With rose buds and blood orange juice, this is a kombucha flavor you’ll come back to time and time again!

Blood orange kombucha in a glass on a white background

I’m always on the hunt for new kombucha flavors. So when my mom raved about her newest store bought favorite – GTs Pure Love Kombucha – I knew I had to make it.

The original flavor is a vibrant combination of hibiscus kombucha, blood orange, and roses. But to keep this flavor attainable to any home brewer, we’re swapping out the hibiscus tea for our classic black tea kombucha.

Throw in dried rose buds for a floral hint and blood orange juice for that gorgeous color, and you’ve got yourself some damn tasty kombucha. Let’s brew!

Bottles of blood orange kombucha on a white background

There are two main fermentation phases when making homemade kombucha:

  1. First Fermentation: This is when you transform sweet tea into tart and delicious kombucha (see our guide to homemade kombucha here).
  2. Second Fermentation: This is when you carbonate the kombucha by adding flavor and sugars and bottling it.

In order to make this Blood Orange Kombucha, you will need to have completed the first fermentation and have some kombucha thatโ€™s ready to be carbonated!

Bottles of blood orange kombucha on a white background

Here’s what you’ll need

  • Kombucha: You have brewed your kombucha in the first fermentation and are ready to flavor it (first fermentation instructions here).
  • Blood Orange Juice: Fresh or store bought orange juice both work here. This will provide the sugars for the bacteria and yeast to feed on, creating fizzy carbonation!
  • Dried Rose Buds: As a precaution, ensure these rose buds are food grade (i.e. donโ€™t have added perfumes or chemicals). Youโ€™ll usually find these where you would find tea in the grocery (or online here).
Pouring blood orange kombucha in a glass on a white background

How to make blood orange kombucha

This is definitely one of the easier flavors to create. Just bottle everything together, let it ferment, then enjoy!

  1. Bottle: Evenly distribute blood orange juice and rose buds into fermentation bottles. Pour in kombucha, leaving 1 to 2 inches free at the top
  2. Ferment: For 3 to 10 days, until it reaches the carbonation level you like.
  3. Enjoy: Chill in the fridge before serving, optionally straining out the rose buds.
Blood orange kombucha in a glass on a white background

P.S. if you love floral flavors, you’ll also like our Cherry Rose Kombucha and Lavender Kombucha.

Bleeding Heart Kombucha

4.75 from 4 votes
Prep: 3 days
Total: 3 days
Servings: 8 cups
With rose buds and blood orange juice, this is a kombucha flavor you'll come back to time and time again!

Ingredients 

  • ยฝ gallon kombucha* from a first fermentation, this is not store bought kombucha, 1.9 L
  • ยฝ cup blood orange juice, 120 mL
  • 4 Tbsp dried food-grade rose buds, about 7 g
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Instructions 

  • Bottle: Evenly distribute juice and rose buds intoย fermentation bottles. Pour inย kombucha, leaving 1 to 2 inches free at the top.
  • 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: Chill in the fridge before serving, optionally straining out the flowers and fibers. Can be stored in the fridge, tightly sealed, for several weeks.

Notes

*Which tea is best? I used black tea kombucha, but green or hibiscus kombucha would also be great.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup (depends on fermentation length) | Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 31mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what youโ€™ve made!

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4.75 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Esperanza says:

    OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Thanks to your lovely blog, I just started a scoby a few weeks ago. It is something that I have always wanted to do but never knew how! The GT’s Pure Love is one of our favourite flavours! I am so glad you have a recipe for it!!! A million thanks for your kombucha blog!

    1. Sarah says:

      YAY! So happy you found us! Happy brewing ๐Ÿ˜€

  2. Joanne says:

    Can you use any orange juice in place of the blood orange? I love GT Pure Love Kombucha!

    1. Sarah says:

      Yep that would work! ๐Ÿ˜€