RE: making kombucha

[Guest guest]

I make my Kombucha in a one gallon JAR. I put a paper coffee strainer on top,

and secure it with a lid that has holes. This lip can be one that comes with

these jars and has a pour top (that I leave open for air) or a lid that has the

middle cut out. This keeps out ANY bugs.

I put the jars in my " fermenter " . This is a very large cardboard box that is

draped with a sun shield (like the ones used in cars to keep them cool), which I

keep in my outdoor greenhouse. Please note: I live in California so our

temperature does not vary much.

In the winter I have some Sizzle Rocks (used to keep lizards warm so don't go

over around 90 degrees). In the summer, if it get really hot, I put in those

packs that you freeze and refreeze.

I ferment most of my foods as well as my Kombucha this way and have never had a

problem.

If you have room in a closet, that would be great, and you would not have to

worry about the changes in outside temperature.

Hope this helps!

Kat

http://www.katking.com

----- Original Message -----

From: ChrisMasterjohn@...

Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 9:30 AM

Subject: making kombucha

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere in that really long kombucha

thread, which I've read most of but scanned a lot of . . .

But, where do you folks who make it, keep your kombucha to ferment? NT says

put it in a bowl with a dishtowl over it suspended by criss-crossed masking

tape and keep it in a " warm dark place. " " Warm " and " cool " always seem a

little vague to me, but I am not used to the combination of warm and dark--

most dark places tend to be cooler, don't they?-- because if it keeps the

light out it keeps some of the heat out, especially if it is white or

mirrored on the outside. I have no idea if there is any dark place in my

house that is warmer than the average temp. in my house.

Also, it says to keep it away from " contaminants " and " insects. " I don't

have any serious insect problem in my house, but it is summer, and I do see

the occasional bug or two in my house, so while we don't have hoards of ants

or fruit flies, I'm not sure I have anywhere that I could _guarantee_ as bug

free. Is this serious enough to fret about?

Thanks,

Chris

[Guest guest]

I make great kombucha using a glass mixing bowl covered with the masking

tape crisscross and the tea towel...I set it in my living room in a plant

stand in the corner, not in the dark. It's not _brightly lit_ in my living

room all day, but not dark, either. The tea towel hangs over the sides of

the bowl quite a bit, so I think most of the bowl is blocked from much light

getting in. I can't _guarantee_ bug-free-ness, either, but I haven't had a

problem.

Jill

-----Original Message-----

From: ChrisMasterjohn@... [mailto:ChrisMasterjohn@...]

Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 12:30 PM

Subject: making kombucha

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has been answered somewhere in that really long kombucha

thread, which I've read most of but scanned a lot of . . .

But, where do you folks who make it, keep your kombucha to ferment? NT says

put it in a bowl with a dishtowl over it suspended by criss-crossed masking

tape and keep it in a " warm dark place. " " Warm " and " cool " always seem a

little vague to me, but I am not used to the combination of warm and dark--

most dark places tend to be cooler, don't they?-- because if it keeps the

light out it keeps some of the heat out, especially if it is white or

mirrored on the outside. I have no idea if there is any dark place in my

house that is warmer than the average temp. in my house.

Also, it says to keep it away from " contaminants " and " insects. " I don't

have any serious insect problem in my house, but it is summer, and I do see

the occasional bug or two in my house, so while we don't have hoards of ants

or fruit flies, I'm not sure I have anywhere that I could _guarantee_ as bug

free. Is this serious enough to fret about?

Thanks,

Chris

____

" What can one say of a soul, of a heart, filled with compassion? It is a

heart which burns with love for every creature: for human beings, birds, and

animals, for serpents and for demons. The thought of them and the sight of

them make the tears of the saint flow. And this immense and intense

compassion, which flows from the heart of the saints, makes them unable to

bear the sight of the smallest, most insignificant wound in any creature.

Thus they pray ceaselessly, with tears, even for animals, for enemies of the

truth, and for those who do them wrong. "

--Saint Isaac the Syrian