The secret of good kombucha lies in the tea. But which tea to choose?

Kombucha brewing is simple and the beauty of it is you can add some character to it!  One of the key ingredients in Kombucha is tea. At Kombucha By Laurent we chose the best one. Loose leaf teas, such as black, green, white, pekoe, and oolong are used to brew kombucha because of their level of minerals and nitrogen.  Using organic tea when brewing helps ensure your SCOBY isn’t exposed to pesticides and other chemicals/additives.

KOMBUCHA TEA

Although you can use various types of tea, our favourite types of tea are:

BLACK TEA

At Kombucha by Laurent we use Organic  black oolong tea, it has a strong taste, and contains high levels of nitrogen which helps the SCOBY ferment the sweet tea.  Additionally, it is considered one of the best teas to maintain a consistent pH level, which helps keep your SCOBY healthy and happy.  Depending on the type of black tea you use, you may get various flavour profiles such as oaky, smoky, deep earthly, woody, and fruity.  We don’t recommend brewing kombucha with teas that have oils, such as pre-flavored tea from David’s Tea, Earl Grey, and chai tea.  These may adversely impact your SCOBY and the pH levels of your brew.

GREEN TEA

Green tea, such as Sencha and Jasmine are both popular amongst brewers for their light, and nutty flavours.  Additionally, they include the necessary nutrients and nitrogen similar to black tea that are great for SCOBY health. If you choose to brew with green tea, we recommend using organic loose leaf tea, especially if you are drinking your kombucha raw. As we make it in Kombucha By Laurent. The light flavour profile is crisp and light.  You will also notice that your kombucha after being fermented has a lighter color than kombucha brewed with black tea.

WHITE TEA

The smooth floral taste of white teas has increased in popularity amongst new and experienced kombucha brewers.  White tea is typically blended with black and/or green tea to enhance the overall tea flavor in the final brew.  We typically find a ratio of 40%/60% (white/black) or 30%/70% (white/green) blend to be our favourite.

OTHER TEA (HERBAL AND PRE-MIXED TEA BLENDS, ETC)

It is best to consider blending herbal teas with black tea to ensure your SCOBY gets the necessary nutrients, and nitrogen.  This will also help ensure your SCOBY remains at the appropriate pH level which is very important while brewing.  Since many types of herbal teas contain oils and additives, your SCOBY may be adversely impacted resulting in an undrinkable batch of bucha.  If you choose to use herbal teas or flavoured teas, it is important to monitor your SCOBY and brew on a regular basis.  If you think your brew may have taken a turn for the worse, it’s best to discard your brew and start over.

CONCLUSION: THE BEST TEA FOR YOUR BREW

As a home brewer kombucha, you have limitless options on the blends that you use to make your tea.  We have tested various blends ourselves as you can see of the many flavours we have at kombucha by Laurent. The great thing is that you can keep trying various mixes until you make one you really really like..  Try and let us know what you think is best!

If you want some inspiration, you can always order our Kombucha By Laurent 😉

It’s delicious and a great source of inspiration.