Turn Second-Hand Punch Bottles Into Kombucha / Water Kefir Jars

I like to grow water kefir and kombucha at home. If you're already interested in either of these, you've probably heard of the health claims that these soda-like drinks have. I like them because they have good flavor, and because the caffeine and B-vitamins act like an energy drink. In this instructable, I'll show how to convert a typical punch jar into one suitable for brewing water kefir or kombucha.

In this step, clean up the jar:

1. Remove any stickers. Goo gone works great for this purpose.
2. Disassemble the jar spout. Spray and soak this in bleach.
3. Spray and soak the jar with bleach.

In this step, prepare the lid:

1. Cut out a circle of cotton fabric.
2. Use a larger plate as a template.
3. Cut using a razor blade.

Secondly, remove the upper part of the lid:

1. Use a drill press / mortising bit.
2. Sand rough edges with a rough sponge.

This is necessary to allow the kombucha / water kefir to "breathe". If this step is omitted, condensation may form in the jar which would be a perfect environment for mold to grow. If you have a serger or are married to someone kind enough to serge fabric for you, serge the edges of the fabric.

In this step, boil a lot of tea. You can use lower quality tea if you'd like since the flavor changes as the tea ferments. I happened to have some oolong tea that didn't taste great so I used it.

1. Wait for water to boil.
2. Turn off the water.
3. Wait a few minutes.
4. Add tea leaves.
5. Wait a few more minutes.
6. Add dark brown sugar.

Once everything has cooled, the jar has been washed with water, and has been reassembled, pour the lukewarm tea into the jar. Use a strainer to catch tea leaves. Lastly, add the kombucha or water kefir and let it ferment. It should be ready in 3 days to 1 week depending on size, sugar, and temperature.