The subtle sweetness of watermelon combined with the unique tangy taste of kiwi in this watermelon kiwi Kombucha recipe gives Kombucha a smoother and more appealing taste that is perfect for newbies or picky drinkers. This recipe is also designed to give you complete control over the taste to make it more suitable for your palate. Moreover, the ingredients are not just easy to find but are also cost-effective so you can have a fun and healthy DIY flavored Kombucha project without breaking the bank. Watermelon kiwi Kombucha is one of the best beverages for summer but is also great to enjoy throughout the year!
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Health Benefits
Watermelon
Watermelon is best known for its thirst-quenching quality but did you know that this fruit is full of health-boosting qualities as well? Watermelon particularly has a high water content that keeps the body hydrated. It also has low-calorie density making it a guilt-free snack perfect for losing weight. It contains nutrients like vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. Eating watermelon regularly may help improve heart health, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, prevent macular degeneration, and boost skin health. Furthermore, watermelon may relieve muscle soreness and improve digestion.
Kiwi
Kiwi fruit, simply kiwi, is a low-calorie food that is rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. Adding kiwi to your daily diet may reduce the risks of stroke, heart disease, and digestive issues like constipation. Furthermore, kiwi is known to strengthen the immune system, heart health, and digestive health. It also contains antioxidants that can counter the harmful effects of free radicals on the body.
How To Make Watermelon Kiwi Kombucha
Watermelon Kiwi Kombucha is easy to make and only requires three ingredients namely watermelon, kiwi, and Kombucha that have finished first fermentation.
Kombucha is a fermented healthy beverage that undergoes two fermentation processes which are the first fermentation (F1) and second fermentation(F2). During the first fermentation, the sweet tea is converted to Kombucha by the Kombucha culture or SCOBY. After completing the first fermentation, Kombucha undergoes second fermentation for flavoring and carbonation. If it’s your first time doing a second fermentation at home, don’t worry because we got your back. We’ve written everything you need to know about second fermentation in this complete guide.
Watermelon Kiwi 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 Kombucha
- 1/4 Watermelon ($0.24 to $0.25 per lb.)
- 2 Kiwis ($1.09 to $1.1 per lb.)
Instructions
- Clean your bottlesDilute the PBW cleaner as directed on the product label. Scrub your bottles with your cleaner using the bottle brush kit. Make sure to rinse and dry your bottles properly before adding any ingredients.
- Prepare your ingredients Scoop out the flesh of the watermelon and peel your kiwi. Chopyour ingredients and put them in the blender. Blend your ingredients until youget a watermelon kiwi puree. Divide your ingredients into six portions and getready to bottle.
- Add your pureed flavoring into the bottleAdd one portion of your pureed flavoring to each bottle. You mayadd or lessen the amount of flavorings in each bottle to have a variation inthe taste of your bottle-flavored Kombuchas.
- Fill your bottle with Kombucha liquid Place the funnel on the mouth of your fermentation bottle andslowly pour your Kombucha liquid. You may strain your Kombucha with a meshstrain colander or a smaller sieve to remove excess yeast from your Kombuchaliquid. Make sure to leave about ½ to 1 inch of headspace on your bottles toensure good carbonation buildup and give your Kombucha bottle a slight shake tomix the ingredients. Set aside your remaining Kombucha liquid and use it as astarter tea for your next batch.
- Ferment Shut your bottles making sure that no carbon dioxide can escapeduring the fermentation process. Store your bottles in a fermentation stationat room temperature between 60℉ to 85℉. If you are having trouble keeping thetemperature warm, you may use a heating mat. The overall fermentationtime of Kombucha may take 3 to 14 days depending on the carbonation and yourpreferred taste.
- Store your finished Kombucha in therefrigerator Once your bottled Kombucha has the perfect balance of sweet andtart for you, transfer them to your refrigerator to inhibit fermentation andpreserve your desired taste.
- Serve and enjoy When serving flavored Kombucha, you may see floating residues onthe liquid. You may opt to strain these residues before serving to makeKombucha more appealing, especially for newbie drinkers.
How to level up the taste
Blending the watermelon and kiwi is a great way to get the full flavors from your fresh fruits. However, there are still some other things you can do to enhance the taste of this healthy beverage.
For instance, if your watermelon is not yet sweet enough, you may add about ⅛ cup of sugar to the blender before blending your ingredients. The added sugar will boost the yeast activity in the Kombucha resulting in a much sweeter and stronger taste.
Adding fresh mint leaves is another great way to elevate the taste of watermelon kiwi Kombucha and make it extra refreshing. Simply add one to two mint leaves to each Kombucha bottle to make the flavor relatively sweet and cool.
Featured Product
Brew Dr. Kombucha Watermelon features the mild sweetness of watermelon and the pleasant tanginess of Kombucha. It also has a combination of hibiscus and sencha green tea for added health benefits and flavors.
Taste kiwi’s goodness in this Jalapeno Kiwi Cucumber Kombucha from Health-Ade. This bubbly drink boasts of its probiotic content and claims to be GMO-free, organic, gluten-free, and vegan.
