Alternative to starter liquid?

FatDragon · Mar 8, 2015

I've got a SCOBY on the way to try some kombucha - I'm thinking the insane variety of teas here in China will make for some great stuff - but I don't have any kombucha to use as a starter liquid, and I can't just go and pick up a bottle at the store here. Are there any good alternatives for acidifying the tea here, or am I going to be stuck ordering a bottle of kombucha online?

NeoBrew · Mar 8, 2015

The point of the starter liquid is to acidify the tea so no bad bacteria get going before fermentation takes hold. It doesn't necessarily need to be kombucha if you have the scoby to introduce the cultures.

aspiffymofo · Mar 8, 2015

You can use vinegar if you don't have any finished kombucha for the starter.

http://www.kombuchacultures.com/kombucha_problem_liquid.html

FatDragon · Mar 9, 2015

aspiffymofo said:
You can use vinegar if you don't have any finished kombucha for the starter.

http://www.kombuchacultures.com/kombucha_problem_liquid.html

Thanks, that's the kind of answer I was hoping for - a common household ingredient that will save me the trouble of buying kombucha to start my first batch. Hopefully apple cider vinegar will do the trick without messing with the flavor too much.

masonsjax · Mar 9, 2015

Just make sure it's boiled, distilled, or pasteurized so you're not introducing too much acetobacter or other microbes that could throw off the balance of the SCoBY. I see apple cider vinegar sold near me often includes the mother. I have used distilled white vinegar with good results.

kingskombucha · Apr 9, 2015

Apple Cider Vinegar should do the trick! But don't rely on it for every batch

Alternative to starter liquid?

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Alternative to starter liquid?

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