Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A

Soliloquy · 02-06-2009, 09:58 AM

Please share you *you* make kombucha, any tips, tweaks, etc. and ask any questions!

Blue Savannah · 02-06-2009, 10:10 AM

bbl

crunchymum · 02-06-2009, 10:12 AM

ok, question - is there a way to let a scoby "rest"? i love kombucha, but if i make perpetual batches, it's coming out of my ears! i can't drink it fast enough...

hopefromgrace · 02-06-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchymum

ok, question - is there a way to let a scoby "rest"? i love kombucha, but if i make perpetual batches, it's coming out of my ears! i can't drink it fast enough...

I was wondering this too.
We are currently letting ours "rest" in a glass bowl with some allready made kombucha (about a cup or so...) and it's sitting out(covered).
I'm about to make another batch today, and I'm really hoping the scoby is still "active", or good......
I wonder how you can tell....

Also, I let me dd have kombucha, and she loves it.....but it recently hit me that it has caffeine in it from the green tea....

oops! I thought I heard somewhere though that it is ok for kids to have it....? How can that be if it has the caffeine?

Ima LeShalosh · 02-06-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchymum

ok, question - is there a way to let a scoby "rest"? i love kombucha, but if i make perpetual batches, it's coming out of my ears! i can't drink it fast enough...

In a glass bowl with at least a cup of already brewed Kombucha, covered in the fridge.

Ima LeShalosh · 02-06-2009, 11:11 AM

I like it sweet...DH likes is sour..sometimes he likes middle of the road.

I brew mine for only 14 days....his for 21 and when he wants middle of the road, he mixes the two.

I also brew Raspberry Kombucha...which has become my favorite. I use the Raspberry tea by Cel. Seasoning. That is the only difference...I use the same amount of sugar/water ratio. And your Scoby will be a pretty pink after it is done. I keep my raspberry scoby and my regular scoby separate when resting them

Oh...and I use Succanat instead of white sugar.

Blue Savannah · 02-06-2009, 11:51 AM

my kids would LOVE the raspberry! That's an herbal, right? Can any herbal be used?

Soliloquy · 02-06-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chibi*Mum

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchymum

ok, question - is there a way to let a scoby "rest"? i love kombucha, but if i make perpetual batches, it's coming out of my ears! i can't drink it fast enough...

In a glass bowl with at least a cup of already brewed Kombucha, covered in the fridge.

Just enough kombucha to cover it in a glass jar. I've kept one in the fridge for several months.

I wish we couldn't drink it fast enough! I have 4 batches going right now and it's not enough. I have to go back to 6 batches but my pantry is so small that I'll have to get creative.

Ima LeShalosh · 02-06-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chibi*Mum

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchymum

ok, question - is there a way to let a scoby "rest"? i love kombucha, but if i make perpetual batches, it's coming out of my ears! i can't drink it fast enough...

In a glass bowl with at least a cup of already brewed Kombucha, covered in the fridge.

Just enough kombucha to cover it in a glass jar. I've kept one in the fridge for several months.

I wish we couldn't drink it fast enough! I have 4 batches going right now and it's not enough. I have to go back to 6 batches but my pantry is so small that I'll have to get creative.

wow

Herbwifemama · 02-06-2009, 12:14 PM

I don't have time right now, but I want to be part of this thread!

First, a question- is kombucha generally very sweet? The stuff I get from the store wasn't as sweet as my homemade- and I let it ferment longer in case it wasn't done yet, but then I let it go too long and my scoby died. Maybe I should have just decanted and started more kombucha even though it hardly tasted fermented at all?

crunchymum · 02-06-2009, 12:21 PM

it died? maybe because it ran out of sugar, huh... ok, so it should be in the fridge to rest? i'm nervous because i had some in the fridge (for a really long time, though, maybe a year

) and they just molded when i tried to brew them. :/

02-06-2009, 01:27 PM

I had a kombucha glitch this morning, so the timing is perfect!

I started my first batch on Sunday. (Thanks, Chibi!

) This morning I opened the cabinet and discovered that my masking tape had detached and my napkin was on top of my kombucha mixture. It was a clean cloth napkin... but there was also a strip of masking tape floating in the kombucha. Yuk. I suppose I should start over? Opinions? :/

Also, I really don't have a warm place in my house right now. I have the bowl sitting in one of my cabinets near the stove, but my house is about 68* this time of year. Is that okay? Will it just take longer to brew? Right now it smells like sour tea.

I'm using the Nourishing Traditions recipe... 3q water, 1c sugar, 4 bags organic black tea steeped until the water chilled completely, then put in a 4 q bowl with a towel over the top. Should I change any part of this recipe before I start my replacement batch?

Thanks!

Soliloquy · 02-06-2009, 01:39 PM

I'm not sure what to tell you about the napkin and tape--personally, I'd just scoop them out and let it finish brewing.

I cover mine w/ a dishtowel and use a rubber band to keep it in place. I don't use any tape.

Our house is 64 during the day and about 60 at night. Our kombucha brews just fine--it just takes a bit longer

The longer you brew it, the more sour it will become. I usually brew ours for 14-18 days in winter and 12-14 days in summer. You can also do a 2nd ferment by bottling it after it's finished and letting it sit in a dark place for awhile, up to 2 weeks. This may also give it more carbonation.

02-06-2009, 01:49 PM

Do you brew in a bowl? Where'd you find a rubber band that big? That sounds like a much better plan.

Blue Savannah · 02-06-2009, 02:12 PM

I brew mine in a gallon sun tea container from Goodwill. I do the rubber band/washcloth thing too.

Is it safe to use herbal tea? I always thought it wasn't. . .

02-06-2009, 09:58 AM	#1
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A Please share you you make kombucha, any tips, tweaks, etc. and ask any questions!

02-06-2009, 10:10 AM	#2
Blue Savannah Deactivated Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,363	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A bbl

02-06-2009, 10:12 AM	#3
crunchymum Rose Garden speak softly and carry a big coffee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 34,610	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A ok, question - is there a way to let a scoby "rest"? i love kombucha, but if i make perpetual batches, it's coming out of my ears! i can't drink it fast enough... __________________ ~ jen wife to my first kiss mama to 13yo spreezy, 11yo jones, 5yo biggie, and our little greased lightning, 3yo ~ all born at home birth doula my waterbirth montage my etsy! "i did not want my children to love me because i had been an adequate mother, because i would never be one, this i already knew. i wanted my children to love me for the same reason i want my children themselves to be loved: because we are all irreducible, irreplaceable." -gina bria

02-06-2009, 11:11 AM	#6
Ima LeShalosh Rose Garden Living and Loving..Against the Stream Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between reality and hope Posts: 9,114	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A I like it sweet...DH likes is sour..sometimes he likes middle of the road. I brew mine for only 14 days....his for 21 and when he wants middle of the road, he mixes the two. I also brew Raspberry Kombucha...which has become my favorite. I use the Raspberry tea by Cel. Seasoning. That is the only difference...I use the same amount of sugar/water ratio. And your Scoby will be a pretty pink after it is done. I keep my raspberry scoby and my regular scoby separate when resting them Oh...and I use Succanat instead of white sugar. __________________ Chelle Jewish believer in Y'shua an INTP to the letter! My Love:דודי (my Beloved) My Little Loves:לוחם (Warrior 2001) ~ אוֹמֶץ (Heart 2005) ~ אש (Fire 2007) My Photography Blog:Red Door Photography My Natural Living Page:Against the Stream

02-06-2009, 11:51 AM	#7
Blue Savannah Deactivated Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,363	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A my kids would LOVE the raspberry! That's an herbal, right? Can any herbal be used?

02-06-2009, 12:14 PM	#10
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,345	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A I don't have time right now, but I want to be part of this thread! First, a question- is kombucha generally very sweet? The stuff I get from the store wasn't as sweet as my homemade- and I let it ferment longer in case it wasn't done yet, but then I let it go too long and my scoby died. Maybe I should have just decanted and started more kombucha even though it hardly tasted fermented at all?

02-06-2009, 12:21 PM	#11
crunchymum Rose Garden speak softly and carry a big coffee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 34,610	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A it died? maybe because it ran out of sugar, huh... ok, so it should be in the fridge to rest? i'm nervous because i had some in the fridge (for a really long time, though, maybe a year ) and they just molded when i tried to brew them. :/ __________________ ~ jen wife to my first kiss mama to 13yo spreezy, 11yo jones, 5yo biggie, and our little greased lightning, 3yo ~ all born at home birth doula my waterbirth montage my etsy! "i did not want my children to love me because i had been an adequate mother, because i would never be one, this i already knew. i wanted my children to love me for the same reason i want my children themselves to be loved: because we are all irreducible, irreplaceable." -gina bria

02-06-2009, 01:27 PM	#12
Havilah Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A I had a kombucha glitch this morning, so the timing is perfect! I started my first batch on Sunday. (Thanks, Chibi! ) This morning I opened the cabinet and discovered that my masking tape had detached and my napkin was on top of my kombucha mixture. It was a clean cloth napkin... but there was also a strip of masking tape floating in the kombucha. Yuk. I suppose I should start over? Opinions? :/ Also, I really don't have a warm place in my house right now. I have the bowl sitting in one of my cabinets near the stove, but my house is about 68* this time of year. Is that okay? Will it just take longer to brew? Right now it smells like sour tea. I'm using the Nourishing Traditions recipe... 3q water, 1c sugar, 4 bags organic black tea steeped until the water chilled completely, then put in a 4 q bowl with a towel over the top. Should I change any part of this recipe before I start my replacement batch? Thanks!

02-06-2009, 01:39 PM	#13
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A I'm not sure what to tell you about the napkin and tape--personally, I'd just scoop them out and let it finish brewing. I cover mine w/ a dishtowel and use a rubber band to keep it in place. I don't use any tape. Our house is 64 during the day and about 60 at night. Our kombucha brews just fine--it just takes a bit longer The longer you brew it, the more sour it will become. I usually brew ours for 14-18 days in winter and 12-14 days in summer. You can also do a 2nd ferment by bottling it after it's finished and letting it sit in a dark place for awhile, up to 2 weeks. This may also give it more carbonation.

02-06-2009, 01:49 PM	#14
Havilah Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A Do you brew in a bowl? Where'd you find a rubber band that big? That sounds like a much better plan.

02-06-2009, 02:12 PM	#15
Blue Savannah Deactivated Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,363	Re: Kombucha recipes, tips, tweaks, and general Q & A I brew mine in a gallon sun tea container from Goodwill. I do the rubber band/washcloth thing too. Is it safe to use herbal tea? I always thought it wasn't. . .

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