🦋A Homebrewer's Guide to Testing Kombucha pH
"Making your own" food used to be almost frowned upon as something best left to the hippies (like making apple cider), but in a quest for a healthier lifestyle, people are making all sorts of amazing things in their kitchens these days. And so it is with kombucha.
It seems that everywhere you look, someone is selling or brewing kombucha. But at three bucks a bottle in my local supermarket (and gosh, do they trick you into spending money), many savvy drinkers are choosing to make their own. A key part of getting it to taste right and ensuring it's safe is testing the pH level.
The Science of a Healthy Brew: Why pH is Crucial for Kombucha
Kombucha fermentation is powered by a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast). As this culture consumes the sugar in your sweet tea, the beneficial bacteria produce gluconic and lactic acid. These acids are what give kombucha its signature tart flavor and, most importantly, they lower the pH of the brew. Monitoring this pH drop is critical for two reasons:
- Safety: A low pH (acidic environment) is the kombucha's natural defense mechanism. It creates an environment that is inhospitable to harmful pathogens like mold and unwanted bacteria, protecting your brew from spoilage.
- Flavor and Fermentation Progress: The pH level is a direct indicator of how your fermentation is progressing. A starting pH of 4.5 or below is needed to protect the brew from the start. As it ferments, the pH will drop. A final pH between 2.5 and 3.5 indicates that your brew is ready to bottle or drink. The higher the final pH, the sweeter your kombucha will taste.
📊How to Test the pH of Your Kombucha Brew
There are two easy ways to test the pH of your batch: using a food-grade pH meter or simple pH test strips. If you're on a budget and a ballpark result is good enough, strips are a great place to start. If you want precision, a digital meter is the way to go.
How to Test pH with a Test Strip
- Pour a small sample from your batch into a clean container, like a shot glass.
- Take a pH strip and dip it into the solution for a second or two.
- The strip will immediately change color. Compare this color to the chart that came with your strips to determine the pH level.
For kombucha, you are generally looking for results in the yellow to light green range on the color chart.
Our Recommended pH Strips: Kombucha Chemistry
A popular and reliable pH test kit made specifically for kombucha is the Kombucha Chemistry range. These strips are ready to use straight out of the box and are incredibly easy to use. No cutting, no tearing, and no staining your fingers. If you want a pro tip to double your supply, you can carefully cut the strips down the middle with a sharp pair of scissors!
Get Your Kombucha pH Strips on Amazon
For Ultimate Accuracy: Using a Digital pH Meter
If you're serious about getting precise, scientific readings of your brew, then a handheld digital pH reader is the best tool for the job. You can get a cheap pocket meter for under $30 on Amazon, or you can invest in a higher-quality model for even more accuracy and features. Brands like Oakton, Hach, and Milwaukee are all trusted by brewers and are excellent choices for testing kombucha.