HOW TO SAVE A SOUR BREW
If you’re new to brewing kombucha then you may have had a few missteps along the way. Kombucha brewing is part science and part art, and it requires not only your creativity, but also your attention and time. Each brew is different; you need to find the ideal location for it to live, and the right length of time to get your preferred taste and tartness.
Not only should you be doing a daily taste test, it is also helpful to be testing your kombucha’s pH level on a regular basis. This is one of the most important parts of the home brew process, and it will help you keep track of the acidity of your brew. The more experienced you get with your home brewing, the sooner you'll be able to rely on taste testing even more.
After about 7 days of your brew’s fermentation process, you should start tasting it every few days until your ideal kombucha flavour is reached. Does it taste too sweet? Then put the cloth back on and let it brew for a few more days. But what do you do when it is too sour? Don’t think you have to throw it out and start again, below we’ve got four ways you can still use your too sour kombucha.
First, if your brew really can’t be saved, then it’s time to make kombucha vinegar. If you taste your brew and get a sour surprise, cover it back up and let it ferment even longer. Yup, just keep going! Let it ferment for another four plus weeks until it’s super sour.
1. SAVE IT WITH FLAVOUR
If your brew hasn’t gone too far and isn’t at the vinegar stage, then don’t despair! You still have a last chance to sweeten it during the flavouring step. Add a little extra of your favourite fruits, veggies, juices, or herbs to add the extra sweetness you need.
2. MAKE IT A CULINARY STAPLE
Use your kombucha vinegar to replace the vinegar in your favourite salad dressing or marinade. Kombucha Vinaigrette
30mL kombucha vinegar
15 mL of your favourite oil (we love flaxseed!)
10 mL maple syrup
1 tsp of mustard (we love dijon!)
1 tbsp of nutritional yeast
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk.
Be sure to watch for Spark Kombucha aged vinegar in some of Cul de Sac Kitchen’s delicious creations to get a taste of what kombucha vinegar can do in your cooking.
You can also experiment with your kombucha vinegar to create custom infusions for a flavoured vinegar. Add your favourite herbs or some garlic to amp up the flavour even more.
3. DIY NATURAL HOME SPA PRODUCTS
Too sour kombucha is perfect for creating tonics for a natural hair rinse or facial toner. The slight acidity of the aged kombucha acts as a natural peel to remove dead skin or product build up.
4. CLEAN UP AT HOME
Since kombucha is a natural disinfectant, you can add a boost of antiseptic effects with tea tree oil and use it around your home to clean and shine surfaces in place of other harsh cleaning products.
So remember, having too sour kombucha is not the end for your brew! In fact, it could be the beginning of some amazing natural products for you and your home. You just need to put your most creative hat on and experiment!
If you’re looking for even more help with your brew, check out our Kombucha Brew Kit which includes detailed instructions and all the equipment and tools we’ve mentioned above. Our brew master Ellen has carefully curated this kit to make your kombucha making experience as simple and tasty as possible.