How to Brew Your Own Kombucha with Brad | It's Alive | Bon Appetit

In episode 1 of 'It's Alive' with Bon Appétit test kitchen manager Brad Leone, we follow him through his process of brewing his own kombucha. Main takeaways include: be creative, keep your SCOBY clean, take care of her, feed her, and use food-grade bottles to avoid glass explosions. It's a learning experience.
Update: Brad now uses a concentrated formula that doesn't require ice. He mixes 2 quarts of water with sugar and tea. Then dilutes it with room-temperature water.
Join Bon Appétit test kitchen manager, Brad Leone, on a wild, roundabout and marginally scientific adventure exploring fermented foods and more. From cultured butter and kombucha, to kimchi and miso, to beer and tepache, learn how to make fermented and live foods yourself.
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How to Brew Your Own Kombucha with Brad | It's Alive | Bon Appetit

[@mattlittlej]

"Oh god. This is gonna get me fired." _Proceeds to have one of the most watched series on BA's youtube channel_

[@squamman631]

I think he was talking about the fact he took off his iconic beanie

[@tbabubba32682]

He's also not the BA test kitchen manager anymore.

[@shingletop1099]

@@tbabubba32682 what? when?

[@maureenalexis894]

@@tbabubba32682 what does he do now??

[@tbabubba32682]

@@maureenalexis894 I guess he just makes videos. His title on one of his videos (I don't know which one) says former test kitchen manager.

[@msaadah1223]

This is like watching Iron Man 1 after Endgame

[@SirTomFoolery]

such an underrated comment lmao

[@enbybunny9940]

What huh what happened to Brad is he alright?

[@bub5842]

this is the perfect comment

[@PedroKing19]

@@enbybunny9940 he's dead sorry to be the one to tell you

[@sregmi2695]

@@enbybunny9940 hes alive but this episode is soooo old

[@gusbrady4972]

This guy is an absolute character.

[@GaviLazan]

The star of The Test Kitchen, even two years later.

[@megancramer5288]

Gavers23 facts

[@karu6111]

Everyone in the test kitchen is a character, two years later...

[@adrianaline_rush]

Watching this video in 2019 is like a time capsule, so weird seeing how different Chris and Claire look

[@hop-skip-ouch8798]

But Brad still looks same with smaller hair

[@CynicVash]

Yeah!

[@scarvesbowtiessuspen]

Tanvi Risbud Claire used to dye her hair

[@ashleighkaye3645]

claire looks like a baby i cant cope

[@Timboolin]

Claire had cakes

[@angelparra1838]

“I’m really creative” “So this is apricot, I just write.... apricot”

[@jade_capricorn]

That was the funniest thing to me.

[@montueswedthursfri]

perfect edit

[@emilycalles623]

Just went through 5 years worth of BA videos and this video is probably the first video to kick start the current style of BA vids. Whoever the editors are, thank you ❤️

[@valjoy1507]

The video where Claire makes caramel and the one where Carla makes steak were like dipping your toes in the water and then this one dunks you.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

@@valjoy1507 I love how it fits in with KZbin humour without losing the integrity of the serious cooking but also doesn't try TOO hard to be down with the kids. It feels natural.

[@acatindisguise]

in an article i read, this apparently is the video where it all started

[@SamuraiPie8111]

im pretty sure he's just a fisherman from mass that walked in off the street but nobody noticed

[@angelous7774]

Sad comment!! you must be one of those sour-bitter people just living sourness and bitterness wherever they go...hater

[@kinkynikk]

@@angelous7774 it's a joke..

[@jacksong8748]

@@kinkynikk Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny :P

[@GrandioseLucian]

@@angelous7774 Your sense of humor is as non-existant as your IQ

[@brontyborfort3082]

For you

[@rajpatel-vg4xe]

3 years ago when I saw this for the first time , I had no idea I would be so Invested in everyone involved in this video.

[@lolosmith8446]

Idek when I 1st watched one of the BA videos but since then I have been hooked on everyone, especially Brad, Claire, Delany and Andy lol

[@factswithchicky]

Same

[@LS-jj4sy]

BABY CLAIRE Also baby Brad but he's the same

[@JuicyPuicy.]

And Morocco

[@felipe_coelho]

She wasn't so stressed out by the insane Gourmet Make's requests hahahahhaha

[@BasketOfPuppies642]

Brad is an eternal being, immune to age.

[@hop-skip-ouch8798]

Meanwhile Gabby has aged 10 years

[@Lilian040210]

I didn't recognize baby Claire until Brad called her name :0

[@BarnyTrubble]

Vinny had to fight for 8 months before this episode aired. I wouldn't even care about BA if not for Brad, nice job Vinny

[@michaelb1082]

Where did you read about that?

[@ipek6677]

@@michaelb1082 It might be on BA's podcast. There were a couple episodes where Brad talked about the show. Hunzi was in one of those episodes also

[@IvoTrausch]

This confirms my theory that Claire's grey hair is caused by the breakdowns she suffers on Gourmet Makes

[@ItsJoeHut]

Nah, she said she always had it, but used to dye it black

[@mauricekatrinasangalang746]

No, its the tempered chocolate that made her have the grey streaks. But your also right.

[@narutohatake2336]

Ivo Trausch my grey hair was caused by school but for now it’s gone

[@limari95]

"I like to come up with little names for them, you know, really creative. So this is apricot. I'll just write apricot."

[@winter2625]

I have no idea what he's doing, but I love him!

[@RWD1907]

aww man. watching this a year later, imma had the same thought in ma head. good dude..

[@megancramer5288]

Winter Littell we all love him

[@kmanmuscat]

making fermented tea.

[@gwenzeezee]

ikr. It's like I'm watching Brad not because of his recipes but to see him and his energy 👌🏻

[@fxrxn9803]

Seeing claire in the background of someone else’s video has the same feeling of coming across your teacher while grocery shopping

[@lilchinesekidchen]

this my favorite show because it's production style is the exact opposite of all the other BA videos

[@bkeene12]

This episode is when BA "turned the corner". It became informative and highly entertaining!

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

I love how he doesn’t explain what a scoby is or where it comes from or even what it does.

[@yannarif1756]

scoby doo

[@epicman5840]

It’s M O M

[@lillianl6806]

Me Here 😭😭

[@PeetaGrifffin]

It's not supposed to be clear, that's the art of Brad Leone

[@michellelynne5118]

I watched this episode and was like, "nope! I don't trust that guy." Seventy videos later, I'm running out of material and watching it again. Still have some questions, Brad.

[@gavin479]

"I told him it was called Brads World' oh my gosh Matt you're amazing. What ever they are paying you, double it. You're 60% the reason Brads videos are so good!

[@FictionWeLiveIn]

"This is gonna get me fired" 5 years later Brad is carrying this entire channel on his back, bringing it countless viewers.

[@kpredd13]

I like how everything he does in this video the text overlay basically says 'nah he doesnt do it like that anymore, thats not a good way to do it" hahah

[@NuhanHidayat]

with no doubt this is the worst "how to" video ever, but somehow i really love it 🤣😂

[@honeybadger3232]

How to basic?

[@Sandwichplss]

Hella entertaining but still got 0 clue on how to make kombucha... wtf is a scoby

[@RiahYannaBeans]

@@Sandwichplss it's a type of bacteria. Google it. It makes since if you read up

[@pesector]

@@RiahYannaBeans not completely, its a combination of bacteria and yeast. (Symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast)

[@jhubeJELLO]

@@honeybadger3232 How To Basic goes to Bon Apetit i need to see it

[@Eliathebakingfaery]

Coming back to this in 2020, because I am in a point in my life where I actually can start making my own Kombucha :') I just wanna say thank you to Brad for piquing my interest in the whole fermentation cosmos

[@LalanailsASMR]

Omg! Literally was the reason i decided to make kombucha ❤️ Saw his vid like 3 years ago & now i have one fermenting!

[@candaceburton6161]

Same here! I just bought a kombucha making kit and I'm working on my first batch.

[@bernardjones2107]

@@christmaspresent227 im not Sarah but i have been making and bottling my own booch for years. i find that passata bottles are the best, I put whole chunks of flavourings in mine (sliced ginger, citrus peel and juice, whole berries etc) during the second ferment and the wide mouth on these bottles makes that easy to do, and easier to clean them again.

[@pfw4568]

I am bit confused. Isn't there alcohol in Kombucha?

[@Eliathebakingfaery]

@@pfw4568 yes there is. The fermentation turns the sugars into lactic acid (yummy sour) CO2 (yummy fizzy) and some of it gets turned into alcohol by the bacteria :)

[@dreaK561]

I watched the whole video but still have no idea how people make kombucha. Tho I learned why Brad is the best human ever...a precious gem

[@jacobcornwell7490]

This was the beginning of something truly amazing

[@residenteye6818]

Jacob Cornwell And till today It’s Alive

[@joshlewis575]

Who would've thought bon appetite would have 1 of the best KZbin channels around

[@lolosmith8446]

@@joshlewis575 this is the only KZbin channel I've truly been a fan of.

[@newmanana]

"Buch doesn't like to be messed with." This guy's hilarious!

[@Daniel-boy737]

Michael Newman "Rocket Surgery"

[@biaselias]

Watching these old videos and wow Claire and Brad and everyone really looked so different

[@CraigBickerstaff]

The stress levels in this "test kitchen" must be insane.

[@CantankerousDave]

Craig Bickerstaff To be fair, Claire’s dyed white streak makes her look a lot older. (Same with Gabby.)

[@jostewart3192]

CantankerousDave I thought her white streaks were natural and she stopped dyeing them

[@cnsummers4086]

@@jostewart3192 She said in an interview that she started greying in college. She was going to a salon to dye it black then did it herself at home, but now just wants to go natural

[@lucienramirez]

I'm still crushing on Claire

[@voidfuture]

Re-watching this in 2019 and damn it's genius. Brad is the best "tv" personality ever.

[@kitsune_jones]

Brad walked so that the rest of the Bon Appétit test kitchen could run

[@jiannaleitameta7300]

MonsterHunter110 Chris walked so BATK could run. He’s the first test kitchen cast to be in a BA vid

[@maxcrouse5298]

"One courdouve wurder" lmfao

[@misomelk]

It's so fun getting back to this now that I know a lot more BA people. It's surreal to see people like Claire, Andy and Chris from 3 years ago. xD Also bless Matt's editing skills. Amazing since Day 1.

[@kriscinemaa]

3:07 a rare moment of Claire with fully black hair

[@cynthia_ess]

Brad: This is going to get me fired. Has his own show, his own travel segment and was promoted. 😂

[@sjhaven]

"wourder"

[@DarwinsBeerReviews]

Rocket surgery.

[@onelife7572]

Scott Haven Me and my family say it like that too, Adams county ohio for you

[@princesadepresa5396]

Scott Haven I feel like he was playing it up this time

[@boogersculptor]

can BA do an interview with vincenzo? but black him out and disguise his voice like those undercover agents etc. i like the mystery of vinny but also want to know more about him.

[@louschwick7301]

If so, then dont google him, or watch the gardiniera episode. His face is public information

[@sfasr32t432tfg43etfg]

Yah, that was great. Brad brings more comedy to ba than you guys normally have (and which I think is partially missing from making this a well rounded food channel). It's fun watching people fail, recover and be in good spirits about it because us normal folk basically cook like that;) (to clarify, I don't want all your presenters to be a bit more funny, that would be bad. I mean it's nice to have a videos that are serious educational show up, it's just nice to have a bit more educational comedy stuff in there too to round out the BA experience)

[@chicagocurly]

Absolutely agree!

[@zackschiffler28]

blarg iijhh

[@raymondomega]

Well put indeed.

[@dokken63]

educaintment

[@razrv3lc]

They're all funny now lmao. It's probably because they're all more comfortable in front of the camera now

[@GR1NCH]

best first 20 seconds of any show ever. truly sets the tone and scene for the next 2 years. Congrats on 2 years guys.

[@carlytravis7133]

Okay I love him, can we make "Brads World" a thing?

[@ljm_6161]

Carly Travis *Brad's Wourld

[@ruebencornish7303]

"I thought i was gonna do that!"

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

Carly Travis too close to Frankie’s World on tastemade tbh.

[@b4ds33d2]

I’ve been saying this for awhile. Brad and Vinny are the best thing about BA.

[@caraduffy8896]

Carly Travis I

[@vennisemae7049]

alternate title: "chaotic ball of energy attempts to make kombucha for 9 minutes straight"

[@popeyeschicken7865]

"Like a frogs ass water tight" 😂😂😂😂

[@lexiauxt7539]

*wourder tight

[@joniford6110]

Now, after all this time, I need a compilation of every time Brad tries to determine when he's going to check the thing he's making next. "What's today? Wednesday? Ok let's check Friday." *card reads Monday* but for like an hour.

[@Fufupoopoo]

Does anyone else have a weird crush on Brad? Im confused

[@heeiiii]

omg huge crush.. massive crush.. kinda-jealous-but-super-happy-for-their-cute-family crush

[@Fufupoopoo]

Omg I feel you girl!

[@franmannn69]

yes. he's hot af.

[@tasha1357]

Thursday I am super confused too

[@maybeyourbaby6486]

I kind of do. I thought I was a lesbian but I guess not?

[@joshoshoshoshosh]

It's adorable how hard Brad tries to be a focused, typical host in this. Fortunately his slightly chaotic energy shines through as a hint of what's to come.

[@lifeofsabine9685]

He reminds me of Andy from Parks & Rec

[@harsharnkaur2075]

yessssss

[@leofera1137]

Or Charlie from it’s always sunny

[@wolfjafet]

@@leofera1137 For me it's a combo of Charlie from Sunny, Marshal from HIMYM, and Andy from P&R

[@daviedarling]

@@wolfjafet YES he is totally jason segal 2.0

[@TarRawrr]

Bradley cooper

[@amandarama6449]

Who else is rewatching all the episodes while yearning for a new installment 😫

[@jasminethebird]

I hope whoever edits these videos has job security for the rest of their lives

[@emilypollock7990]

The Vinnie!!!

[@kaminaridenki2056]

Emily Pollock its actually hunzi

[@martytu20]

Vinny is now with Andrew Rea.

[@acatindisguise]

that would be hunzi (matt hunziker) and vinny (vincent cross)

[@czarinamarushka3224]

I bet BA didn’t know this was the start of something great!! We love you, Brad!

[@catherinehoward9062]

I had no idea ba was so chill. Pleasantly surprised and entertained! Love this

[@catherinehoward9062]

ROCKET SURGERY

[@vocexseta]

catherine howard He seems a little buzzed up to be honest xD Not that I care. He’s entertaining.

[@maylingrace]

Why does this warm my heart so much!? Seeing everyone we would come to love before we knew we loved them. ❤️ Andy, Claire, Chris...❤️❤️❤️

[@13939014402]

More video from Brad Leone!!!! He is so funny!!!

[@FJLC93]

This is like the first episode of the office. All the OG characters get their own moment.

[@BackwaterSocrates1415]

Anyone else come back for the purest Brad?

[@GemmasMusic]

This is the most chaotic instructional video I've seen yet and I still have no idea how to make kombucha

[@shinekire]

Your video editor cracks me up. 10/10

[@nicolaspharr9117]

Just a hint to anybody who wants to try this at home. Brad shouldn't be using any metallic things like his funnel at this point because it can cause a reaction with the fermentation. Also you can use fresh fruit instead of juice.

[@assordante2205]

Seems like it fermented just fine, bud.

[@katharina1788]

Very late answer, as I just saw the video for the first time. Yes, metal messes with Kombucha or other way round. But stainless steel is ok. If you are not sure if, for instance your strainer is a cheap aluminium steel blend, then better use a plastic one or buy good quality stainless steel products. For fermentation is a glass jar the best option. Glass straw for tasting the batch.

[@Robberator]

Oh my God, Chris was so much chubbier here. I can't believe there used to be a time like this.

[@Mordra]

"This ain't rocket surgery" LMAO

[@jordnotfound]

Brad went from: I'm probably getting fired. To episode 23. 😂 Update: he's on 26, soon to be 27! 💪🏻

[@ikathiggs13]

45 now! C:

[@CatatonicImperfect]

$EPISODE_COUNT episodes now!

[@HienPham-ow2fd]

55 now

[@isabellahawley1179]

65 nowadays..

[@estherkirakawaii]

68

[@eddiemclatchy2642]

Brad is the main reason I started cooking, my kids enjoy the food adventures I've been prompted to by mr. Leone!!! Thanks for inspiring me

[@AJ3000_]

Brad and Vin need to be in more videos or make his own channel. He is the best part about this channel 🤙🏽

[@jonasslemming5766]

I binge through the whole, It's alive once a year, I love that brilliant creation also known as Brad Leone, his personality and way he is :D

[@Armandoesstuff]

Is there any way to subscribe to just this dude?

[@ralphh4131]

Ya I love Brad and vinnies work. This channel and food wishes are by far my favorite food channels I have made at least half a dozen of their recipes so far.

[@jko8888]

Just add the "It's Alive with Brad" playlist to your playlists.

[@josephvickrey5396]

ArmanDoesStuff Don't forget Vinny, and Woodar.

[@hiphopdagame]

Claire Saffitz cool too..

[@thermonuclearwarhead]

I wish, this dude is gold

[@emmaclay9357]

it's good to know Brad hasn't changed since Day 1. I love it

[@MTA3]

The humor is great, the editing is hilarious, brad is adorable, and his accent is too.

[@jttrevino4090]

The whole “warder” things cracks me up every time. Thanks for making my day Brad and vin, one of the best duos right here.

[@M4rtingale]

Who wants to see Vinnie? Who's with me??

[@abigailcole8141]

@Vincentcross is his insta! 😝

[@Harrisonpope]

“This is gonna get me f**king fired” said the man with the now most successful ba video series

[@Khangdodo]

When I grow up I want to be a rocket surgeon

[@Bits_Bobs]

so many warnings to what brad "does now" love it. ba can somebody please show b-rad how young he looks here lool.

[@kellyshmo]

“Don’t worry, this will make sense soon” wow, the foreshadowing for Bon Appétit’s Brad Leone

[@haziqnp]

1:39 there's a dead fly on the counter near the jar and brad removes it with his hand, the best part about it is that vinny added a fly sound at exactly 1:39-1:40.... I'm guessing no one noticed it. Vinny is a GOD when it comes to editing !!

[@MarielWhispers]

Vinny wasn't the editor, just the cameraman

[@reallivebluescat]

"Bacteria in your hands, is really bad" goes on sucking the hose :D

[@lolabooms]

The edge of wholesomeness is Andy and Brad in the same shot

[@amandameckert1579]

I watched this video ages ago and I was super interested in trying kombucha but I was nervous to make my own, but I finally did it and I’m loving it. So thanks Brad for the inspo

[@cheekynandosss581]

Yesterday I discovered Brad and finally taken a dive into the BA test kitchen and I’m never going back. How tf has it taken me this long!!!

[@frishavocadoo]

1:54 I like how he just made that strainer appear out of thin air like a magician...

[@gwenzeezee]

this comment is so underrated

[@caoimhe1811]

I’m coming back to this video because I miss myself 6 years ago

[@soulpanda89]

Who's here in 2019? (Side note: look at all these effing baby faces....Brad...Claire....CHRIS!!!!)

[@mtak160]

the first 15 seconds already set the stage for what the rest of the series will be like and it did not disappoint

[@nukethewhalesagain]

Me watching this in 2019: I didn't know they recast Chris and Claire!!!

[@juukame]

1:54 he pulled that sieve out of nowhere like a looney toon character. Truly a master cook

[@itzelmend5421]

So now I love bon appetite because of Brad !!! He is awesome and love that he not stuffy or your typical tv chef now a days.

[@Crobisaur]

a cleaner and less wasteful way to prime the siphon is to push the whole hose into the tea until it fills up, cap the end with your thumb or a plug and then release when below the water level of the pot. :)

[@ChooChoco]

Oh my gosh this is genius!!! Thank you!!!

[@marynapier2007]

His brain just keeps speeding down the road while his mouth tries to keep up! Somehow it makes sense, even when it doesnt!!

[@savannahdelgadillo7056]

Holy crap ive been watching Brad for 3 n a half years

[@oliverdittrich2140]

I love the guy who is editing this stuff. Great work

[@qlevrqt8886]

it ain't just brad that makes his videos funny, it's his editor too

[@safinamarishka]

2 years later Can we talk how Chris looks so different, wow!

[@TomssTomss13]

Safina Marishka so hot! 😍

[@zynthio]

"Oh- This is gonna get me fired..." 5 years later: *single-handedly carrying this channel on his back*

[@belugaabs]

so every kombucha he made always have little bit spit of his his mouth?

[@kharitonovboyanaleskeevich4226]

Yeah, u wont die.

[@weloversoftheunitedstates]

+MrBoyrobot12 just a little meningitis

[@MrP0lar]

according to brad, hand bacteria is bad, mouth bacteria is ok

[@Sheetrock39]

theBraxil best comment

[@ryanralston3375]

If you cup a circle with your thumb and index finger about .5 cm up on the tube, you can effectively use your mouth for pressure without ever cross contaminating. Not standard practice, but he's not putting any harmful GI bacteria in there unless he didn't wash his hands.

[@sakurastar55]

Brad is my favorite because he's the only chef I've ever seen who cooks in a realistic way? Like I'm not a chef but I cook for myself all the time and it just isn't realistic to measure and be exact in everything, sometimes you can just eyeball it and that's not a bad thing

[@felicitysmoak3757]

Imagine if instead of “Its Alive” it was “Brad’s World”

[@thelasthokage4347]

I only understood about 25% of what this dude said and was still wildly entertained. Bravo

[@MoneybagsUkulele]

2023, reporting in.

[@aprilmoak540]

The editing and Brad’s personality is a match made in heaven

[@ashabdrah]

Brad 3 years ago: I like to come up with names. I'm very creative. Brad now: Why do you keep having me name things man? You and your names.

[@roachbag6969]

I miss this show 😢

[@danielamichelle76]

Brad literally reminds me of some funny movie character, like idk why but his personality is hilarious

[@Bergen98]

That is how it ALL started. If not for charisma of Brad and Vinny pushing this video through no one would be watching this channel. Basically history of BA can be divided before Brad and after first "It's alive!"

[@SharikSobaka]

Here’s an idea: make a new video with all the updates and experience brad has learned on how to make kombucha

[@turid6990]

I wish my children looked after me the way Brad looks after his scoby. So much care.