Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (2024)

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4.70 from 10 votes

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By: Sarah Bond 7 Comments

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Looking for a fun new flavor for yourhomemade kombucha? This Pineapple Basil Kombucha is delightfully tropical with an herby twist!

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (1)

In my book, For the Love of Popsicles, I have a recipe for Pineapple Basil Popsicles that I adore. But I think people have been pretty scared to test it out, because basil is only for savory things, right? …. Wrong!

Pineapple brings that intense tropical sweetness while the basil brings an anise-y, peppery punch. And I just can’t get enough of it.

So obviously I had to try the dynamic duo out on my latest batch of kombucha, and it did not disappoint! A bit like the tulip-man’s Ginger Pepper Kombucha, which initially tastes like ginger until you get that inkling of pepper, this Pineapple Basil Kombucha has layers of flavors and is great served in place (or in) co*cktails!

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (2)

There are two main fermentation phases when making kombucha:

  1. First Fermentation: This is when you transform sweet tea into tart and delicious kombucha (see our step-by-stepguide to homemade kombucha)
  2. Second Fermentation: This is when youcarbonatethe kombucha by adding sugars (like pineapple!) and bottling it.

In order to make this Pineapple Basil Kombucha, you will need to have completed the first fermentation already and have some kombucha that’s ready to be carbonated!

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (3)

Ingredients to make Pineapple Basil Kombucha

  • Kombucha from a first fermentation: You’ve brewed your kombucha and it’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart (step-by-step first fermentation instructions here).
  • Pineapple: You can use fresh, frozen, or canned pineapple to make kombucha! If using frozen pineapple, just be sure to thaw it first. Not a fan of pineapple? Blackberries and strawberries also work well with basil!
  • Basil: We’ll use fresh basil here, blending it up with the pineapple to get an even distribution of flavor.
Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (4)

How to make Pineapple Basil Kombucha

Making your own flavored kombucha with pineapple is super easy. The process goes something like this:

  1. Puree the pineapple and basil: The more surface area of the fruit that is exposed to the kombucha, the more flavor and fizz you’ll have in the end! This also helps to infuse the basil flavor more evenly across your bottles.
  2. Bottle: Transfer kombucha intofermentation bottles, then evenly pour pineapple mixture into each.
  3. Ferment: For 3 to 10 days, until it reaches the carbonation level you like.
  4. Enjoy: Strain out pineapple basil debris (optional), then chill in the fridge before serving.
Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (5)

How to Make Pineapple Kombucha

Looking for something a bit more simple? Plain pineapple kombucha is one of my favorites! Just add 1/4 cup of pineapple chunks to 4 cups of kombucha and let it ferment until carbonated. Boom, teleportation drink to Hawaii.

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (6)

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (7)

Fizzy Pineapple Kombucha with Basil (Home Brewing Guide)

4.70 from 10 votes

Servings: 8 cups

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Looking for a fun new flavor for your homemade kombucha? This Pineapple Basil Kombucha is delightfully tropical with an herby twist!

Ingredients

  • ½ gallon kombucha from a first fermentation this is not storebought kombucha, 1.9 L
  • ½ cup chopped pineapple* 100 g
  • ¼ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves 20 g

Instructions

  • Puree: Use a handheld immersion blender or countertop blender to puree pineapple and basil until smooth (if needed, add a splash of kombucha to get things moving).

  • Bottle: Transfer kombucha into fermentation bottles**, leaving about 3 inches empty at the top. Evenly distribute pineapple mixture into each bottle. Seal tightly.

  • Ferment: Place in a dark, room temperature area for 3 to 10 days, until it reaches the carbonation level you like. This process will go faster in warmer climates, and slower in cooler climates.

  • Enjoy: Strain the kombucha to remove debris (optional), then chill in the fridge before serving. Can be stored in the fridge, tightly sealed, for several weeks.

Tips & Tricks

*To make plain pineapple kombucha, add ¼ cup of chopped pineapple to 4 cups kombucha, tightly seal, and let ferment as described above.

*Not a fan of pineapple? Blackberries and strawberries also work well with basil and can be substituted1:1 for the pineapple.

**If this is your first time brewing, it may be helpful to use a plastic water bottle as a gauge. Fill a disposable plastic bottle with kombucha (leaving 2 inches empty at the top). When this bottle becomes rock hard, you’ll know the glass bottle are also ready. This will help you gauge how quickly kombucha brews in your climate and will prevent bottle explosions.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g Calories: 50kcal (3%) Carbohydrates: 12g (4%) Protein: 0g Fat: 0g Sodium: 10mg Sugar: 10g (11%)

Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

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Here are a few more of our favorite kombucha flavors (or check out our all-time favorite flavors here)

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (8)

Blueberry Kombucha

Cooked blueberries bring deeply sweet and fruity flavor.

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (9)

Zingy Raspberry Kombucha

A copycat inspired by the zingy Trilogy kombucha! (Recipe on our sister site, BrewBuch.com).

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (10)

Ginger Pepper Kombucha

Zingy ginger and spicy pepper transform kombucha into a grown up ginger ale.

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (11)

Strawberry Kombucha

A ruby red classic that's as easy as blending and fermenting.

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (12)

Peach Pie Kombucha

Sweet like pie with hints of maple and vanilla.

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (13)

Chia Seed Kombucha

My favorite addition to kombucha...chia seeds! (Recipe on our sister site, BrewBuch.com).

You may also like...

  • How to Make a Kombucha Radler (Kombucha Shandy)

  • Pumpkin Spice Kombucha

  • Strawberry Kombucha Recipe (Home Brewed)

  • Spiced Ginger Pepper Kombucha Recipe (Ultra Fizzy!)

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

  1. Yuliya says

    Hi Sarah, have you ever tried adding 1-2 drops of essential oils (peppermint or basil or ginger) to the final product? I wonder if it would be ok and my kombucha won’t go bad.

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hi Yuliya! I actually haven’t tried this yet! I think it could be okay, as long as 1) the essential oil isn’t poisonous to ingest (I think some might be), and 2) the essential oil doesn’t have antifungal / bacterial / viral properties, which could hurt the kombucha. I would love to here how it goes if you try it out! 😀

  2. Lau Mei lin says

    Hi Sarah,thank you very much for the kombucha recipe.can I have the Butterfly Pea Flower Kombucha recipe.

    thank you

    Reply

  3. Yvonne says

    Can I put a cinnamon stick in the initial brew?

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Wait until the second fermentation to add any extra ingredients, like cinnamon 😀

  4. Kat v says

    Hi there! Newbie kombucha maker here with a final fermentation question. You say to use fermentation bottles and then strain out the fruit bits when it’s done fermenting. So you put the kombucha back into the fermentation bottles after straining? If so, I wonder if fermenting in mason jars and then transferring to fermentation bottles after straining would work? What do you think?Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (18)

    Reply

    • Sarah Bond says

      That would work I think!

Homemade Pineapple Basil Kombucha Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is pineapple kombucha good for you? ›

BENEFITS OF PINEAPPLE KOMBUCHA

It promotes a healthy gut leading to better immunity, enhanced metabolism, better digestion, and food absorption which finally gives you better energy levels. NATURAL DETOXIFIER: It is full of antioxidants, B Vitamins, and healthy acids, making it a natural detoxifier.

What happens if kombucha fermented too long? ›

If you leave kombucha on the counter with the scoby too long, you get something that taste like vinegar and can be used to replace vinegar in recipes. But the addition of the juice in this case fed the active yeast and bacteria in the kombucha.

Why is my homemade kombucha not fizzy? ›

If you're using fresh cut pieces of fruit and your bottles aren't bubbly, the yeast may be having a hard time accessing the sugar in the fruit and eating it. If it can't access enough sugar from the fruit, it can't produce carbon dioxide. Therefore no fizz.

How do you know if your kombucha has gone bad? ›

Is Your Kombucha Bad?
  • Your kombucha hasn't stayed cold.
  • Your kombucha smells strongly like vinegar.
  • It simply tastes “off.”
  • The normal brownish stuff floating (SCOBY) has turned colors.

Why can't you drink kombucha everyday? ›

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that four ounces of kombucha can be safely consumed one to three times a day. Overconsumption can lead to headache, nausea, gastrointestinal distress, or ketoacidosis.

Who should not drink kombucha? ›

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have weakened immune systems should avoid kombucha tea. Others may drink the tea if they like the taste, but only if it comes from a trusted source. Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

What can go wrong when making kombucha? ›

Brew the Fizziest Kombucha Ever by Avoiding These Common Mistakes
  • Using the Wrong Kind of Tea. ...
  • Getting All Fancy with the Sugar. ...
  • Not Giving the Booch Room to Breathe. ...
  • Letting It Ferment Too Long (or Not Long Enough) ...
  • Working Dirty.
Jul 6, 2016

What happens if you drink bad homemade kombucha? ›

Home-brewed kombucha tea has been associated with several adverse health events. These include at least one death, a case of cardiac arrest, several cases of hepatitis, one of severe muscle weakness and inflammation of the heart muscle, and cutaneous [skin] anthrax.

Can old kombucha become alcoholic? ›

There can be anywhere from 0.5 percent to 2.5 percent alcohol by volume in one bottle. Kombucha that sits too long could be significantly higher in alcohol content, even though the label may state there are only trace amounts.

Is it OK to drink flat kombucha? ›

Does non carbonated Kombucha Have Fewer Benefits? Kombucha does not need to be carbonated to be safe or delicious to drink. And flat Kombucha has the same nutritional components, carbonated is not healthier. Some people don't like their Kombucha too fizzy, finding that the carbon dioxide bothers their system.

What is the brown stuff in kombucha? ›

The small brown or black stringy clumps are colonies of yeast and tea residue. They are completely normal and safe! These colonies often form long filaments that hang under the kombucha scoby.

Why is my homemade kombucha so vinegary? ›

If your homemade kombucha tastes closer to vinegar than store brands it is likely because you have let it ferment too long. This is easily fixed by adding more tea I store what i am going to drink over a few days in the refrigerator while the fer...

What is the white stuff floating in kombucha? ›

The sediment in a bottle of kombucha is akin to “the mother” in raw apple cider vinegar, a culture of beneficial bacteria involved in the creation and fermentation of vinegar. In both raw ACV and kombucha, a layer of gunk is an indication that the product is indeed raw and contains live, good-for-you bacteria.

What is the mother of kombucha? ›

Biological. A kombucha culture is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), similar to mother of vinegar, containing one or more species each of bacteria and yeasts, which form a zoogleal mat known as a "mother".

How do you make a SCOBY from scratch? ›

Directions
  1. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add sugar; stir until it completely dissolves. ...
  2. Pour kombucha into a 1-gallon jar. Add the room-temperature tea (do not add hot tea, as it will kill the good bacteria). ...
  3. It will probably take 2 to 4 weeks for your SCOBY to form.
Sep 18, 2023

What is the healthiest kind of kombucha? ›

Here are some of the healthiest kombucha brands:
  • GT's Kombucha.
  • Health-Ade Kombucha.
  • Kevita Master Brew Kombucha.
  • Humm Kombucha.
  • Brew Dr. Kombucha.
  • Remedy Kombucha:
  • Wonder Drink Kombucha.
  • Synergy Kombucha.
Apr 26, 2023

What are the benefits of fermented pineapple drink? ›

As a fermented beverage, tepache contains some probiotics, which help keep the good bacteria in your gut healthy, help with digestion and support your immune system. The fermentation process also boosts the vitamin content of tepache, so it offers more nutritional benefits than just eating a ripe pineapple.

What does kombucha do for your body? ›

Advocates say it helps your digestion, rids your body of toxins, and boosts your energy. It's also said to boost your immune system, help you lose weight, ward off high blood pressure and heart disease, and prevent cancer.

Does kombucha detox your liver? ›

May Promote Liver Health

The main function of the liver is to help detoxify the body from harmful substances. Because of the powerful antioxidants in kombucha, regular ingestion helps fight free radicals from damaging cells. Kombucha helps the liver by assisting this mighty organ in the detoxification of the body.

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