Growing My Own Kombucha Scoby - Page 10

[kkar]

So, I might have missed this somewhere, but does it matter (taste-wise) what flavor GT you use? For example, will the raspberry scoby make your kombucha taste more like raspberry? Or, is the flavor totally dependent upon the tea and fruit juiced added later on?

[WildIris]

In my experience it was totally dependent on the tea and whatever else I added later for flavoring. I started out with Raspberry GTs and my original Scoby was colored pink from it; that's the only "influence" I noticed from it.

[blastomom]

I started a new batch of KT about 8 days ago and this time it seems to be brewing very slowly. I did take the scoby out and peeled off my original, much smaller mother (smaller because I started it from some GT in a smaller jar). I figured that the top portion was nice and thick so that wouldn't be a problem, but after 8+ days the mixture is still very sweet and I'm not getting that strong yeasty/vinegary smell from my cupboard. Did I do something wrong, or do the "babies" take longer to brew a batch, even if they are thick and healthy looking? I am out of KT and craving the goodness!!!

[VijayOwens]

I need some tips on how to get my tea to taste as "dry" and crazy carbonated as GT Dave. I bought a scoby from the bacteria pimp, and have made several batches of KT, but the first batch we were too impatient to try it (after 2 weeks for a huge glass jar with no 2nd fermentation after we bottled it) and DH liked it, but for me it was too sweet and not fizzy enough.

Second batch DH proclaimed it "closer" to the dry fizzy stuff we are HOOKED on, but still for me the carbonation wasn't enough, and it tasted strongly of vinegar, not quite in the same way that GT dave has that "snappy" taste, but more like a glass of vinegar. So we let 2 small bottles of it ferment on the counter without the scoby for a week and then popped it in the fridge. It's not bad, but we aren't dying to drink it and we keep paying $3.99 a bottle for GT Dave. :

So I just decanted a new batch into the smaller bottles and I have TWO thick pancakes in each of the big jars so now I need to get two more big jars.

But I need to know! Why is my KT not as tasty??? What can I do to increase the bubbles and get rid of the syrupy/vinegary taste? Is it because I am using black tea and Dave uses green? Am I putting too much sugar in? I stuck these two newest small bottles right in the fridge wondering if that will somehow preserve the bubbles I've already got instead of the counter ferment? Should I grate some fresh ginger into it? That's my fave GT flavor.

Help! I'm going broke buying GT Dave and I need my KT to be as crave-worthy.

-Vijay

[lotus.blossom]

I just took my kombucha out of the cupboard and tried it. I brewed it last Thursday. Its delicious! I bit sweeter than Daves but so good! I noticed that my mother and baby were the same size and had sunk to the bottom and there was a third scoby forming at the top! I had a very fertile run this time! I bottled it and am hoping to create some fizz.

[majazama]

so what is this drink called again? I haven't seen it in my area at all (southern bc) I'm wondering if someone can send me a bottle?

[WildIris]

Originally Posted by VijayOwens

I need some tips on how to get my tea to taste as "dry" and crazy carbonated as GT Dave. I bought a scoby from the bacteria pimp, and have made several batches of KT, but the first batch we were too impatient to try it (after 2 weeks for a huge glass jar with no 2nd fermentation after we bottled it) and DH liked it, but for me it was too sweet and not fizzy enough.

Second batch DH proclaimed it "closer" to the dry fizzy stuff we are HOOKED on, but still for me the carbonation wasn't enough, and it tasted strongly of vinegar, not quite in the same way that GT dave has that "snappy" taste, but more like a glass of vinegar. So we let 2 small bottles of it ferment on the counter without the scoby for a week and then popped it in the fridge. It's not bad, but we aren't dying to drink it and we keep paying $3.99 a bottle for GT Dave. :

So I just decanted a new batch into the smaller bottles and I have TWO thick pancakes in each of the big jars so now I need to get two more big jars.

But I need to know! Why is my KT not as tasty??? What can I do to increase the bubbles and get rid of the syrupy/vinegary taste? Is it because I am using black tea and Dave uses green? Am I putting too much sugar in? I stuck these two newest small bottles right in the fridge wondering if that will somehow preserve the bubbles I've already got instead of the counter ferment? Should I grate some fresh ginger into it? That's my fave GT flavor.

Help! I'm going broke buying GT Dave and I need my KT to be as crave-worthy.

-Vijay

Hi Vijay,

I've found that green tea makes a much tastier kombucha than black tea; just my opinion/preference. So that might be a place to start if you don't like the way yours tastes.

I don't know if you're using too much sugar; what recipe are you using to mix up the sweet tea? I use 3 quarts water with 1 cup of sugar and 4 or 5 tea bags per batch. I let it sit with the scoby for approx. 10 days, then bottle it with "flavorings" such as diced ginger root, frozen fruit, etc. and do a second fermentation. I find that the second fermentation is what really does the trick as far as getting a nice amount of carbonation in there. And I really like the mix of ginger and fruit.

It just takes playing around with the mix, lots of trial and error to get it to taste the way you prefer.

[WildIris]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I just took my kombucha out of the cupboard and tried it. I brewed it last Thursday. Its delicious! I bit sweeter than Daves but so good! I noticed that my mother and baby were the same size and had sunk to the bottom and there was a third scoby forming at the top! I had a very fertile run this time! I bottled it and am hoping to create some fizz.

LotusBlossum, it sounds good! I'm glad you're having success with your kombucha.

[VijayOwens]

Originally Posted by WildIris

Hi Vijay,

It just takes playing around with the mix, lots of trial and error to get it to taste the way you prefer.

Thanks for the tips! That's what my DH keeps saying, that each batch tastes a little better than the one before... but I love that GT fizz! Still going to keep trying. I'm going to try the method that the OP did to start a new scoby from some store-bought KT and see if the balance of bacteria and yeast is different/better than the one I bought from the pimp.

Thanks guys! So many people would think I was nuts for doing these sorts of science experiments and then drinking them! But I find that I used to get terrible "hangovers" if I consumed too much sugar or starch... now I find that if I know I'm going to be "bad" a little KT before and/or after the indulgence completely neutralizes the yucky aftermath of too many sweets.

Not sure how it works, or if it would be the case for anyone, but it definitely does for me.

-V.

[WildIris]

Originally Posted by VijayOwens

Thanks for the tips! That's what my DH keeps saying, that each batch tastes a little better than the one before... but I love that GT fizz! Still going to keep trying. I'm going to try the method that the OP did to start a new scoby from some store-bought KT and see if the balance of bacteria and yeast is different/better than the one I bought from the pimp.

Thanks guys! So many people would think I was nuts for doing these sorts of science experiments and then drinking them! But I find that I used to get terrible "hangovers" if I consumed too much sugar or starch... now I find that if I know I'm going to be "bad" a little KT before and/or after the indulgence completely neutralizes the yucky aftermath of too many sweets.

Not sure how it works, or if it would be the case for anyone, but it definitely does for me.

-V.

Hi again Vijay,

Sorry for the delayed reply. I haven't had much time recently to keep up with this forum. But I'm very interested in how your experiment turns out if you try growing your own Scoby, and if the resulting brew will taste different than what you're doing now. (I am the OP who started this whole thread, by the way, and am still brewing kombucha with only the scobies that grew from that original home-grown scoby from the store-bought KT!)

Also, I find your comment very interesting about kombucha neutralizing the aftermath of too many sweets... I haven't noticed exactly the same thing, as I don't really eat sweets. However, I am dealing with multiple food allergies/intolerances, and recently I noticed that when I have a reaction to an allergen exposure, if I drink kombucha afterward it seems to help minimize some of the reaction. It's like it gets the allergen out of my system faster...or something. Maybe it's just psychological but it seems to help.

[VijayOwens]

That is so interesting about allergies. It kinda goes along with the whole healing the gut thing, and how the gut is such and important part of our immune system. One would think that a healthy system (picturing a very fit person in a "gi" karate kicking) would just knock out invaders without any side drama... I know that's not always the case, and sometimes allergies are just allergies and one may suffer with them all one's life, but you can at least try to stack the deck in your favor, right?

I think listening to your body is so key with TF and so many of us have to re-learn how to do that after years of ignoring it. When I first started drinking KT I would down a whole bottle in less than an hour. Now I can't finish more than half a bottle in an entire day. So it seems like at first my body was like YES! We need this! And then after drinking it 2 or 3 times a week for a few weeks my need for the whole bottle decreased to just needing a few sips here and there.

I think the green tea/black tea may be the key here... something about that fermented black tea taste just wasn't doing it for me.... Also I think my scoby was so thick and so healthy (and I was leaving the baby in) that with the high sugar content it converted everything so much faster than I expected that I got too strong of a vinegar taste and not enough bubbles...

-Vijay

[Jojo F.]

Just wanted to stop in and say that my scoby is going strong and is very thick now

[WildIris]

I agree with everything you say about listening to your body. Very important for healing.

I definitely like kombucha made with green tea far better than black tea. The black tea just makes it too "heavy" for me.

Recently I brewed a batch with WHITE tea. I just bottled it a few days ago for a second fermentation (flavored with frozen raspberries and diced fresh ginger root) and we are going to taste it this afternoon. I bottled it in three tall clear glass bottles, and it looks absolutely beautiful...it has turned dark pink and has the raspberries and bits of ginger floating around in there. I can't wait to see how it tastes with the white tea.

I don't think you said before, but have you tried doing a second fermentation with your kombucha? That is the best way to get the fizziness factor.

[WildIris]

Originally Posted by Jojo F.

Just wanted to stop in and say that my scoby is going strong and is very thick now

Awesome. Have you started brewing batches to drink yet, or are you just trying to grow your scoby strong enough to start making big batches?

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by WildIris

Awesome. Have you started brewing batches to drink yet, or are you just trying to grow your scoby strong enough to start making big batches?

Definitly making batches now, the scoby is almost an inch thick now and making about 2 gallons but I'll have to cut back now that I'm pg.

[WildIris]

Wow, congratulations on your pregnancy. How are you feeling so far? Are you going to avoid drinking kombucha while pregnant, or just limit the amount?

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by WildIris

Wow, congratulations on your pregnancy. How are you feeling so far? Are you going to avoid drinking kombucha while pregnant, or just limit the amount?

Thank you

I used to drink 16oz/day but have cut back to 8oz. I have been asking around if I should cut back more but I probably should have asked here!

[mysticpi]

HI!

This is my first post here, but I have read the WHOLE thread and I've started growing my own kombucha babies. So fun! I feel like a mad scientist!

I started two batches, one with 1/2 a bottle of plain GT and one with 1/2 of a synergy GT bottle. The synergy bottle is making beautiful scobies and I already drank a bit of kombucha from it yesterday.

The kombucha from the plain bottle isn't doing so good though. First no scoby grew at all, then I fed it a bit of sweet tea and finally a tiny thin scoby grew but very slowly. I tried a sip of the kombucha with a straw and it doesn't taste so good, it may even have gone a bit bad!

Interesting how different the two are behaving. I'm glad I didn't only try the plain one or I might have been terribly disappointed with the whole thing!

[WildIris]

Hi! I can't believe you read the whole thread... that's something I would do. So welcome, kindred mad scientist. :-) That's very interesting about how your two different kinds of kombucha are behaving. Must be something "magic" about that Synergy. Maybe it's all in the name?!

Keep us posted on your experiments.

[mysticpi]

Originally Posted by WildIris

Hi! I can't believe you read the whole thread... that's something I would do. So welcome, kindred mad scientist. :-) That's very interesting about how your two different kinds of kombucha are behaving. Must be something "magic" about that Synergy. Maybe it's all in the name?!

Keep us posted on your experiments.

he he, I might have even read it twice....

My synergy baby is growing like a champ, the other one, well, let's just say he's a bit challenged (I'm not giving up on him yet, let's see how think he grows and then I'll try a new tea feeding).