I have been a Kombucha fan for a number of years and began brewing my own earlier this year - using a kit I purchased online. My initial batch was a great success and I am now up to 5 Scobys - hence multiple batches on the go at any one time; and have become more adventurous trying new flavors, combinations and secondary fermentation.
I own a couple of different books but so far this has been the hands down favorite. It is a good book in particular for those new to brewing and contains everything from the history of this delicious elixir, to brewing ingredients, tips, flavoring and using your Kombucha in cooking. In the past I have found the many books go too far one way -such as things to use your Kombucha in, or the other way -very basic tips, and do not strike the happy medium that allows the book to be an all around guide. This however meets that requirement.
The book begins with a little about the authors and how they began their Kombucha “journey”. I found it well written and a good read - and I could identify with this more (for example trying it at a party and off the shelf at Whole Foods) than the folks that found it in some mysterious part of the world! It sounded a lot like my initiation into the world of Kombucha and the fact that it was relatable made me like the authors a whole lot more!
The book then goes into an all around look at fermentation which was appreciated, as this area of food and drink is certainly building more momentum of late as the health benefits are realized. This is followed by an in-depth discussion around kombucha, the Scoby, and ingredients / supplies that are instrumental in the Kombucha making process. This is very detailed and great for those new to brewing. I particularly loved the comprehensive guide to the health properties with personal stories incorporated into this; and they took the time to include health cautions too making it a balanced approach.
The Scoby guide is hands down the best I have read / seen. Scobys can be rather ominous in appearance and I cannot tell you the number of times I have peered into my jar trying to determine if it’s healthy or if the weird patch of color /texture is mold (so far it has not happened); but the pictures were exceptional in detail and levels of helpfulness. Thank you authors for this; and including so many detail photographs!
The tea guide was also very detailed and useful -talking about types of blends you should and should not use, and acceptable quantities before they become too much for the balanced of the Kombucha, The sugar guide was equally as useful; as was the equipment guide, as I now know I should not have used that cheesecloth as a cover when in a pinch (allows contaminates to get in your brew). This is then followed by the meat of this book – how to brew, best practices and different methods one can use. For me the advanced guide was so helpful -how to flavor, as we are currently experimenting with secondary fermentation using cascade hobs, and carbonation, as striking that right balance has been an admitted challenge; and other books have simply not been detailed enough, leaving me having to turn to good old Google -this book solves that!
The remainder of this book is a guide to flavors one could experiment with, drinks one can use this in -such as cocktails and shrubs -both of which are hands down amazing with the addition of Kombucha! And other means of cooking / recipes in which you might be able to incorporate Kombucha. This covers everything from dressings, dips and cake -to outside the kitchen; in face masks and creams! Few books are this comprehensive or diverse!
The book ends with more of the Kombucha story; but most usefully a very detailed guide to components of Kombucha, specific health concerns and how the consumption of Kombucha might help; further reading guides and a brew log, which is very useful for new brewers.
Having now owned about 5 different books on the topic including those by Eric Childs and Stephen Lee, this is by far my favorite. It is detailed, comprehensive, and covers everything you need to know and then some. I would say this is invaluable for new Kombucha brewers and even useful for those who have been brewing a while and need some new inspiration. I love this book! And full disclosure…yes I am a top reviewer, but no I did not receive it for free -I paid in full for this as it was much wanted, and it was worth every penny!!
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In-depth Brewing TechniquesIt all begins with a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), tea, and sugar. Learn how to drive the fermentation process to create batch after batch of fresh, delicious kombucha. |
268 Flavor CombinationsA thorough discussion of batch and continuous brewing methods makes kombucha experts of beginning brewers. Bottling and carbonating techniques are presented in detail, and 268 flavor combinations offer years of experimentation. |
Smoothies, Cocktails, and MoreKombucha is a zippy addition to smoothies, sodas, and spritzers, and its tangy fizz perks up all sorts of cocktails. |
Recipes for Cooking with KombuchaOn its own or turned into flavorful vinegar, kombucha contributes nutrition to a variety of dishes. Dozens of recipes explore ways to use it in the kitchen. |
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| Fermented Vegetables | Fiery Ferments | Healing Herbal Teas | Raw Energy in a Glass | |
| More from Storey Publishing | Get to work making your own kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut, and more with this colorful and delicious guide. Beautiful photography illustrates methods to ferment 64 vegetables and herbs, along with dozens of creative recipes. | Expand your fermented repertoire with more than 70 recipes for spicy sauces, mustards, chutneys, and relishes from around the globe. An additional 40 recipes for snacks, entrées, and beverages highlight many uses for the hot ferments. | These 101 original recipes not only offer health advantages like calming nerves, fighting colds, and reducing inflammation; they also taste great! Herb profiles and instruction on the art of tea blending help you develop your own signature mixtures. | Raise a glass to longevity! Boost your health and energy using just a standard blender and these 126 super-nutritious, super-delicious recipes for smoothies, fruity frappés, vegan shakes, power shots, mocktails, and more. |
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1,024 reviews
Zen*Yogi*Girl
Hands down the best guide to Kombucha I’ve read. Invaluable for new and experienced brewers. Packed full of tips, recipes,ideas!
29 February 2016 -
Published on Amazon.com
J-rod
Perfect book for beginners brewing.
15 May 2016 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Perfect book for beginners brewing.
Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2016
Wow! Fantastic book with great knowledge. Read it in two days. On first day order my SCOBY. One thing missing from the book is best place to buy it, I found it though. The author grows and sells them. Just google and you will find it easy. I bought it and made my booch w ease. First flavors I did were strawberry lemonade, blueberry lemonade and cherry lemonade. Just bottled 6 and got new brew going. Worth every penny. Thank you thank you thank you.
Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2016
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Amazon Customer
Perhaps THE definitive Kombucha book
6 February 2017 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Perhaps THE definitive Kombucha book
Reviewed in the United States on 6 February 2017
Ok, so I haven't read any other books on the subject. I researched kombucha books and read dozens of reviews on several of them prior to ordering this one. The Big Book of Kombucha far exceeded my expectations. I had never brewed kombucha and I was a little nervous about it. I had googled it and it seemed both simple and complicated to me -- depending on the source.Reviewed in the United States on 6 February 2017
This book is perfect for the first timer. It answered all my questions. The author included pictures of the SCOBY in every stage of the process which took a lot of the guess work and worry out of it. Without that visual, I might have assumed my brew was ruined at certain points.
The book is visually beautiful and enjoyable to read. You can use it as a reference book or you can read the whole thing. She includes information about the history of kombucha as well as advice about which ingredients work best, step by step instructions, troubleshooting, all kinds of recipes, how to care for your SCOBY and more.
My first batch turned out better than I expected. It wasn't GTs quality but it was still delicious. I would like mine to be a little stronger and would like a little more fizz. I think I will be able to tweak these issues though. I was concerned about my bottles exploding during the second ferment (this can sometimes happen), so I kept burping the bottles and probably killed the fizz. I have my second batch about ready to bottle. I won't burp them as much this time.
On a side note: I ordered my SCOBY and a few other items directly from Kombucha Kamp (the author's website). I've ordered 3 times and each time I received shipment notifications within HOURS of placing my orders and my orders arrived within a couple of days. The SCOBY was big, beautiful and healthy and the ingredients I ordered were top quality. I love everything about this company.
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Ian D. Griffin
Big, Bold & Beautiful Book of 'Booch
6 March 2016 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase