, fed it with tea and sugar, and distributed the grown layers to friends. And it was not for nothing that many people then grew kombucha from scratch. After all, he has always been considered the elixir of health and immortality. It is used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. It also has excellent taste qualities, and with its help you can quench your thirst even in the hottest time.

How to grow kombucha from scratch by accident

After the 1980s, the fashion for it passed, and this mushroom was forgotten for a while. But now they remembered him again, and people are interested in how to grow kombucha at home. And it turns out that this is not at all difficult to do! After all, one has only to forget about tea brewing for a while, as a slippery coating forms on its surface. And in a couple of months, a dense mushroom will grow from this plaque.

How to purposefully grow kombucha

But if you always wash the dishes, and you don’t have used tea leaves for months, then you need to grow the mushroom purposefully. To do this, you will need a clean three-liter jar, gauze and 0.5 liters of strong sweetened tea. This tea must be poured into a jar, and covered with gauze. Then the bank is placed in a warm place, it remains only to wait. And after a certain time, a film forms on the tea, which will “get fat” every day. And in a few months, you will learn how to grow kombucha from scratch. During this time, it will get stronger enough, and then it will be possible to make a miraculous drink from it.

Kombucha from a piece of layer

But how to grow kombucha from scratch and not wait several months? The most impatient are interested in this question. And it can be solved if you get a piece of the kombucha layer somewhere. It should be placed in weak tea, add sugar to it, leave to infuse for a week. And the mushroom will gradually grow, and new layers will appear on it. In this case, the level of the drink in the container will fall. Therefore, you need to watch and, when necessary, add sweet tea. Also, from time to time, you should wash the jar in which the mushroom “lives” and change the tea in it. The mushroom itself should be washed every 2-3 weeks with warm running water.

Kombucha infusion

But it’s not enough to know how to grow kombucha from scratch. You still need to be able to make it useful infusion. And for this, a solution is first prepared. It will require a liter of water, 2 tsp. tea leaves and 100 g of sugar. First, tea is brewed, for 15-20 minutes, and then sugar is added to it. After that, the solution should cool to room temperature. Then it must be poured into a clean bowl. Then the mushroom is taken, gently washed in clean water and placed in a bowl with a solution. As such dishes, it is best to use a glass jar. Then this jar, covered with gauze, is placed in a warm place. In the summer after 4 days you will get a wonderful infusion. In winter, you will have to wait a little longer - up to 7 days.

Proper care of tea mushroom

If mishandled, kombucha can lose its healing properties. Therefore, you need to follow a few basic rules for caring for him:

The mushroom should be stored in a dark, warm place.
He needs to breathe, so the jar does not close tightly.
Tea leaves and grains of sugar should not fall on it.
The mushroom cannot be poured with a hot solution.
It should be washed with warm water only.
It should also be washed before preparing a fresh infusion.
Twice a week, the mushroom should be fed with sweet tea.

If these rules are observed, then the mushroom will be healthy and useful.

There are several ways to prepare it. For traditional version you will need tea, sugar and apple cider vinegar.

Step-by-step instruction:

make a brew of 1 tbsp. l. tea and 0.5 liters of boiling water, let it brew;
add 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar and 100 g of sugar;
pour this infusion into a three-liter jar;
the jar does not need to be closed with a lid, it is enough to tie it with a piece of gauze;
a jar of infusion must be placed in a warm place where the temperature is maintained at + 23ºC- + 25ºC.

In a three-liter jar, the mushroom will have enough space to grow freely. It is important to choose the right place to store the infusion, since the jar cannot be moved during the ripening of the mushroom. It is also necessary to exclude the possibility of sunlight on the jar. This traditional way grow kombucha from scratch.

After 3 weeks, a thin film is noticeable. An indicator of the full ripening of the fungus is the smell of vinegar. The film thickens up to 1–2 mm. The infusion can be drained, replacing it with sweet tea. It is important not to deform the fungus itself, it will compact only after a couple of months.

The surface of the fungus becomes porous over time. After six months, the mushroom reaches the required consistency. Every month it should be gently washed with warm water. With the help of such a mushroom, you can cook a healthy tea drink daily.

For its preparation, not only tea is used, rose hips and apple juice are well suited.

A tea drink based on rose hips is a real storehouse of vitamins. It will help strengthen the immune system and will be a reliable prevention of seasonal colds. To prepare it you need:

in a thermos make an infusion of 4 tbsp. l. fresh or dried rose hips and 0.5 liters of boiling water;
close the thermos and let the drink brew for 5 days;
pour the infusion into a three-liter jar, add brewed black tea made from 2 tbsp. l. tea and 2 tbsp. steep boiling water;
add 5 tbsp. l. Sahara.

From apple juice the mushroom is obtained like this:

let the juice stand at the bottom three-liter jar about 2 months;
then mix this infusion with black tea brew (1 tbsp per 0.5 l of boiling water);
add 3 tbsp. l. Sahara.

In the following stages, the process does not differ from the previous recipes.

Knowing how to grow kombucha, you can enjoy a healthy and refreshing drink all year round.