Does my Kombucha Look OK?

[cvanbib]

So this isn't the best picture. But I have two batches going; the one with the black tea looks textbook. This one, green tea scoby looks weird. I'm new, and so I'm not sure if I should be worried. There are parts of the scoby exposed to air that seem to be drying out. There's not any green or fuzzy stuff, just white spots. And as far as I can tell it smells pretty vinegary and not moldy.

If it is all right, should I try to push it below the surface to keep it wet? Or not touch it (this is a continuous fermentation process).

 

[maffew222]

Gah! It is crazy looking but seems fine to me. I've had some ugly ones as well. How long has that one been going?

 

[zipper8650]

looks fine, just leave it be. Green tea will produce a more aggressive scoby, your on the right track!!!

 

[Rick972]

New also, but I have read that the top of the SCOBY should not dry out. That is where the new mother grows, which is what you want to happen. I check my brews every day for this. If dry, I push it back down with a drinking straw. Straw also works good for taste testing.

In-depth info link...

http://users.bestweb.net/~om/kombucha_balance/#Vessels

 

[clairecunn83]

It's fine. Looks totally normal. Just forming a new scoby. Also, I never worry about my scoby drying out or punching it down. It's fiiiiiinnnnnne.

 

[hunter_le five]

Looks about like mine latest SCOBY.

It's weird how much they can vary in shape, texture, and appearance.

 

[skadalajara]

My last one trapped a bunch of CO2 bubbles and was mostly above the liquid. Used it to start my next batch and it refloated.

 

[clairecunn83]

The scoby formation depends on the time. The stronger and blacker the tea, the stronger the scoby forms (and more vinegary the taste). Lighter teas make slimmer scobies. But the magic is they all work, skinny or fat ;-)