Kombucha...thin Scobys?

[Lady TS]

The last two batches of Kombucha have yielded very thin Scoby's.

Two batches ago, I had let it go for like 2 months before I got to it again.:shifty I tossed that batch, it was like drinking vinegar, lol.

The next batch after that was a really thin Scoby. Tasted fine, though.
This batch I let sit for an extra few weeks(my goal is usually 2 weeks but I have been so busy and forgetful lately!) hoping the longer time would help it grow thicker. Nope, still thin. Very thin.

I haven't tried drinking this batch yet.

Should I be worried about the thickness/thinness of my Scoby? Am I doing something wrong?

[Soliloquy]

What's the temperature in your house? I'd been getting very thin SCOBYs, too, and recently got mold for the first time since starting KT 2 years ago. :( I did a little research and found that KT ideally needs 70F or above and never below 60F. Our thermostat was set to 64 during the day and 57 at night until Justice was born.

I am getting a fresh SCOBY and am going to keep my brewing jars either on or next to a heating pad in winter from now on.

I didn't have this problem last winter. :shrug

[Lady TS]

It's over 70 most of the time, especially in the kitchen/pantry area where I have the Kombucha brewing.

I checked mine tonight and it smells off:sick and I think it has mold on it. I'm disposing of it tomorrow outside and cleaning everything out real well and will start over.

I have some SCOBYs that have been in the fridge for months now...some like 6 months....do you think they will work? I don't suppose it would hurt to try...

Or I will see if I can find a truly fresh one at the health food store.

In my reading when I originally posted, I read about the temperature thing, but also that SCOBYs really need plain CAFFEINATED black tea. I have been using decaffeinated black tea(Red Rose brand) the last few times and wonder if that isn't what made it die/go off.:shrug3

[Soliloquy]

I've had refrigerated SCOBYs that old that revived and brewed just fine. :tu


I've never tried decaf tea but I did go through a pound of green tea and it took a lot longer to brew and we didn't like it as much. I went back to black tea. I wonder if those months on green tea weakened my SCOBYs. :think

[Lady TS]

I think I will use Black, Caffeinated Tea from now on and see how it goes...

I ran the jar through the dishwasher, figuring that it would get hotter than my hands could handle and kill off any bad germies.

I hope the dishwasher detergent doesn't hurt it when I go to make new tea!