Kombucha Making

Make fermented tea at home with a kombucha starter kit. Our Mad Millie Kombucha Kit contains a live organic SCOBY (a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) and specialist equipment for learning how to brew kombucha in your own kitchen. The kit is a practical starting point for beginners; you supply tea, sugar and water.

Kombucha Making Kit with SCOBY

The Mad Millie Kombucha Starter Kit includes a 1 litre glass jar, metal closure lid, thermometer strip, organic kombucha SCOBY and muslin cloth. Start with a small 1 litre brew to get the culture active before moving to larger batches, following the manufacturer's instructions. The SCOBY can be reused with starter liquid from a previous successful batch.

View the Mad Millie Kombucha Kit, what's included and current availability.

What Else Do You Need to Make Kombucha?

You'll need tea, sugar and water as well as the items supplied in the starter kit. A saucepan is useful for preparing sweet tea, and you'll need a suitable clean bottle if you plan to bottle the finished drink. Follow the supplied guide for the correct ingredients, cooling, fermentation and bottling procedure rather than assuming all the additional items are included.

How to Make Kombucha at Home

1. Prepare sweet tea: Brew tea, dissolve the recommended sugar and allow the liquid to cool as directed.
2. Add the culture: Add the SCOBY and starter liquid only when the tea has cooled. Cover the fermenting jar as instructed, using the supplied breathable muslin rather than sealing the primary fermentation airtight.
3. Ferment and taste: Follow Mad Millie's guide and temperature recommendations. The first fermentation can take approximately 8–25 days depending on conditions and preferred tartness.
4. Reserve some starter: When the batch is ready, retain the SCOBY and the recommended amount of fermented tea to begin a future batch.

Clean equipment carefully, follow the supplied food-safety instructions and discard a batch if mould or another sign of contamination develops. Kombucha is a fermented drink and may contain some alcohol; the amount can vary with the brewing process.

Kombucha Starter Kit FAQs

Does the kombucha kit include a SCOBY?

Yes. The Mad Millie kit includes an organic kombucha SCOBY as well as a jar, thermometer strip, muslin cloth and closure lid.

Are tea and sugar included?

No. You provide your preferred suitable tea, sugar and water. You may also need a bottle and basic kitchen utensils, depending on how you finish your brew.

Can I reuse the kombucha SCOBY?

Yes. Mad Millie recommends starting with a 1 litre batch to activate the culture; once established, the SCOBY and some starter liquid can be used again, following the manufacturer’s guidance.

How long does kombucha take to ferment?

Mad Millie suggests approximately 8–25 days for the initial fermentation depending on conditions and taste. Follow the kit's specific instructions and never assume a fermented drink is ready just because a set number of days has passed.

Explore Other Home Fermentation Kits

Interested in making more foods and drinks from scratch? Browse our fermented foods and drinks collection for kefir, sourdough and cheese-making kits and cultures, or see the wider Mad Millie range.