Drink Kombucha Every Day for a Year:
Results From My Experiment

Photo Credit: Klara Avsenik

Tea with a Powerful Punch

One year ago I had the crazy idea that I could brew so much kombucha tea that I would be able to drink at least 16 ounces a day for an entire year.

It sounded like a good idea at the time . . .

By the way, in case you’re new to the wonderful world of kombucha, the sexy Chinese tea, check out my post: What is Kombucha?

So, here we are, one year later and the experiment was a success. I was able to drink about one gallon (4 liters) of fresh kombucha every week and my body thanked me for it.

Here’s how the whole thing went down:

Drink Kombucha Every Day

I watched a variety of YouTube videos and took a bunch of notes in order to figure out exactly how I would be able to pull this off.

I bought some supplies including a few one-gallon glass jars, a wooden spoon, and of course the tea bags, sugar, distilled water, and a bottle of GT’s Kombucha from Whole Foods.

My first reaction to growing my own SCOBY (the mushroom-like substance that makes kombucha so gross and delicious) was nothing less than freaky.

If you show a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) to a stranger on the street and tell them you turn that thing into food, they will likely fear for their lives.

First Batch

My first batch (and the subsequent batches for the next 10 months) had no carbonation, which is common. It’s always a bit tricky to get the ingredients and process to just right.

I used a bottle of GT’s Kombucha to make my first SCOBY, added some black tea and sugar, and then waited 10 days.

I put the kombucha in a few mason jars and let those sit for 3 days before putting them in the refrigerator.

On day one of drinking my first brew I had to take it slow. My body responded very quickly.

Probiotics

In more detail – the probiotics in the kombucha caused my poop to move fast. Watch out for that in the beginning.

In case you have seen the many commercials on TV about how the probiotics in yogurt can keep you regular, keep in mind that kombucha is WAY more powerful.

The probiotics are intense and that’s what makes this drink so desirable, especially if your normal diet needs a little help.

Results After a Year

The most noticeable changes from a daily kombucha regimen included improved digestion, more energy, some weight loss, and a healthy habit that reinforced other healthy habits.

Kombucha is weird, but I got used to the weirdness of it quickly. Other people still find the habit bizarre, but with all of the health benefits I experienced I’m willing to do my own thing.

Maintenance

Over the course of the rest of the year I brewed a new batch about every 10-14 days and then stored the jars in my spare bedroom where they didn’t get much sunlight or attention.

Kombucha is a delicate substance that needs to be cared for and watched over diligently. You want to make sure the gallon jars don’t move too much.

I store the ready-to-drink kombucha in the refrigerator and have about one 16-ounce jar each day. Try not to drink more than 32 ounces a day or you may have an adverse reaction.

Also, the process to brew a new batch and move the old batch to the mason jars takes me around 30 minutes once every 10 days. Pretty awesome, right?

On a side note, if you let the kombucha ferment in the mason jars for a couple of months they will become alcoholic. This is why you should monitor the timing closely in case you don’t actually want to get a daily buzz (or if you do). 🙂

Flavors and Varieties

I did experiment with a variety of flavors of teas and well as adding chia seeds, fruit juice, and different types of sugar.

My recommendation is to stick with 6-8 bags of caffeinated black tea, 1 gallon of distilled water, and 1 cup of pure cane sugar for every batch.

• Fruit juice is extremely sweet and should be avoided.
• Brown sugar and evaporated cane juice do not brew as well as pure cane sugar.
• Chia seeds are nice, but not in kombucha. Add chia seeds to salads and smoothies instead.
• Different flavors of teas work well if the flavor is mild. I like mint tea, but most others taste like crap.

Where I am Today

After a full year, I am a kombucha addict.

I not only like the effects that kombucha has on my digestive system, but I look forward to the taste and the experience of drinking it every morning.

My wife still thinks kombucha looks and smells like a dead body, but that’s okay.

I am looking forward to doing more experimentation with kombucha in the future, but only on a limited basis.

There is something magical about the original flavor of kombucha. No frills – no additives – no secret ingredients.

Just pure zesty kombucha.

How to Get Started

Try kombucha. At the very least you should make it a habit to buy a bottle every now and then to remind yourself how good this stuff really is.

If you are curious about trying your own kombucha experiment, check out my post: How to Brew Kombucha at Home

DISCLAIMER: I am not a physician or qualified medical professional. The information in this article are for reference only and are not meant to take the place of medical advice you receive from your doctor.