Fruitflies in my kombucha

[Lilcrunchie]

We tried brewing kombucha unsuccessfully once before in the past. I think brewing in my kitchen was causing a thin layer of grease and it wasn't brewing well.

Several months ago I got a great new scoby and it has been doing *soooo* well. We've been thrilled! It had many babies and we usually have two staggered batches going.

Today, DH pulled back the cheesecloth on our one batch, and there were fruitflies and little wormy maggoty things (teeny tiny...so small you could barely see them, but they were moving :Puke

When I look online, the tips seem to be covering w/ cheesecloth and a rubberband, brewing in glass, etc. (all of which we do already!). I'm in the south (NC) and it just got really warm, so I'm sure that brought out the fruitflies. I don't think I had my boocha going last summer.

The only other tip I saw was trying to do "traps" w/ vinegar or boocha and some soap.

Would you try to salvage the scoby? The one thing I read said the flies could theoretically have brought contamination into the scoby. Our "pancake" is very thick. I'm wondering if you'd try peeling off the top layers and trying to salvage it? If worried something more solid like a cloth napkin over top won't let the batch breathe well enough, especially w/ the upcoming Carolina humidity?

Any tips?

[TzippityDoulah]

sounds like vinegar worms. ewwwww

insects can't live in it if it's properly acidic.... except vinegar worms.

My husband (the kombucha master lol) says maybe the "thin layer of grease" was actually a scoby trying to form unsuccessfully.... ?

we use cloth napkins over the top and they seem to work well.

I think theoretically you could salvage the scoby. but that's up to you. me personally? I would start over... just b/c it was gross me out. but if you're not a sissy like me, maybe you could redeem it.

[TzippityDoulah]

oops it's called vinegar eels... not worms. but you know what I mean

[dogmom327]

I use a fairly tight weaved towel and a very tight rubber band. Sorry to hear about the worms...I've had it happen...it's really frustrating!

[Lilcrunchie]

Hmmm...

Thanks for the tips so far.

Let's see. THe "grease" incident was when i was brewing on my counter (sort of near my stove) over a year ago. That scoby developed mold but I think it wasn't breathing properly (and yes, it was furry and blue-ish, it was not a regular part of the scoby, which I totally get has variations, etc.). I didn't/don't have any concerns that he one that got the fruitfly infestation (current scoby) has any grease or mold. Just lovely fruitflies.

I remember seeing pics of vinegar eels. For some reason I thought they were bigger? Are they related to fruit flies? Because there were *definitely* fruit flies on top, and then a few teeeeeny eeeensy little (moving) worm like things (only on the surface of the scoby, not in the boocha brew) on the very top. So it was definitely some kind of fruit fly related thing.

I've never had bugs grow, etc. in the past. We definitely use cheesecloth (folded over a few times) and a tight rubberband. I read online that you can also try bay leaves on the very top to deter insects. I may have to try that again.

I wish I knew whether to try to salvage what I have? If not, I guess I"ll be trying to track down a new one. I thought we had a backup but DH happened to let that one "go" last week...he was tired of staggered brewing 2x a week and just abandoned one Bad timing, huh?

Thanks for the tips. I'm sort of scared to try again with summer here. I'm wondering if I'll run into the same problem all over

edited to add: wondering if I should go with something more solid like a cloth napkin. I've been hesitant to do so before now because I think my scoby from over a year ago had the mold problems, etc. because it wasn't breathing properly, kwim? Maybe something like a cloth napkin is my next best option.

[kl5]

I use a flour sack dish towel and tight latex band to cover my kombucha jar and have never had problems with mold or bugs. I don't have it in my kitchen either (where it would definitely be exposed to mold and fruit flies occasionally!). If your scoby is really thick and you could peel off the top layer or two to get rid of eggs, etc., it's probably worth trying to save. If it is only one or two layers thick, I would say don't risk it.

[kylatay]

I use an unbleached coffee filter and rubber band. It covers a one gallon jar nicely. It's small so you don't have excess hanging all over and nothing really can get through it. But you have to wipe the top off before you put it on so that it doesn't get wet as its paper. Mine last me a long time!

[lastrid]

I saved mine from a fruit fly infestation by peeling the top off and switching to a coffee filter from cheesecloth. I've not had any problems with it since.