kombucha 101 thread! - Page 30

TraceMama · 06-09-2012, 09:21 AM

Hi!

I just tasted my first batch of Kombucha and I'm not sure it's right.

It tastes more like vinegar than like hard apple cider

So, does that mean I let it ferment too long?

I used only a half gallon container, split the recipe in half, put in a cool, dry place with towel and rubberband on top, did not stir it or shake it the entire time

, and it fermented for 3 weeks.

Too long, right?

A new SCOBY formed and it was up in the top of the jar and out of the liquid. Is that normal?

Also, are a few brown spots on the SCOBY normal?

They're not green or black or fuzzy or anything, but definitely dark brown.

I'm not sure if I just want to invest in a gallon container or try again with 2 half-gallon containers and only let them ferment for a week - 10 days.

I need to read the whole thread again and figure out when to add fruit, too.

Oh, one more question: if I put the SCOBY with some fresh kombucha in the refrigerator while I figure out what to do, will it be ruined? Should I take it out of the fridge right this second?

cobluegirl · 06-09-2012, 09:33 AM

you can still drink it. next time don't leave it that long.

scoby sounds fine. yes you can store in fridge.

shekinah · 06-09-2012, 09:41 AM

Ya, the brown spots are yeast. Totally fine!

As for when to add fruit.. if you wanted to do say ten days of fermenting next time, then you would pour it into the bottles with some fruit after the ten days, seal bottles, and leave it on the counter for another week. That's called the second ferment. That's when it gets fizzy-ish and flavoured. Once that week is up, you can transfer the bottles to the fridge to stop further fermentation and enjoy cool when you go to drink them.

The new scoby forming on top of the liquid is the baby scoby. You will continue to grow new scobys. They will get thicker and stronger, and you can either discard old ones, give them to friends, start multiple batches, eat them, put them in smoothies, dehydrate them into scoby jerky, fry them up, feed them to pets, or... ya.. just discard them if you want

houseforjoy · 06-09-2012, 12:44 PM

i only let mine sit out with fruit for a day or two. it still gets fizzy and fruity tasting. letting it sit longer will just make it taste stronger/different

SweetCaroline · 06-09-2012, 02:47 PM

i havent been seperating my scobys, i just transfer the whole blob into the new batch. - is that ok?

shekinah · 06-09-2012, 04:33 PM

Yup. Eventually it will just get toooo big and massive, and you'll want to section some off, but that's fine.

blessedmamaofmany · 06-09-2012, 04:37 PM

Ok. Here is my kombucha. Thoughts? It's been weeks.

SweetCaroline · 06-09-2012, 05:07 PM

like.. how many weeks? i would think wherever you live it would be warm enough by now.

how does it smell?

blessedmamaofmany · 06-09-2012, 06:37 PM

it smells like vinegar. I'll check my post about it for how many weeks it's been.

I had it in my pantry, but it stays surprisingly cold in there, so I took it out and put it on the counter last week.

I'll brb

ETA: I started it on the 14th of May, so it's been almost a month. Not as long as I thought!

So, maybe I need to be a bit more patient?

SweetCaroline · 06-09-2012, 07:08 PM

yeah..if it was cool in there, then that makes sense. mine took about 4 weeks..but it was still really cool in my house.

maybe wrap it up in a dark towel ( except for the top) and set it somewhere that gets sun so it will warm up

Hopetobe · 06-10-2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessedmamaofmany

Ok. Here is my kombucha. Thoughts? It's been weeks.

Do you have a metal or other lid on your jar? Kombucha likes air, it's an aerobic process. Also, the acid can wear at metal. It still needs to be covered, but with something breathable, like a kitchen towel held on by a rubber band. Smell of vinegar is a good sign.

blessedmamaofmany · 06-10-2012, 06:42 PM

No lid. Just a rag tied on. Very thin, cheesecloth like.

blondie · 06-10-2012, 09:36 PM

Mine is starting to grow icky stuff!

I started it 48 hours ago. I can hardly wait...but I know I have a ways to go.

JenLovie · 06-11-2012, 06:26 AM

I just drank my last bottle and my next batch won't be ready until Thursday-ish. I should check it, though, because it has been over 90 most days here so it may be done before Thursday. I need to find another fermenting jar.

houseforjoy · 06-11-2012, 07:27 AM

to cover kombucha you really want to use like a tea towel or old cut up tshirt. it needs to be able to breath, but if the "holes" are too big (like cheese cloth) you will get fruit flies hatching in it

fruit flies love the booch. i actually use komb. in my fruit fly traps in summer

06-09-2012, 09:21 AM	#436
TraceMama Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,723	Re: kombucha 101 thread! Hi! I just tasted my first batch of Kombucha and I'm not sure it's right. It tastes more like vinegar than like hard apple cider So, does that mean I let it ferment too long? I used only a half gallon container, split the recipe in half, put in a cool, dry place with towel and rubberband on top, did not stir it or shake it the entire time , and it fermented for 3 weeks. Too long, right? A new SCOBY formed and it was up in the top of the jar and out of the liquid. Is that normal? Also, are a few brown spots on the SCOBY normal? They're not green or black or fuzzy or anything, but definitely dark brown. I'm not sure if I just want to invest in a gallon container or try again with 2 half-gallon containers and only let them ferment for a week - 10 days. I need to read the whole thread again and figure out when to add fruit, too. Oh, one more question: if I put the SCOBY with some fresh kombucha in the refrigerator while I figure out what to do, will it be ruined? Should I take it out of the fridge right this second? __________________ *Tracey* Blessed to be married 24 years. Ever-learning Gentle Mama to 3 Amazing Boys (17, 14, 12) I am determined to be invincible until He has finished His purpose in me.

06-09-2012, 09:33 AM	#437
cobluegirl Rose Garden never be afraid of who you were meant to be Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 43,819	Re: kombucha 101 thread! you can still drink it. next time don't leave it that long. scoby sounds fine. yes you can store in fridge. __________________ T4/1 ISTJ Enneagram 9 Ds-T4/2 Dd1-T1/4 Dd2-T2/1 The greatest challenge for most of us is believing that we are worthy now, right this minute. Worthiness doesn't have prerequisites. ~Brene Brown "The Gifts of Imperfection"[/CENTER]

06-09-2012, 09:41 AM	#438
shekinah Rose Trellis Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,768	Re: kombucha 101 thread! Ya, the brown spots are yeast. Totally fine! As for when to add fruit.. if you wanted to do say ten days of fermenting next time, then you would pour it into the bottles with some fruit after the ten days, seal bottles, and leave it on the counter for another week. That's called the second ferment. That's when it gets fizzy-ish and flavoured. Once that week is up, you can transfer the bottles to the fridge to stop further fermentation and enjoy cool when you go to drink them. The new scoby forming on top of the liquid is the baby scoby. You will continue to grow new scobys. They will get thicker and stronger, and you can either discard old ones, give them to friends, start multiple batches, eat them, put them in smoothies, dehydrate them into scoby jerky, fry them up, feed them to pets, or... ya.. just discard them if you want __________________ Missina Moved across the country for love. Married in the mountains Sept 6, 2008. Former hotel manager turned placenta encapsulation specialist. I'm finally on facebook! Feel free to add me - Link Zahavah Calvary (Oct 2013) Last edited by shekinah; 06-09-2012 at 09:44 AM.

06-09-2012, 12:44 PM	#439
houseforjoy Rose Garden trying to live like olaf "this is the best day of my life!... and quite possibly the last!" Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: in the sunshine with my own personal flurry Posts: 9,563	Re: kombucha 101 thread! i only let mine sit out with fruit for a day or two. it still gets fizzy and fruity tasting. letting it sit longer will just make it taste stronger/different __________________ Amanda, ENFJ Mommy to my bounty: ds 13 years, dd 12 years, dd 9 years , dd 6 and ds 4 Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?....because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

06-09-2012, 02:47 PM	#440
SweetCaroline Rose Garden a little Attachment Parenting will fix that Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 3,981	Re: kombucha 101 thread! i havent been seperating my scobys, i just transfer the whole blob into the new batch. - is that ok? __________________ Gently mothering 5 babes one day at a time, only by the help of my Lord - ages 11,6,5, 4, & 2 Nonviolence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force which makes for social transformation. -- Martin Luther King, Jr. ISFP

06-09-2012, 04:33 PM	#441
shekinah Rose Trellis Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,768	Re: kombucha 101 thread! Yup. Eventually it will just get toooo big and massive, and you'll want to section some off, but that's fine. __________________ Missina Moved across the country for love. Married in the mountains Sept 6, 2008. Former hotel manager turned placenta encapsulation specialist. I'm finally on facebook! Feel free to add me - Link Zahavah Calvary (Oct 2013)

06-09-2012, 04:37 PM	#442
blessedmamaofmany Deactivated I love my life. Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tater country...mmm...taters... Posts: 3,255	Ok. Here is my kombucha. Thoughts? It's been weeks.

06-09-2012, 05:07 PM	#443
SweetCaroline Rose Garden a little Attachment Parenting will fix that Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 3,981	Re: kombucha 101 thread! like.. how many weeks? i would think wherever you live it would be warm enough by now. how does it smell? __________________ Gently mothering 5 babes one day at a time, only by the help of my Lord - ages 11,6,5, 4, & 2 Nonviolence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force which makes for social transformation. -- Martin Luther King, Jr. ISFP

06-09-2012, 06:37 PM	#444
blessedmamaofmany Deactivated I love my life. Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tater country...mmm...taters... Posts: 3,255	Re: kombucha 101 thread! it smells like vinegar. I'll check my post about it for how many weeks it's been. I had it in my pantry, but it stays surprisingly cold in there, so I took it out and put it on the counter last week. I'll brb ETA: I started it on the 14th of May, so it's been almost a month. Not as long as I thought! So, maybe I need to be a bit more patient? Last edited by blessedmamaofmany; 06-09-2012 at 06:41 PM.

06-09-2012, 07:08 PM	#445
SweetCaroline Rose Garden a little Attachment Parenting will fix that Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 3,981	Re: kombucha 101 thread! yeah..if it was cool in there, then that makes sense. mine took about 4 weeks..but it was still really cool in my house. maybe wrap it up in a dark towel ( except for the top) and set it somewhere that gets sun so it will warm up __________________ Gently mothering 5 babes one day at a time, only by the help of my Lord - ages 11,6,5, 4, & 2 Nonviolence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force which makes for social transformation. -- Martin Luther King, Jr. ISFP

06-10-2012, 06:42 PM	#447
blessedmamaofmany Deactivated I love my life. Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tater country...mmm...taters... Posts: 3,255	No lid. Just a rag tied on. Very thin, cheesecloth like.

06-10-2012, 09:36 PM	#448
blondie Rose Garden A little bit crunchy, a little bit rock n' roll! Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 10,298	Re: kombucha 101 thread! Mine is starting to grow icky stuff! I started it 48 hours ago. I can hardly wait...but I know I have a ways to go. __________________ homeschooling mama to four dear ones Lilla Rose Stylist

06-11-2012, 06:26 AM	#449
JenLovie Deactivated You win when you choose health. MWWR Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bless Your Heart Posts: 6,565	Re: kombucha 101 thread! I just drank my last bottle and my next batch won't be ready until Thursday-ish. I should check it, though, because it has been over 90 most days here so it may be done before Thursday. I need to find another fermenting jar.

06-11-2012, 07:27 AM	#450
houseforjoy Rose Garden trying to live like olaf "this is the best day of my life!... and quite possibly the last!" Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: in the sunshine with my own personal flurry Posts: 9,563	Re: kombucha 101 thread! to cover kombucha you really want to use like a tea towel or old cut up tshirt. it needs to be able to breath, but if the "holes" are too big (like cheese cloth) you will get fruit flies hatching in it fruit flies love the booch. i actually use komb. in my fruit fly traps in summer __________________ Amanda, ENFJ Mommy to my bounty: ds 13 years, dd 12 years, dd 9 years , dd 6 and ds 4 Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?....because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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