Fermenting with Chinese Yeast Balls

[Monky_Business]

Does anyone have experience brewing with Chinese yeast balls? Due to the quarantine, I decided to try fermenting a small experimental batch of wine with them since it is the only yeast I have on hand. The white and black mold on top looks like it could be koji, but I'm not sure if it is that or an infection since I have not used it before I'm not sure. It seems to smell okay and is fermenting.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Did you use unpasteurized whole fruit?

Mold shouldn't be growing on it at all. You should be punching down the fruit at least daily to prevent it.
I would dump that for sure, to be safe.

 

[Monky_Business]

I boiled the must for 20min to knock out what was on the grapes naturally. The yeast balls contain a combination of molds and yeast so it could easily be from the yeast ball. It does look a bit like koji.

 

[gunhaus]

Much of interest in this link:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...nal-rice-wine-cheap-fun-and-different.361095/

 

[RPh_Guy]

It may or may not be safe, regardless of whether it came from the yeast ball. Consume at your own risk.