HELP! My KB isn't sweet OR sour!

[uglyamerican00]

I'm completely confused, I know I'm supposed to taste the KB until it is ready for bottling per my flavor, however, it has no flavor except the tea! The mother looks good, KB smells sour....taste like unsweetened tea?! How is this, and is it ok? If no, HOW DO I FIX IT!!!!View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1423167299.631886.jpg

 

[hunter_le five]

Generally speaking, if it doesn't taste strong enough for you, just let it sit a few days longer.

My first few batches I let go a week before bottling. Then I found that I liked the taste better if I let it go for 10-12 days before bottling. My current batch I'm letting go 14 days to see how that turns out.

I let one go as long as a month, but that was a little vinegary tasting for me.

How long has it been fermenting for?
What's your recipe?

 

[maffew222]

what was your recipe? and process?

 

[uglyamerican00]

I used
6 bags of decaf green tea steeped in water just below boil. While those were steeping, I added 1 cup sugar into the water, stirred the sugar into the hot water for about 5 min to sanitize. After that, I let it cool, put in in bucket with my KB mother (continuous brew) and covered up.

 

[uglyamerican00]

It's been 7 days

 

[uglyamerican00]

Hunter,

It has no taste! Not sweet from sugar, not sour from fermentation. It's been seven days and it's tasteless.

I did a continuous brew by leaving the mother and pouring the next batch, I thought maybe I "thought" I put sugar in it, however, a new Scoby is growing on top...

 

[hunter_le five]

Recipe? What kind of tea/how much? What kind of water/how much? What kind/how much sugar? Process?

I'd let this current batch ride out longer and try it in a few days to a week.

 

[uglyamerican00]

The only thing I could have done is forgot the sugar. The process is solid.

Let's say I forgot sugar, and the Scoby is still growing, could it be from the two cups of KB I transferred to the new batch? Also, is it too late to add sugar?!

 

[maffew222]

I used
6 bags of decaf green tea steeped in water just below boil. While those were steeping, I added 1 cup sugar into the water, stirred the sugar into the hot water for about 5 min to sanitize. After that, I let it cool, put in in bucket with my KB mother (continuous brew) and covered up.

How much water? I am generally brewing 1/2 gallon with 4 tea bags and 1/2 cup of sugar, fwiw.

 

[SnakeRidge]

The ratio I always use is 8 tea bags to 1 gal water with 1 cup white sugar

Edit to add: Sorry Maffew beat me to it.

 

[uglyamerican00]

One gallon water, 1 cup sugar, 6 teabags....

 

[maffew222]

I mean, if it's not sweet and it's not sour, could you have forgotten the sugar? Personally I would just brew a new batch and use the Scoby rather than trying to add sugar back to it, you'd have to stir it into warm water anyway, then diluting your tea.

 

[uglyamerican00]

Ugh, I guess I can start over...

 

[SnakeRidge]

I mean, if it's not sweet and it's not sour, could you have forgotten the sugar? Personally I would just brew a new batch and use the Scoby rather than trying to add sugar back to it, you'd have to stir it into warm water anyway, then diluting your tea.

Honestly thats what I would do. Chalk it up to experiance

 

[TxBrew]

Is this the first brew with your SCOBY? Usually my very first brew with a SCOBY does not make a really strong bucha. It has the hints but it mostly tastes like a weak juice.

 

[Melinda]

I used
6 bags of decaf green tea steeped in water just below boil. While those were steeping, I added 1 cup sugar into the water, stirred the sugar into the hot water for about 5 min to sanitize. After that, I let it cool, put in in bucket with my KB mother (continuous brew) and covered up.

You have to use caffeinated black tea.

 

[Butcha_Bear_84]

I noticed you are brewing in plastic. I've read the SCOBY can leach any poly-chemicals from plastic. Just looking out for you. you should really consider using glass. Also I've read not to use decaf. Cheers!!!

 

[EPBREWER]

First off, I don't think you should brew with decaf tea. Whats the ambient temperature? Was the tea completely cooled down before you dropped the SCOBY in? Did you add enough starter tea? As far as the plastic, just make sure its HDPE and you're good.