Elderflower Kombucha

Name: Elderflower Kombucha
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 305 min
Ingredients: 2 cup sugar; 2 cup water; 1/4 cup dried edible elderflowers; 12 cups homemade kombucha; 2 cups elderflower simple syrup

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Made with elderflower simple syrup, this Elderflower Kombucha has a sweet floral flavor. It is fizzy and refreshing.

This Elderflower Kombucha is a nice alternative to soda. It is sweet and refreshing.

Made with elderflower simple syrup, it is super easy to make, and there's no straining out bits of fruit.

Some other kombucha recipes that have simple syrup are Rose Kombucha, Lavender Kombucha, and Chai Kombucha.

Some simple syrup recipes to try are my Chocolate Simple Syrup, Vanilla Simple Syrup, and Chai Simple Syrup.

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❤️ Why You'll Love It
Two Types of Fermentation
What Makes Kombucha Fizzy?
🧾 Ingredients
🥣 Supplies
🔪 Instructions
How Long Does It Take To Get Fizzy Kombucha?
💭 Tips
👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
Other Kombucha Recipes
📋 Recipe
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💬 Comments

❤️ Why You'll Love It

It is sweet and refreshing.
It's a great alternative to soda.
It's cheaper than store-bought and really easy to make!

Two Types of Fermentation

To make homemade kombucha, you start with the first fermentation.

The first fermentation of kombucha is when you combine sweetened tea, a kombucha scoby, and some starter tea. You let it ferment for 7-21 days and the result is uncarbonated unflavored kombucha.

The second fermentation involves taking that kombucha you made in the first fermentation and adding flavor. You let it ferment for another 3-5 days in sealed bottles. The result is a fizzy-flavored drink.

You can ferment even longer, if needed, letting the kombucha ferment for up to 14 days. It all depends on the amount of sugar content in the flavor you're adding, and the temperature of the room.

Warmer temperatures will cause faster fermentation, and higher sugar content will also speed up fermentation.

What Makes Kombucha Fizzy?

The second fermentation is when kombucha gets fizzy. By putting it into a sealed container at room temperature and adding a sugar source (fruit and/or sweetener), carbon dioxide builds.

🧾 Ingredients

Homemade Kombucha in two gallon-sized jars.

Homemade kombucha: You'll need freshly made kombucha that has not been refrigerated yet.
Elderflower simple syrup: Adds a sweet floral flavor.

This is an overview of the ingredients. To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

🥣 Supplies

Funnel
4 (25 ounce) bottles with flip top lids
Measuring cup

🔪 Instructions

Elderflowers, sugar, and water in a saucepan.

Elderflower Simple Syrup

Step 1: Pour sugar, water, and elderflowers into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Elderflowers being strained above simple syrup.

Step 2: Place a fine mesh strainer over a jar and strain out the elderflowers.

Elderflower Kombucha

Step 1: Pour ½ cup elderflower simple syrup into each bottle.

Step 2: Pour your homemade kombucha into the bottles, leaving 1-2" head space. Let sit 3-5 days.

Step 3: Pop open the lids at least once a day. Pressure builds, and this allows it to escape. Taste each day to test its flavor and fizziness.

For this Elderflower Kombucha recipe, I let it ferment for 5 days.

How Long Does It Take To Get Fizzy Kombucha?

It can take anywhere from 1-14 days. It depends on a few things.

It depends on how much sugar you have in the kombucha. (Sugar in the form of fruit and/or sweetener.) The more sugar, the faster you'll get carbonation.
It also depends on the weather. Warmer temperature = faster carbonation. I've had bubbly kombucha after a day in summer months and bubbly kombucha after a week in colder months.

💭 Tips

Use bottles with swing-top lids! Mason jars and store-bought kombucha bottles that have the seal broken won't hold carbonation.
Refrigerate after the kombucha is done fermenting.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

Should I Burp My Second Ferment Kombucha?

Yes! If you don't you could have a mess. By adding sugar to the homemade kombucha and fermenting it a second time in bottles with swing-top lids, you're creating an environment for carbonation. If you don't allow it to escape, you'll have kombucha all over your kitchen.

How do you know when the second fermentation is done?

When you burp the bottle you'll be able to see how much carbonation has built up. Bubbles will rise to the top of the bottle.

5 Secrets To Making Kombucha