Book Review: The Big Book of Kombucha, by Hannah Crum and Alex LaGory
Hannah Crum (aka ‘Kombucha Mama’) changed my life. I bought my first Kombucha home brew ‘starter kit’ from her over four years ago and have been happily brewing my own ‘booch ever since. The Big Book of Kombucha is a big (383 page), bold and beautiful book full of a wealth of first-hand information on all aspects of Kombucha that Hannah and her partner Alex LaGory have curated over their years of involvement with the Kombucha sub-culture.
From the history and science of Kombucha to straightforward guidelines on the many aspects of brewing, decanting and flavoring this healthful fermented tea, Hannah and Alex cram an awful lot of really useful information into this book. I was especially impressed with the full color photographs of typical brews (taken of clear glass jars to show the yeast strands, fermentation process and various colors of healthy and unhealthy SCOBY’s). There’s ample information on troubleshooting everything from mold to poorly performing brews, as well as scientific guidelines on brew temperature, acidity, sweetness and suggested tea mixes.
The second part of the book offers a huge range of recipes for flavoring, cocktails, smoothies and more. She even suggests intriguing ways to consume old growth SCOBYs (jerky, face masks etc.) This is the book I wish I’d had four years ago. I intend to take a close look at my current hit and miss production methods and implement their suggestions to improve things.
If you love Kombucha and are getting tired of paying $3-6 a bottle for the retail brands, invest in a copy of Hannah and Alex’s book and start brewing at home. It just might change your life.
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