With this second ferment recipe, you don’t need to wait for your favorite cafes to serve seasonal drinks. Apple cider kombucha tastes like the first day of fall. It’s perfectly fizzy, sweet, and tart.
Combining your favorite warm seasonings, this apple cider kombucha recipe is good for your body and mind. The probiotics from the kombucha work together with the cinnamon and clove to relax and nourish your body.
This homemade apple cider kombucha is one of my favorite recipes. It is sweet, warm and comforting. I’m not a big fan of cloves, but they didn’t bother me at all in this recipe. I used fresh apples instead of juice. The most tedious part of the recipe was adding the apple pieces in one by one. Otherwise, it was very simple.
Apple Cider Kombucha
Total Time: 2 days
Yield: 16 Servings 1x
Description
Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves make this kombucha mocktail hearty and warming. Use dried or ground spices, depending on what you have on hand. This kombucha recipe will likely be your new favorite flavor!
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 cups of unflavored black tea kombucha
- 1 cup of apple juice
- 4 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
- 8 whole cloves
- 2-inch piece of ginger, about twice as big as your thumb
Instructions
- Peel and dice the ginger into small pieces.
- Equally divide the apple juice into each glass bottle.
- Divide the cinnamon stick pieces, whole cloves, and chopped ginger equally among each glass bottle.
- Fill each bottle with kombucha, making sure to leave a 1-inch headspace.
- Let the bottles ferment for 2-3 days at room temperature.
- Use a strainer to remove the spices (optional).
- Refrigerate to stop the fermentation. Enjoy as desired.
Notes
You can substitute fresh red apples for apple juice. Chop two medium apples and divide them among the glass bottles.
Substitute ground cinnamon for cinnamon sticks. Use about 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon per bottle.
Substitute about 1/8 tsp of ground cloves per bottle if you don’t have whole cloves.
Try this recipe with a different type of homemade kombucha—green tea, white tea, or oolong tea are all great options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Fermenting Time: 48 hours
Table of Contents
What Does Apple Cider Kombucha Taste Like?
Apple cider kombucha tastes fresh, spicy, and just like apple cider. It’s tangy like apple cider vinegar but still sweet from the apple juice. The spices add warmth and a hint more sweetness, while black tea kombucha’s bold taste rounds out the flavors. Enjoy this kombucha flavor cold or at room temperature.
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Kombucha
Apple cider kombucha offers a wide range of health benefits. Like most fermented food, kombucha tea is a good source of probiotics and antioxidants. It helps support gut health by providing healthy digestive enzymes and acids. It also helps increase your gut microbiome, strengthening your immune system and supporting healthy brain function.
Apples:
- Are full of fiber and antioxidants.
- Are high in Vitamin C, which helps strengthen your immune system.
- Help support heart health by reducing bad cholesterol.
- Help support brain health by protecting the nerve paths from the brain to the body.
Cloves are:
- A good source of manganese, which helps support brain function and builds strong bones.
- Another great source of antioxidants, which help protect cells.
- Antimicrobial and can help stop the growth of harmful bacteria.
In addition, cloves may help support a healthy liver and help regulate blood sugar by improving the functioning of insulin-producing cells.
Ginger can help treat nausea and ease stomach upset. Ginger also helps increase serotonin and dopamine levels, boosting your mood and lowering anxiety. Cinnamon is high in antioxidants, can help control your blood sugar, and protect against heart disease.
How Much Caffeine Is in Apple Cider Kombucha?
Apple cider kombucha has 10-15 mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving. Green and white tea kombucha have less caffeine, around 5 mg per serving. The CDC recommends drinking no more than 8 fl oz of kombucha daily.
Those sensitive to caffeine can usually consume kombucha with little or no side effects. Tea contains the amino acid L-theanine, which helps buffer the caffeine. L-theanine has been shown to help lower stress and help your brain focus.
How Many Calories Are In Apple Cider Kombucha?
Apple cider kombucha has approximately 34 calories per 8 oz serving. Kombucha is generally low in calories and carbohydrates. Even though it’s made from sweet tea, most of the sugar is eaten by the SCOBY during the fermentation process.
Each batch of homemade kombucha is different, and it isn’t easy to calculate the exact amount of calories in apple cider kombucha. You’re in charge of the ingredients when you brew your own kombucha. With some experimentation, you can create a high-quality, healthy kombucha with a flavor profile you enjoy.
Should You Make This Recipe with Young, Sweet Kombucha or Older, Sour Kombucha?
Make apple cider kombucha with young, sweet kombucha. Stop your first fermentation while your tea still has some sweetness. You’ll also want it to have just a touch of carbonation. Use your older, sour kombucha as starter tea for your next batch of homemade kombucha.