Dangers of home-brew kombucha??

[k8sl8]

I mentioned to my non-raw, but interested, sister that I had a SCOBY and was starting the process of making kombucha. She wasn't familiar with it and did an internet search and came up with horror stories about "brew gone bad". Many assorted health risks were cronicled as well.

I figure, I follow the directions, keep things clean... and I should be fine? Any thoughts??

[HikerGirl]

I've been making Kombucha at home for a few years now - we go through a couple of gallons a week in our house and have never had a problem. I think you're right... follow directions, keep it clean and you'll be fine!

If you need help with any of it, shoot me a message and I can send you the directions on how we do it. Good luck!!

[Raw Angel Mom]

I've been making Kombucha at home for a few years now - we go through a couple of gallons a week in our house and have never had a problem. I think you're right... follow directions, keep it clean and you'll be fine!

If you need help with any of it, shoot me a message and I can send you the directions on how we do it. Good luck!!

I started my first batch this past Friday. I bought the kit to make it at home. I have a question about the mother and the baby Kumbucha. Do we use only the baby for the next batch or we can make two batch and use the mother again?

Thank you!

[Mikey_H]

I know it's probably been brought up before, but I've been meaning to start brewing myself. I have a few websites I've been given where I can buy cultures. But while this is up, what in your opinions is the best site to purchase from?

[Lady Green Jeans]

I too am interested in brewing it at home. The HFS has been mostly out of my favorite flavors more often than it has been stocked. Would love some directions and sources for purchasing a scoby.

[HikerGirl]

I started my first batch this past Friday. I bought the kit to make it at home. I have a question about the mother and the baby Kumbucha. Do we use only the baby for the next batch or we can make two batch and use the mother again?

Thank you!

You can definitely keep using your mother! When we first started we did one batch at a time using the mother & created 3-4 babies to use. Then when we decided to do two batches at once, we did one with the mother and 1 with all 3-4 of the babies, which sort of formed into one big scoby. Then it was like we had 2 mothers and we went from there!

It will work with just one baby in the second batch, but it might take awhile for it to turn into Kombucha. We go through it quickly so we have large containers with large scobys and it takes about a week or a week and a half to finish brewing.

Hope this helps!

[HikerGirl]

I know it's probably been brought up before, but I've been meaning to start brewing myself. I have a few websites I've been given where I can buy cultures. But while this is up, what in your opinions is the best site to purchase from?

We got ours from Nick's Natural Nook a long time ago - it was great, with helpful instructions.

http://stores.ebay.com/Nicks-Natural...&_sid=51196452

[Raw Angel Mom]

You can definitely keep using your mother! When we first started we did one batch at a time using the mother & created 3-4 babies to use. Then when we decided to do two batches at once, we did one with the mother and 1 with all 3-4 of the babies, which sort of formed into one big scoby. Then it was like we had 2 mothers and we went from there!

It will work with just one baby in the second batch, but it might take awhile for it to turn into Kombucha. We go through it quickly so we have large containers with large scobys and it takes about a week or a week and a half to finish brewing.

Hope this helps!

((((Thank you))))) I will use the mother and baby on my next. It is day 7, i believe i had to wait for a total of 10 days. I am nervous, i hope it will work. I am very excited about it.

They say not to use organic tea because it cans lead to mold, it just doesn't make sense to me.

[HikerGirl]

((((Thank you))))) I will use the mother and baby on my next. It is day 7, i believe i had to wait for a total of 10 days. I am nervous, i hope it will work. I am very excited about it.

They say not to use organic tea because it cans lead to mold, it just doesn't make sense to me.

You're welcome!! I always use plain white sugar and simple black tea. The scoby eats up the sugar and I've never had a problem with taste or mold from the tea. How many days you wait depends a lot on temperature - the warmer it is, the quicker the process. In the summer, I have batches ready in as little as 5 days, but it really depends. 7-10 is definitely the average. You can always taste the tea along the way to know when it's done. When it tastes less like tea and more like kombucha, you should be good to remove the scoby and flavor it, if you like.

[Maria75]

How much i need to drink for a day????

[HikerGirl]

How much i need to drink for a day????

There's no rule for it - just drink whatever makes you feel good. Start with a little at a time and see how you feel. We drink a big glass with lunch and dinner - I love it!

[cbowden]

Just started my first batch of Kombucha! I'm so excited. My favorite store bought Kombucha is GT's because it is so fizzy. We've got a local company brewing it but their's isn't fizzy at all......

Crossing my fingers that all goes well. Good luck to everyone else that is just now starting out on this journey. And thanks to those of you veterans for all the advice.

Ciao for now!

[cbowden]

Convinced my brother to give Kombucha a try. He bought GT's Guava Goddess, tasted it and said it was like having Pop Rocks going off in your mouth!

Pop Rocks. Do they still make those? Too funny but pretty accurate.

My Kombucha is now on it's second full day. Being here in Colorado I have a feeling I'll have to let it brew for the full ten days cuz we don't keep it 70 here in the house. Low 60's is more like it.

Any advice on how to get it as fizzy as GT's?

Any particular flavors that ya'll have found to work well? Will definitely try the ginger. And have some ripening Mango.

Used 5 black tea bags......should be strong.....only 1 cup of sugar as I don't really like sweet things......

How's everyone elses coming along?

[k8sl8]

Does anyone do the continuous brewing option? Sounds like it would work for me...

I'm on day 4 and it's been warm... we'll see.

[Mothergoose]

Anyone have a recipe or protocol for this kombucha? I did this a long time ago and forgot how to brew it.