When it comes to refreshing fruity Kombucha with immunity-boosting benefits, cherry Kombucha is always a fine choice. It has a pleasantly sweet and tart savor that can be enjoyed by both newbies and long-term Kombucha lovers. It is also a versatile drink that can be used in cocktails, Kombucha float, and other mixed drinks. Moreover, it just takes a few minutes to make at home! In this cherry Kombucha recipe, discover how to make your cherry Kombucha with simple ingredients and equipment as well as ingenious ways to upgrade its taste.
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Health Benefits
Cherry
Cherries are particularly high in fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. The vitamin C in cherries helps maintain the immune system and skin health while potassium is known to improve muscle contraction, nerve function, blood pressure regulation, and other critical bodily processes. On the other hand, the fiber in cherries helps keep the digestive system healthy by promoting regular bowel movements and feeding the good bacteria in the gut.
In addition, Cherries have antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress that is linked to multiple chronic diseases and premature aging. Eating cherries may also relieve exercise-induced muscle pain and inflammation, promote sleep, reduce the risks of heart diseases, and improve symptoms of arthritis and gout.
How To Make Cherry Kombucha
Cherry Kombucha only takes a few minutes to make and only requires cherries and Kombucha which has finished its first fermentation.
Kombucha is a healthy fermented beverage that undergoes two fermentation processes namely the first fermentation (F1) and second fermentation (F2). F1 is the fermentation process for making Kombucha. During this fermentation process, the SCOBY converts the sweet tea to Kombucha. It can take more than 10 days depending on how strong you want your Kombucha to taste. Essentially, the longer you ferment Kombucha, the more potent its taste will be.
After completing F1, Kombucha undergoes F2 for flavoring and carbonation. If it’s your first time doing a second fermentation and still learning the ropes, feel free to check this blog post for the complete guide.
Cherry Kombucha Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Homebrewing kit This is for 1st fermentation
- 1 Heating mat This is for 1st fermentation
- 1 Boochsleeve This is for 1st fermentation
- 1 Bottlebrush kit To clean your bottles
- 6 Bottles (16 oz.) or 2 Growlers (½ gallon)
- 1 Funnel For the 2nd fermentation process
- 1 Mesh strain colander For the 2nd fermentation process
- 1 PBW cleaner To clean your bottles
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 1 gal 1-gallon Kombucha
- 24 Cherries ($2.51 to $2.39 per lb.)
Instructions
- Clean your bottlesDilute the PBW cleaner according to the instructions. Next, takeyour bottlebrush kit and scrub your fermentation bottles with your dilutedcleaner. Finally, rinse the bottles and let the bottles dry before adding anyingredients.
- Prepare your ingredients Pit all the cherries and place them in a blender. Add ¼ to ½ cupof Kombucha liquid to the blender to puree the cherries easier. You may alsouse frozen pitted cherries but make sure to thaw them first. Proceed with blending your cherries into a puree. Next, divideyour puree into six portions and get ready to bottle.
- Add one portion of flavoring into each bottleAdd one portion of your flavorings to each bottle. You may use afunnel to transfer the cherry puree faster and easier.
- Fill the bottles with Kombucha liquid Using the funnel, fill the bottles with Kombucha liquid. If youwant, you may opt to strain the excess yeast of the Kombucha liquid using amesh strain colander or a smaller sieve before bottling. Make sure to leave about ½ to 1 inch of headspace in your bottlesto achieve good carbonation. After filling the bottles, slightly shake theKombucha to incorporate the ingredients. Set aside the remaining Kombuchaliquid and use it as a starter tea for your next Kombucha batches.
- Ferment Shut your bottles completely making sure that there are noopenings where carbon dioxide can escape. Allow the Kombucha to ferment in afermentation station that has room temperature between 60℉ to 85℉. If you are having trouble maintaining a warmtemperature for your brew, you may use a heating mat. Fermentation may take from 3 to 14 days depending on thecarbonation and your preferred taste.
- Store your finished Kombucha in therefrigerator Start tasting your Kombucha after three days of fermentation. Ifthe taste is already fit to your liking, keep your Kombucha bottles in therefrigerator to inhibit fermentation and preserve the taste. If you want morepotent tasting Kombucha, allow it to ferment for more days.
- Serve and enjoy Bottled Kombuchas tend to have floating residues from the yeastand the flavorings used. These residues are safe to eat but if you feeluncomfortable drinking them, you may strain the Kombucha liquid first beforeserving.
How to level up the taste
Cherry Kombucha is not just a tasty immunity-boosting beverage but also a versatile drink that is easy to mix with a lot of ingredients. Below, we have discussed several ways you can do to make your cherry Kombucha extra tasty.
The first thing you want to do to make sure that your cherry Kombucha tastes great is to choose the right cherry variety. Cherries come in many varieties. Depending on the variety, they can have a tart or sweet taste. In this cherry Kombucha recipe, you are free to choose any variety you want. However, it is best to opt for the sweetest cherry variety to boost yeast activity and Kombucha’s flavor. We recommend using black cherries because they are the sweetest among the other varieties. The sweetest black cherries are the Bing cherries, followed by other black cherry varieties namely Lambert, Chelan, Sweetheart, and Tulare.
You may also elevate the taste of cherry Kombucha by simply adding 1 tsp of sugar per bottle. The sugar helps boost yeast activity and enhance Kombucha flavor. Additionally, you may substitute fresh cherries with cherry juice. Like other store-bought juices, cherry juice also has added sugar which can help boost yeast activity and give Kombucha a stronger taste.
If you have more time, you may cook the cherries with some sugar, lemon, and vanilla as well. This is a great way to give this drink a more appealing savor for newbies. Simply combine cherries, 6 tsp. of sugar, ¼ cup lemon, and 1 tsp. of vanilla in a pot over medium heat. Next, stir the mixture until the sugar completely dissolves and the cherries break down. Then, allow the mixture to cool down for one hour and a half. Finally, get ready to bottle.
Another way to upgrade cherry Kombucha’s taste is by serving it with some honey for a sweeter and more appealing taste. You may also use cherry Kombucha in other Kombucha recipes like Kombucha float and Kombucha cocktails.
Featured Product
The Remedy Kombucha Cherry Plum is a zero-sugar sparkling Kombucha drink that features cherries and Kakadu plums. It has a fruity and slightly floral taste and is made with organic ingredients. It is also certified USDA organic, Keto, Vegan, and Gluten Free.
Cherry Cola Energy Probiotic Kombucha by Humm is made of organic raw carbonated Kombucha and organic juices including cherry juice. It is loaded with gut-loving nutrients and vitamin B12 which helps boost energy. It has no artificial sweeteners and contains 28% less sugar compared to other brands.
Brew Dr. Kombucha Dark Cherry Vanilla features sun-ripened cherries, vanilla, and allspice. It has a pleasant tartness and subtle sweetness that is perfectly complimented by the spice. It is also low in calories and only has 6g of sugar making it a good snack for adults who are trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
