Can kombucha be drunk before it is ready?

[havsulen]

I just discovered I am addicted! But we finished the last bottle yesterday, and our new lot of brew has only had 4 days. It says in NT that is should have between 7 and 10 days.

What happens if I start drinking from it now? Will the sugar still be there? Will the acid that I want to have for health reasons not be developed yet? I wanna have some NOW!
Even my kids are waiting impatiently!

I realize now I have to brew it continously so that this situation doesn't happen again

[PeggyinNC]

I believe that NT suggests we start checking the kombucha after 4 days. I would taste it, and if it is too sweet, let it go longer, but if I was desperate, I might remove a cup or so right now, and let the rest keep brewing...I know what it is like to need kombucha now! Good luck!

[Mrshawwk]

I would think the problem with kombucha that's not done would be a lot of straight white sugar...the very stuff we are trying to avoid! But I feel your pain.... been there, done that, and will again....

[KristaDJ]

I doesn't feel great in the belly if you drink too much before it's ready..... not that I've done that

[CrunchyChristianMama]

We let ours brew for no less than 2 weeks, so I can't imagine drinking it after only 4 days! I have to brew several gallons at a time though just to keep DH covered for the 2 weeks it takes to have another batch ready.

[havsulen]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

I have to brew several gallons at a time

I hear you woman, the only way forward! How do you do it practically? I mean, what do you brew it in? I used a very big container once, but then the mushroom became so thin and big, if you know what I mean. But maybe that doesn't matter?

[dogmom327]

I brew several gallons at a time to get us through the next fermentation period too I use glass gallon jars. It doesn't matter the size of the scoby, you can just dump it in the next batch (it doesn't have to float or anything). If it's more or less folded in half--that's fine. You could also rip a large scoby in two pieces (don't try cutting it with a metal knife). I think the only real size concern for the scoby would be if it was so big and thick there wasn't room for the liquid.