Question on starter tea and incandescent light

[Neilo2020]

Hey hope I'm not repeating a question asked before (I'm sure I am but haven't found anything in my search). I started my first kombucha brew yesterday, 4 liters (1 gallon) , but I only had a small amount of starter tea, like a quarter cup. I thought it'll be ok but the more i'm reading the less confident I am. So, question is should I add vinegar as I keep reading that it is an option (not an ideal option but an option).

I'm ok with this brew not turning out great, I can do another using the correct amount of starter from this brew which should dilute the vinegar for the most part.

Also, to maintain a warm environment, I have a brew box from when I brewed beer. It has a incandescent light bulb in it to keep the box warm. I have read to keep the brew out of sunlight, but what about incandescent, it's obviously very bright in the box. I assume UV light is the concern, but thought i'll ask.


Thanks in advance for your help.


Neil

 

[Yooper]

Yes, add vinegar to reduce the pH so that you don't get undesirable spoilage microbes growing. And I wouldn't have it in direct light. I have mine in some light (not a dark cupboard) but it's filtered soft light and not direct light.

 

[Neilo2020]

Thanks Yooper. The PH test I done says 5 (which is the lowest the strip displays), any advice on how much vinegar to add? I'll look for a PH tester that goes lower also, I believe 3-4 is ideal?

 

[stringwise]

Hey hope I'm not repeating a question asked before (I'm sure I am but haven't found anything in my search). I started my first kombucha brew yesterday, 4 liters (1 gallon) , but I only had a small amount of starter tea, like a quarter cup. I thought it'll be ok but the more i'm reading the less confident I am. So, question is should I add vinegar as I keep reading that it is an option (not an ideal option but an option).

I'm ok with this brew not turning out great, I can do another using the correct amount of starter from this brew which should dilute the vinegar for the most part.

Also, to maintain a warm environment, I have a brew box from when I brewed beer. It has a incandescent light bulb in it to keep the box warm. I have read to keep the brew out of sunlight, but what about incandescent, it's obviously very bright in the box. I assume UV light is the concern, but thought i'll ask.


Thanks in advance for your help.


Neil

Do you have access to buy some GT's or other original non-flavored Kombucha? If so you could buy that, let it get to room temp and add it to your brew. I'm no expert but seems like a better option than vinegar.

 

[Neilo2020]

There is nowhere around me to get that, my friend who gave me the scoby only does 2l at a time and didn't want to part with half his brew. In hindsight I should of done a much smaller batch to start and used the whole thing as starter for the 4L one.

 

[Neilo2020]

FYI for anyone looking at this in the future. Its been 10 days, I added about 50ml of vinegar about day 3. A new scoby has formed on the top, ph is sitting just under four and it is very sweet to taste. I think all going well just needs longer.