Scored a scoby!

[divrguy]

Wow, must be Christmas! Went to buy a store bought kombucha today and found a bottle way in back with (2) 1/2
Thick scoby's took some wrestling to get them out but I did!

 

[aspiffymofo]

Nice! I heard they started adding some supplement to inhibit growth or alcohol production in the commercial kombuchas these days. I had to buy mine from my LHBS for $14.

An article I read about the additive: http://www.foodrenegade.com/kombucha-scoby-experiment/

Edit: Found a HBT thread about it.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f167/can-i-use-gts-start-scoby-415962/

 

[divrguy]

I had read those before while searching. Very interesting but since I keep seeing what looks like a scoby in so many raw bottles, I wondered about it. I have another bottle with a very thin scoby starting now about 1/8 thick. It's in the pint and a half mason jars.

So, I made a half gallon batch with 4 tea bags and half cup of sugar for this scoby find. Poured the whole bottle with both scoby's in it. I'm hoping that will get me a full size one quicker. I hope it works.

 

[divrguy]

Btw, I wish I had somewhere close to actually pick one up. Even on Craigslist, they seem too far to drive. I was about to purchase one from kombucha kamp until I started to see activity from these bottles.

 

[kyt]

Look on Facebook for a group called kombucha nation. If you live close to another brewer you can get a free culture or reimburse someone for shipping costs. We do not charge for the Kombucha, Jun, or Kefir cultures.

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[divrguy]

Look on Facebook for a group called kombucha nation. If you live close to another brewer you can get a free culture or reimburse someone for shipping costs. We do not charge for the Kombucha, Jun, or Kefir cultures.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Home Brew mobile app[/]

After bunches of reading I am finally starting to understand some of the KT theory. Feels like when I started brewing beer all over again.

I am also interested in water kefirs too.

I'll check the site. Thanks for the info.

 

[divrguy]

Look on Facebook for a group called kombucha nation. If you live close to another brewer you can get a free culture or reimburse someone for shipping costs. We do not charge for the Kombucha, Jun, or Kefir cultures.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Home Brew mobile app

Hey KYT, searched google for that name but didn't get a hit on it. I also don't have a Facebook account but thought it may have a website as well. Found kombucha with similar names but?? Can you send me a link? Thanks

 

[kyt]

Its a closed group I don't think you can view it without an account. I'll see if I can come up with something.

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[kyt]

What happens whe you try to go here?
https://m.facebook.com/groups/411274168932485

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[divrguy]

Hmmm tells me to get a facebook account. Might have to do something then

Another question. If I have a scoby that grew in an extremely small amount of retail tea that is nice and thick and white, but it was just a few ounces of the mystic mango, can I take the scoby out and put it in a new batch of tea (un fermented) with some white vinegar instead of any of the mucky looking mango KT that is only a coupe oz?

 

[kyt]

You'd be better served to buy a bottle of plain with no scoby and use all of that instead. If you use the just mango SCOBY with no starter and vinegar to drop the pH, it may or may not work. The yeasts are in the liquid mostly, you'll get some from the SCOBY but there's no guarantee that there's enough active cells. If there are you'll need to carefully culture it to get them at high enough numbers.
It also may take many brews to get the mango flavor out, if it ever comes out completely.

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[divrguy]

Thank you sir! Great info.

I just joined the kombucha nation too. Seems like an active group!