Taste

[Fowler007]

I have brewed this three times. First time was 11 days. Second time was 9 days , and the third time was 7 days. Each time it came out tasting vinegary. The big question is what should it taste and smell like ? Should i be brewing it longer or using different recipe ? I have been using 4 cups water boiled, two tea bags steeped for 7 minutes. One half cup of sugar. One cup of old kombucha and scoby. If any one has any comments about this i would appreciate it. I am starting to feel like giving up .
Thanks

 

[Totes]

What is not to your liking?
It should taste a little bit vinegary, or a lot a bit vinegary, depending on tour fermentation.
I would taste periodically as fermentation progresses to determine what suits you.

 

[constantmarine]

I have brewed this three times. First time was 11 days. Second time was 9 days , and the third time was 7 days. Each time it came out tasting vinegary. The big question is what should it taste and smell like ? Should i be brewing it longer or using different recipe ? I have been using 4 cups water boiled, two tea bags steeped for 7 minutes. One half cup of sugar. One cup of old kombucha and scoby. If any one has any comments about this i would appreciate it. I am starting to feel like giving up .
Thanks

How many fermentations are you going through? if you do not like the flavor in which it comes out which should be like apple cider vinegar, try doing a secondary fermentation with fruits, spices, etc. I have made this for my class and so far have tried pineapple, apple, mango, fig, and apricot.. all which gave the base buch a different flavor or coloring.
Possibly try it with a different tea, I use Great Value Black tea for mine which i know makes a stronger taste. possibly try using a green tea, it will be lighter in flavor and then another second fermentation with blue berries or fresh fruit.

Dont give up its all trial and error in the end..

 

[snarf]

** Cautionary note**
Using fresh fruit, it should be drank relatively fast due to the shelf life of the fruit

Why?? Have you ever had kombucha go bad? I haven't and I've stored some of my (fruit) kombucha for at least 14 months...

 

[constantmarine]

Why?? Have you ever had kombucha go bad? I haven't and I've stored some of my (fruit) kombucha for at least 14 months...

My Chef instructor said the longer it goes the more vinegary it gets I shouldn't have said its short shelf life.. I apologize, have u had more scobies form in the bottles with it?

 

[snarf]

Yes, usually a small scoby forms in the bottle. However, the kombucha doesn't get more vinegary once bottled, because there's no oxygen available. It does ferment a bit more, but that's mostly due to the yeasts.

 

[anyacreate]

Kombucha is the end product of fermentation of sugar and tea. The longer it ferments, the kombucha tea produces Kombucha Vinegar. Vinegar is the absence of sugar. If you don't like the taste of your kombucha (I see your brew times are relatively short), then perhaps you 1) are starting with too much scoby starter 2) the temperature you are brewing is on the high end (85 +).