Table of Contents
How often should I feed my SCOBY?
Every 4 to 6 weeks, discard some of the liquid and add either fresh sweet tea (up to 80% of the jar) or sugar (¼ cup per quart of liquid). Stir to combine. Fresh sugar tea is preferable as it provides all the nutrients the SCOBY needs to survive and thrive during the break.
How long can you keep a SCOBY without feeding it?
The easiest way to store your kombucha scoby is in a sealed container in the fridge. Always label the jar so that no one in the household gets rid of it by mistake! The scoby then goes dormant and can be stored for up to 6 months.
How do I keep my kombucha SCOBY healthy?
How to care for your Kombucha SCOBY Feed SCOBY Fresh Sweet Tea: Every 7 days, feed SCOBY with a fresh quart of sweet green tea. Maintain a good temperature for 7 days: Keep the jar of sweet green tea with the SCOBY at moderate room temperature, out of direct sunlight for seven days.
What tea can I feed my SCOBY?
Green tea, white tea, oolong tea, or a even mix of these make especially good kombucha. Herbal teas are okay, but be sure to use at least a few bags of black tea in the mix to make sure the scoby is getting all the nutrients it needs. Avoid any teas that contain oils, like earl grey or flavored teas.
How many times can a SCOBY be used?
Every scoby can be used four times before it gets too old and needs to be discarded. With each batch of kombucha a baby scoby is produced and the process starts again, you will have a fridge full of scobys before you know it.
Why is my SCOBY so thin?
If the ambient temperature around your brew is less than 70 degrees F, odds are the SCOBY will end up on the thin side. This is not a problem if you don’t mind it—some people actually swear by a preference to the taste of a slower brew. However, it will be difficult to grow a thick SCOBY below 70 degrees F.
What happens if you let kombucha ferment too long?
It’s cheap and easy to make, but if you leave it fermenting too long it can get a strong taste, and actually will turn to vinegar which will stay perfectly preserved. If your kombucha tea ever gets too strong for your taste, don’t throw it out!.
When should I discard my SCOBY?
Wait until the scoby is a ¼ inch thick before using it to brew your first batch of kombucha. This should take about 30 days. If you don’t see a SCOBY forming after 3 weeks, throw the batch out and start over.
Can I cut my SCOBY in half?
Can I cut my SCOBY in half? You can safely cut a SCOBY in half. Just make sure your scissors or knife are completely clean before you handle it to avoid contamination. The next batch you brew with the cut SCOBY will grow a new SCOBY to grow across the top, as always.
How do I make my SCOBY thicker?
Let Your Brew Sit For Longer My first tip to thickening your SCOBY is to let it sit in the brewing vessel for longer. They way you should do this is pour in the same amount of starter liquid and sweet tea, but instead of bottling the kombucha after 7 days let the brew sit for at least 14.
Should my kombucha be cloudy?
If your kombucha is off-balance, it has not gone bad. Cloudy kombucha is still perfectly delicious and safe to drink. Within a few brews, you can restore the balance of your brew by making a few easy adjustments.
How long do you second ferment kombucha?
Second fermentation is the process through which you flavor your brew and put it into a sealed container, which traps carbonation into the liquid. It typically takes 2-4 days, but can take longer.
Is green tea or black tea better for kombucha?
Use pure black, green, white, or oolong tea for brewing kombucha. You’ll get the cleanest flavor and the most impact from the nutrients from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
Can you make kombucha without starter tea?
Can I make kombucha without a starter tea? A. Yes, you can use an equal portion of distilled white vinegar in place of starter tea. Alternatively you may use bottled raw, unflavored kombucha tea, which can be purchased at many health food and grocery stores.
Can I use English breakfast tea for kombucha?
Common types of black tea that work well in kombucha include Ceylon and English Breakfast (avoid Earl Grey, see “tea to avoid” below). When growing a SCOBY, only use black tea. Once your SCOBY has been through 4 or 5 batches, you can begin introducing other teas.
