Hibiscus Soda

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Start by making a strong tea base by mixing dried hibiscus with soursop leaves in a pot.
  2. 2Add hot water to the hibiscus and soursop leaves.
  3. 3Steep the tea in hot water, then strain it.
  4. 4Add sugar to the strained tea and stir until dissolved.
  5. 5Grab your ginger bug and give it a good stir.
  6. 6To check if the ginger bug is ready, add a spoonful to a glass of water; if bubbles rise, it's ready to go.
  7. 7Strain about half a cup of the ginger bug liquid.
  8. 8Add the strained ginger bug liquid to a swing-top bottle with the cooled hibiscus liquid and water.
  9. 9Let the bottle sit at room temperature for 3 to 7 days to carbonate.
  10. 10Open the bottle daily to release any pressure.
  11. 11You know it's ready when you notice a thin layer of foam at the top.
  12. 12Store the probiotic soda in the fridge and enjoy.

Ingredients

  • 0.25 cup dried hibiscus leave
  • 1 cup boiled water
  • 1 cup hibiscus liquid (cooled completely)
  • 0.33 cup sugar
  • 3 cups water
  • 0.5 cup ginger bug liquid

Equipment

potstrainerspoonswing-top bottlefunnelglass

Tips

  • Make sure the hibiscus liquid is cooled completely before adding the ginger bug. If you add your ginger bug to hot tea, the microbes will die and your drink will not ferment.
  • The carbonation may continue to build slowly, so always open the bottle carefully.
  • The flavor may become slightly more tangy over time, but it remains safe to drink as long as it smells pleasant and shows no signs of spoilage.