Within a few months I went from having no idea what in the world kombucha was to having a pretty serious 'booch habit. Soon, I was spending upwards of $15 a week to get my fix of this fermented tea that sells for around $5 a bottle.

It was a problem, and I admitted that I needed help - but I wasn't willing to give up kombucha altogether. Kombucha has many touted health benefits, and whether proven or not, I did love the way it made me feel.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF KOMBUCHA

Packed with Probiotics
Aids in Digestion
Good for Gut Health
Cleansing
Improves Metabolism
Increased Energy

So what's a girl to do when she can't afford to buy a bottle of kombucha every day, despite loving the taste and benefits?

Word on the street was that brewing your own kombucha was pretty easy, as long as you had a SCOBY. A what? A "symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast" - it's what you need to start brewing your own kombucha.

People tell me a lot of things are easy to make on your own and I don't necessarily listen to them - making my own peanut butter, making my own hummus, making my own almond milk - these all sound great in theory but a) they don't cost me too much to begin with b) ingredients like almonds and peanuts can be expensive and c) it's more time consuming than picking it up from the store.

But kombucha was starting to cost me a lot of money - so my interest was piqued.

When I got to Denver my friend Morgan told me she could give me a piece of SCOBY to start brewing my own. I took my SCOBY home to NY and I've been successfully brewing my own kombucha ever since.

I'm here to tell you that it actually is SO easy to brew kombucha at home. If I can do it, I promise you can too.

There are tons of great, detailed guides by other bloggers (like the one I learned from by The Kitchn). But I think that their length can be overwhelming. I'm here to write the most simple, bare bones guide on how to make your own kombucha at home.

HOW TO BREW KOMBUCHA AT HOME

1. Bring 14 Cups of Water to a Boil

2. Put 8 Black Tea Bags (Flavored or Plain Black Tea) into Boiling Water

3. Pour 1 Cup of Sugar into Boiling Water & Stir Until Dissolved

4. Remove from Heat and Allow to Cool with Tea Bags Inside (Can Take a Few Hours)

5. Once Cool, Remove Tea Bags

6. Add 2 Cups of Regular Store-Bought Kombucha

Once you've made your first batch, you can start adding 2 cups of your own home-brewed kombucha to your fresh batches instead of store-bought.

7. Transfer to a Large Glass Jar/Container

8. Slide Your SCOBY (ordered online or from a friend who makes their own kombucha) Into the Jar

9. Cover Jar with Paper Towel Held On Top With Rubber Band

10. Ferment for 7-10 Days

11. Remove SCOBY & Use a Funnel to Pour into Air Tight Containers (I use ones like these)

12. Keep Out for 1-3 Days at Room Temperature and Allow to Carbonate

This is the point where you can also add some fresh fruit or fruit juice to flavor your kombucha.

13. Store In Refrigerator and Enjoy!

The coolest part is that each time you brew a new batch, your SCOBY will grow a new layer! You can peel it if it starts to get too think and share the kombucha love by giving the gift of a SCOBY to your friend!