Spring Archives - The Booch Witch

Magical Spring Spark Kombucha

Welcome to the Spring Equinox, celebrated in the Earth’s northern hemisphere on March 19, 2024. Let’s enjoy Magical Spring Spark Kombucha and the Spring Equinox. This special day aligns with the March 19 Spring Equinox Collaborative Wellness Event in partnership with Emilee of Emilee’s Healing Hut and Sarah of Janesville Juice Bar!

Join us for an evening of education and relaxation at Emilee’s Healing Hut’s Spring Equinox Wellness Event. This unique collaboration with The Booch Witch and Janesville Juice Bar combines the flavors of Spring with the benefits of Kombucha and fresh-pressed juice. Learn how to make your own Kombucha in a DIY workshop, discover the benefits of juicing in a presentation, and indulge in a relaxing Sound Bath Guided Meditation. Samples will be provided and DIY kits, Scobys, and Juices are available for purchase.

The Magical Spring Spark Kombucha recipe encompasses a time of Balance, Renewal, and Awakening. Many spiritual practices use the Equinox for reflection, gratitude, and setting intentions for the future.

The Magical Spring Spark comes from the powerful intentions of the three of us and is inspired by Emilee’s meditations and Sarah’s premium juices. We celebrate Spring with a kombucha brimming with vibrant energies and a touch of fiery magic. This recipe is for one 12-16 ounce bottle.

Magical Spring Spark Kombucha Ingredients

2 tbsp. cold-pressed juice from the Janesville Juice Bar (for Renewal)
Sage – 1 leaf dried or fresh, crushed between your fingers (for Balance)
Fresh ginger – a dime to penny-sized slice (1 tsp.) (for Awakening)

Thanks to all March 19, 2024, Spring Equinox Collaborative Wellness Event attendees!

As you set your intentions…

What’s an Equinox?

On Equinoxes, days and nights are equal in all parts of the world. How special, right? (March for the Northern Hemisphere Spring Equinox) or shortest (September for the Northern Hemisphere Fall Equinox).

An Equinox is a natural turning point in Earth’s cycle, a perfect time to focus on Balance, Renewal, Awakening, and the cyclical nature of life.

Equinoxes are also a good time for cleaning, hence “Spring cleaning!” Open the windows for fresh air, turn on your favorite music, and set your intentions. Spring is aligned with Aires, the beginning of the astrological new year. Set new intentions in this New Year, create new goals, and focus on projects, like learning how to make your very own kombucha from the comfort and frugality of your home!

What’s a Solstice?

Solstices are the farthermost points as Earth’s axis tilts toward or away from the sun. The days and nights are the longest (June for the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice) or shortest (December for the Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice).

If you have not reserved your spot, please do so!

Spring Equinox Collaborative Wellness Event

A fresh pair cits with fresh ginger and an upright ten of wands tarot card.

Juicy Pear Kombucha

There’s nothing like a succulent, fresh pear. Pears have a sweet, gritty taste and when fully ripe, this juicy fruit makes a tasty homemade kombucha.

Pears, like apples, contain pectin, a fiber that nourishes gut bacteria. So using pears in flavors make for super-gut-healthy-booch too! As a kid, I loved juicy pear jellybeans. To best recreate this flavor for kombucha, I chose a healthier route, as illustrated below. Enjoy my Juicy Pear Kombucha!

Fresh Pear – juicy, ripe pear (any variety) cut into thin slices (2 tbsp)
Clove – one dried clove stem, or ⅛ tsp dried clove
Lemon juice – ¼ tsp
Ginger – fresh, powdered, or crystallized (small chunk, about ½ tbsp.)

Best Pear Practices for Kombucha Eating pears can help us feel full longer. One pear contains about 6 grams of fiber; just over 20% of our daily value.

Make sure any fresh pears you use to flavor kombucha are VERY ripe. Like, I’m talking dripping with juices… when you cut it, it nearly falls apart juicy. Dry, unripe pears just don’t work well; they don’t have enough oomph to give kombucha the magical touch ????

a variety of washed violet and pansy flowers are scattered on a paper towel to dry.

Crystal Visions Kombucha

We know April showers bring May flowers – let’s utilize springtime edible flowers like pansies and violets to make a truly special kombucha! When grown and harvested without fertilizers, these flowers are edible and fun to implement in kombucha, such as Crystal Visions Kombucha.

Add these homegrown petals to this special recipe; they lend a deep, sweet flavor. A small chunk of crystallized ginger is the hidden star of this very special kombucha. Utilize frozen fruits like strawberries and cherries in this homemade kombucha to round out the flavor as you make room for the incoming harvest ahead.

Violets and/or pansies – dried (1 flower)
Crystallized ginger – 1 chunk, about the size of the tip of your pinky finger
Strawberry – fresh, or frozen and thawed (1 tbsp)
Cherry – fresh, or frozen and thawed (1 tbsp)
Dried, culinary rose petals (1 tbsp – optional)

More on Violets and Pansies

Pansies and violets are said to be natural protectors of a garden. I like to plant some pots around my garden’s perimeter to keep negative spirits away. I habitually place pots of violets and pansies in cool patches. The pots help me ensure they aren’t affected by fertilizers, and flowers pop up annually in a vast array of blues and purples.

When the blossoms are full, pop off the heads at the base with your thumb.

Place flowers in a colander and rinse off thoroughly.

Arrange flowers in a single layer on a dry paper towel and place them in an undisturbed area, allowing the petals to dry fully.

As a note, violet and pansy roots are not edible! But they sure are cool to look at.

Violets and pansies leaves can be used raw – add them to salads and charcuterie boards for a special flair! I prefer to add dried leaves to kombucha and hot tea.

Handwritten recipe shown in bright daylight. Thawing frozen raspberries in a jar, a scattering of juniper berries, fresh ginger, and dehydrated wheatgrass are featured.

The Star Bull Kombucha

Taurus Season is April 20-May 20, and this Earth sign loves Mother Nature. My own sun sign, of course, I’m going to share the grounded and earthy flavor of The Star Bull Kombucha. Enjoy the unique flavor of this recipe from my heart on behalf of the most reliable and loyal signs. Uncorking and sipping outdoors, barefoot, is preferred????

It might be a little different than other kombuchas ❤

Raspberry is a star of The Star Bull Kombucha, with complements of other essential Earth flavors like wheatgrass, juniper berries, fresh ginger, and lemongrass. Matcha tea powder gives an energy and down-to-earth caffeine kick! I usually purchase these ingredients at Wisconsin co-ops like Basics in Janesville and the Viroqua Food co-op. With each sip, your tastebuds will be taken on the journey of Zeus’ creation of the Taurus constellation ????

Wheatgrass – fresh stalks, juice, or powdered (½ tbsp.)
Juniper berry – dried and crushed to release the magic (one or two berries)
Matcha tea – dried powder (1 tsp.)
Ginger – fresh, powdered, or crystallized (small chunk, about ½ tbsp.)
Raspberry – 1 tbsp., frozen and thawed
Lemongrass – optional – dried or fresh

More on Taurus

According to Greek mythology, Zeus disguised himself as a beautiful white bull to seduce Europa. While she was petting him, he whisked her off to the island of Crete and romantically and sexually ravished her (*), producing three sons, one being Minos. Minos became a King and Zeus was happy enough with the results. Therefore, he produced the Taurus constellation in the night sky! ????????

*In rose-colored glasses, this was consensual for Europa.

Would you like to look for the Taurus constellation in the night sky? I use Orion’s Belt as a guide and then seek out the bright red star Aldebaran, which represents the Bull’s fiery eye.

Orion’s Belt

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Orion and Taurus are partners, visible during the fall through spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

More on wheatgrass

This recipe calls for fresh wheatgrass, which can be purchased at any natural food store, as mentioned above. Just give the grass a fresh rinse, and cut it with clean scissors.

Wheatgrass is also a rewarding and easy grass to grow indoors any time of year. Sprinkle seeds in a well-draining shallow pot with potting soil, and you will have wheatgrass for two+ cuttings (mine usually go through three before I start over). Seeing fresh grass growing indoors is a treat any time of year.

Make your own protein-packed smoothies at home by blending the fresh wheatgrass cuttings, yogurt, spinach or kale, and your favorite frozen fruit. So healthier, quicker, and wayyyy cheaper to make at home ????

Smart Smoothies: DIY & Save

Thawed blackberries, dried juniper berries, and shaved palo santo wood sit in jars on a Ouija board cloth.

Black Forest Kombucha

Are you ready to try something fun and maybe a little experimental? Are you ready to catch some relaxing vibes from your kombucha in a unique fashion?

Enjoy the juiciness of blackberries as they take over a flavor, with earthy and experimental additions of juniper and palo santo in this unique kombucha.

Visit your favorite metaphysical store and purchase Palo Santo wood, which can traditionally be found by incense. Before you burn the wood, take a carrot peeler to gather a few tiny slivers into a jar. Trust me -you’ll notice the woody taste, which leaves a nice mellow if you are open to it ????

Blackberries are a quality standby to have as a kitchen staple in your freezer. Packed full of vitamins C, E, K, and Calcium, I always leave plenty out for me to snack on and add to a smoothie.

Juniper berries will give kombucha a gin-like taste, so just two will do. Top off this flavor with a slice of Palo Santo Wood, and you’ll be off in a flavor wonderland.

Blackberry – Thawed, frozen (1-2 tbsp)
Juniper Berry – Two dried berries, crushed to release magic (2 berries)
Palo Santo Wood – One sliver (optional – can substitute fresh or dried mint)

More about Palo Santo Wood

People have burned Palo Santo for ages to rid a space of negative energy. When purchasing this special wood, respect the people, traditions, and the Earth by ensuring it is ethically sourced and sustainable. You can also make tea with Palo Santo wood. Again, this lends a strong calming effect. ☽ enjoy when you have no responsibilities ☾

A fresh lemon sits next to thawed strawberries in a shallow dish. A green grolsch bottle sits in the background with a fresh ginger root and a natural stone with small fossilized areas.

Arnold Booch Palmer Kombucha

An Arnold Palmer is a personal favorite, a reliably refreshing mixture of lemonade and iced tea. The drink is coined after legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, who was the first person to earn $1 million playing golf.

Arnold Booch Palmer Kombucha tees up an equally refreshing kombucha. Bring a bottle on the greens and uncork anytime – who’s going to stop you?

Remember, a little bit of lemon juice goes a long way in kombucha. Too much, and the brew gets sour. The natural strawberry syrup created from thawed frozen fruit gives the magic touch to add a more robust, sweet flavor to your kombucha.

Lemon – juice (1 tsp)
Fresh ginger – a dime to penny-sized slice (1 tbsp)
Honey – local honey, squirt (1 tsp)
Strawberry – juice of frozen, thawed strawberries (1 tsp)
Black Tea – one bag

Place the entire tea bag into the bottle during the flavoring process.

Remove the tea bag when ready to drink, post-fridge.

A fresh pineapple lays over a handwritten recipe. Dried sage, lemon juice, and a polished citrine quartz are featured.

Aries Golden Fleece Kombucha

Aries Season is March 21-April 19. A sign ruled by Fire, we recall in Greek mythology, Aries was the winged ram with golden wool who rescued two children from death. Aries’ wool becomes the sacrificial “Golden Fleece.”

Aries Golden Fleece Kombucha is a tasty combination led by pineapple, and brewers can use pineapple juice, fresh pineapple, frozen and thawed pineapple, or even dehydrated pineapple.

The Golden Fleece is a symbol of strength, courage, and victory. It is also a symbol of the power of love. With this recipe, I give a wink to my soulmate Eric, the brave Aries in my life!

Pineapple – Fresh, frozen, dehydrated, or juice (2 tbsp)
Sage – 3 leaves dried or fresh, crushed between your fingers
Lemon juice – One squirt (about ½ tsp)

Use up Leftovers AND REDUCE WASTE

Freeze unused fruit parts for frugal and fast flavoring!

For example, in this recipe, the pineapple core you’d normally throw out or compost can be cut up into matchsticks and frozen in a freezer-safe container.

Check out my illustration below:

Running short on time when your brewing cycle is up? Just pop some of these frozen, thawed pineapple core matchsticks in your booch bottle instead of fresh pineapple. They provide the same added flavor to your kombucha flavor process and save you time and money!

Dried rosehips and fresh rosemary lay on a white plate. A juicy, sliced orange is in the center with a polished rose and smoky quartz.

Jupiter’s Kiss Kombucha

Jupiter’s Kiss is my kombucha flavor blend of orange, rosemary, and rosehip Much like oranges, rosehips are rich in Vitamin C And, rosehip’s belly-like fruits are said to belong to Jupiter. Did you know Jupiter has between 80 and 95 moons?

For Jupiter’s Kiss, and any kombucha flavor involving rosehips, I crush the dried bellies with a spoon to expose the sweet, floral fruit to the kombucha flavor.

Oranges are readily available any time of year. When combined with the earthly taste of rosemary, a dash of local maple syrup, and a squirt of local maple syrup, a robust kombucha results!

Fresh navel orange – Peeled (3 sections cut into bottle-size pieces)
Rosemary – Dried or fresh (3 tiny leaves)
Rosehip – Dried, crushed (1)
Fresh ginger – a dime to penny-sized slice (1 tbsp)
Maple Syrup – (1 squirt)

???? Rosehips can also be used as a charm to attract health and ward against nightmares. Keep this in mind during the flavoring process of your special kombucha.

Local honey, dried elderberries, candied ginger, anise are shown on a mantle featuring natural druzy quartz in stone.

Immunity Boost Kombucha

Make an immunity-boosting kombucha, and your future self will thank you! I am a big proponent of the regular consumption of elderberry syrup to improve immunity. Elderberries are full of vitamin C and are a good source of antioxidants. You can even make one kombucha bottle of this during your regular flavor process.

Simply throw a few dried berries into your kombucha bottle during the flavoring process. Be sure to add a little sweet support from ginger and honey to aid in the fermentation process. Personalize this with a clove, candied ginger (as shown in the photo), anise, lemon juice …let your imagination run wild!

Elderberry – dried berries (6)
Fresh ginger – a dime to penny-sized slice (1 tbsp)
Local honey (1 squirt)

You may want to skim this one before drinking – the elderberries aren’t the tastiest to eat ????

Interested in learning more about elderberries? Make sure you’ve looked at my DIY elderberry syrup recipe.

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Just like kombucha: When you make elderberry syrup at home, you can really customize it to your tastes. For example, sometimes, I omit the cinnamon and add rosehips, lavender, dried lemon balm, or lemon verbena from my garden ????

Pisces Pour Kombucha

Pisces Season is February 19-March 20. As a water sign, the twin fish born during this period have a keen ability to express their creativity and artistic ability like no one else. Pisces, the last sign of the astrological new year, are ruled by Neptune, which governs ingenuity and dreams.

Boundless imagination come together in Pisces Pour for a sweet and not-at-all-basic kombucha. Consider the Pisces in your own life and reflect upon the beauty they bring to the world while effortlessly adapting to their surroundings when brewing this recipe.

Fresh, frozen, or even dehydrated peaches give kombucha a sensual and sweet flavor. Introduce a little fresh, frozen, dehydrated pineapple, or even a splash of pineapple juice, and this brew will strike a chord during the intuitive Pisces season.

Peach – thawed frozen, fresh (2 tbsp)
Pineapple – fresh, frozen, or juice (juice is shown) (1 tbsp)
Fresh ginger – a dime to penny-sized slice (1 tbsp)
Lemon verbena – one dried (or fresh) leaf