Homemade Kombucha: How to Bottle Kombucha

Updated March 30, 2025

Once you’ve mastered the initial fermentation process of homemade kombucha, the next steps are a breeze. Before moving forward, check your organic kombucha SCOBY to ensure it looks healthy. Over time, it will grow thicker, forming a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Inspect for mold, as cold temperatures or direct sunlight can lead to contamination. If your kombucha starter kit is yielding a healthy SCOBY, congratulations—you’ve completed the first fermentation!

Now comes the best part—flavoring your own kombucha and tailoring it to your taste preferences. After 7-10 days, your gallon of kombucha will be ready for secondary fermentation, where it develops carbonation and its signature ginger flavor. The duration of this phase depends on room temperature, as warmer conditions accelerate the brewing process.

This post is all about a ginger kombucha recipe.

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Table of Contents

The Step-by-Step Process for Flavoring Kombucha

Here’s a detailed guide on how to transfer your plain kombucha from the brewing jar into bottles and add delicious flavors like fresh ginger or fruit juice. The second fermentation typically takes between 2 to 4 days, but this can vary based on carbonation levels and your preferred taste.

Necessary Equipment

Brewing jar (food-grade glass) containing the first brew
Bowl
Glass bottles (airtight glass bottles or flip-top bottles are a great option)
Funnel
Starter tea from a previous batch
Fresh ginger root (1 tablespoon finely chopped, or thumbs length of ginger – for each bottle)
Fruit juice (such lemon juice)
Honey
Blender (optional, for better carbonation)
Measuring cup
Tea bags (black tea for future brewing)
Cutting board
Knife
Peeler

During this process we won’t only be bottling and flavoring the current batch, but also be prepping for the next batch of kombucha that’ll need to brew.

How to Bottle Kombucha

Bottling the kombucha will involve transferring the brew from the brewing jar into the flip top glass bottles. This can be a messy process but I’ve written down how exactly you can do this without causing a mess or losing your precious brew. As a word of caution, because of the carbonation, it can cause spillover from the bottles.

Sanitize bottles – Ensure your glass bottles for this recipe are cleaned properly without antibacterial soap, which could harm healthy bacteria.
Place the bowl into your kitchen sink. Next, place the first glass bottle into the middle of the bowl.
Prepare the SCOBY – With clean hands, remove your SCOBY from the brew jar and place it into a separate bowl with one cup of your brew. This is your starter tea for the next brew. Your hands must be clean not only for hygiene purposes, but you don’t want to contaminate the SCOBY. Contaminating the SCOBY will ruin future batches.
Pour the kombucha – Using the funnel to transfer kombucha into stout bottles, slowly pour the brew into the bottle. Leave some space/headroom for excess carbonation buildup. During the flavoring process, more carbonation will happen. This is where the bowl comes in handy – you may have noticed some of the spillover I was talking about unless you’ve been able to control it.

How to Add Flavor to Your Kombucha

To infuse your kombucha to enhance flavor, you can either cut fruit into small pieces or blend it for better carbonation. Blending fruit allows the bacteria and yeast to break down sugars more efficiently, producing a more traditional kombucha bottle experience. For this example, I’m flavoring the kombucha with a ginger lemon recipe.

To get started, first peel the ginger. I love using a potato peeler or Y peeler as it makes this process super simple. Using your cutting board and knife, finely chop up the ginger. Put the ginger in the glass bottle and then pour the lemon juice in. Add in 2 teaspoons of honey. Repeat this step for each of the bottles.

After you’ve finished putting all of the ingredients in the bottles, seal the bottles. Close the bottles using a swing top closure or airtight lids to ensure proper bottle conditioning.

Lastly, allow secondary fermentation. Store the bottles at room temperature for 3 to 10 days, checking for pressure buildup. I flip the tops daily to relieve pressure.

Delicious Kombucha Flavor Ideas

Here’s a list of favorite ways to experiment with flavor:

Lemon ginger kombucha recipe – Fresh ginger, lemon juice, and a honey or cane sugar.
Spicy ginger kombucha – Ginger root, ginger syrup, and a small amount of honey.
Mango and ginger – Sweet mango combined with organic ginger for a tropical taste.
Pumpkin pie kombucha – Pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a fall-inspired twist.
Apple and pear kombucha – Perfect for those who enjoy ginger beer-style flavors.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Why does my kombucha taste like vinegar?

Your kombucha may have a slight vinegar taste due to acetic acid production. If it’s too strong, it could be due to over-brewing or excess heat. Adjusting the fermentation time or using a different kombucha making bottling kit can help balance the taste.

Does kombucha need to be refrigerated?

Yes, after the final product is ready, store it in the refrigerator to prevent excess carbonation and maintain its flavor.

What’s the best way to store kombucha?

Store it in thick glass bottles, such as oz swing-top bottles, to prevent too much pressure buildup. A wide selection of bottles, including fermentaholics kombucha kits, is available for brewing needs.

Can I use different types of tea?

Yes! Black tea, green tea, or a combination of both work well. Sweet tea with cane sugar is commonly used in primary fermentation kombucha recipes. I prefer using black tea though.

What’s the next batch process?

Once your second fermentation subscription is complete, start your next batch using the SCOBY and starter tea from the previous brew.

Start Your Kombucha Brewing Journey Today!

Making kombucha kombucha at home is a fun and rewarding process. Whether you’re a beginner using a kombucha starter kit or an experienced home brewer, experimenting with flavors like ginger ale, orange juice, or lime juice can elevate your brewing game. Good luck, and enjoy your delicious homemade kombucha!

This post was all about a ginger kombucha recipe.

Homemade Kombucha: How to Bottle Kombucha