Guest guest Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 When I cleared a nice place in my kitchen cabinet and placed my kombucha jars in there, they didn't like it. They much prefer to be out on the kitchen counter. Do you think they enjoy being on display and the center of attention? *LOL* -Patty > > When I got my first scobies several weeks ago, I brewed in the closet > next to my furnace, it was nice and warm. Then I found out that I > didn't need it quite that warm, so I set up an area in a spare room, > which is still nice and warm. > > Since I've moved them, several brew cycles ago now, the kt has gone > steadity downhill until now, this last batch has been sitting for > nearly a week, there is a new scoby, but NO yeast ooglies and it's > still sweet, so I assume everything needs to be discarded. > > I have new scobies on the way, so will be starting all over again. > > The only things I can think of are: > 1) for the last couple of batches, I used PG Tips black tea > http://www.pgtips.co.uk/ > 2) I relocated my tea to a shelving unit (3 years old) intended for > CD/VCR tapes made from whatever ready-to-assemble furniture is made > from. The compartments are relatively small, so each gallon jar has > it's own compartment, about 5 " taller than the jar. They aren't > enclosed, but the compartments are deep enough for the whole jar to sit > well back from the front edge. > > So does anyone have any suggestions? Do you think PG Tips tea contains > a fungicide? > Do you think there are vocs coming from the materials of the shelving > unit? > > When I get my new ones, I don't want them to die too. > > Thank you for any insight you can give me. > > Best regards, > Dee > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Hiya Dee, I use lots of different kinds of teas in my KT, but drink PG Tips for my regular cuppa and have also used it on occasion for making KT with no trouble, so I doubt the tea is the problem. And I doubt that your scoby has died if new babies are developing. I have found that in the summertime, my KT is done in six or seven days, but during the colder months, it takes about 10 or 11 days to brew to perfection, so maybe you just need to leave it a bit longer. Griphynne > > When I got my first scobies several weeks ago, I brewed in the closet > next to my furnace, it was nice and warm. Then I found out that I > didn't need it quite that warm, so I set up an area in a spare room, > which is still nice and warm. > > Since I've moved them, several brew cycles ago now, the kt has gone > steadity downhill until now, this last batch has been sitting for > nearly a week, there is a new scoby, but NO yeast ooglies and it's > still sweet, so I assume everything needs to be discarded. > > I have new scobies on the way, so will be starting all over again. > > The only things I can think of are: > 1) for the last couple of batches, I used PG Tips black tea > http://www.pgtips.co.uk/ > 2) I relocated my tea to a shelving unit (3 years old) intended for > CD/VCR tapes made from whatever ready-to-assemble furniture is made > from. The compartments are relatively small, so each gallon jar has > it's own compartment, about 5 " taller than the jar. They aren't > enclosed, but the compartments are deep enough for the whole jar to sit > well back from the front edge. > > So does anyone have any suggestions? Do you think PG Tips tea contains > a fungicide? > Do you think there are vocs coming from the materials of the shelving > unit? > > When I get my new ones, I don't want them to die too. > > Thank you for any insight you can give me. > > Best regards, > Dee > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I think you're on to something there, Patty! I also keep my scobies on the kitchen counter where they brew happily and never get lonely. Not only do they like being the center of attention, they're a nosey bunch and like to see what's going on. Griphynne > > When I cleared a nice place in my kitchen cabinet and placed my > kombucha jars in there, they didn't like it. > They much prefer to be out on the kitchen counter. Do you think they > enjoy being on display and the center of attention? > *LOL* > -Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I put my 2 7-day gallons on my kitchen counter just now and I'll see if they like looking around a bit, lol! We keep our house at 75 degrees, so it's about the same temp as in the summer, so that can't be it. What stumps me is that the liquid is totally clear, as are the new scobies. I've never made KT before without it producing brown strings of yeast cells hanging down and throughout the tea. Dee > > Hiya Dee, > > I use lots of different kinds of teas in my KT, but drink PG Tips for > my regular cuppa and have also used it on occasion for making KT with > no trouble, so I doubt the tea is the problem. And I doubt that your > scoby has died if new babies are developing. I have found that in > the summertime, my KT is done in six or seven days, but during the > colder months, it takes about 10 or 11 days to brew to perfection, so > maybe you just need to leave it a bit longer. > > Griphynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I've been going over and over in my mind what I could have done to cause this problem and about 5 am this morning, I woke up and thought-- the other thing I did is put a fresh filter on the water line that I use to make KT. We ran gallons of water and discarded them, so no charcoal bits would get in the kt, but I wonder if there's an anti-fungal in the filter cartridge. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Anti-microbial Silver. Barry > > I've been going over and over in my mind what I could have done to > cause this problem and about 5 am this morning, I woke up and thought-- > the other thing I did is put a fresh filter on the water line that I > use to make KT. > > We ran gallons of water and discarded them, so no charcoal bits would > get in the kt, but I wonder if there's an anti-fungal in the filter > cartridge. > > Dee > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Thanks Barry, that makes sense! So it's likely ok to drink, but not make KT. I'll be buying spring water for my next batch, that's for sure. Do you think it's suppressing the KT scoby and if I use spring water with my current scobies and vinegar instead of starter, they'll revive? How frustrating! I thought I was doing a good thing. I can't afford a reverse osmosis filter right now, but I will be looking into them as soon as I can. Thanks, Dee > > but I wonder if there's an anti-fungal in the filter > > cartridge. > > > > Dee > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 In message <006501c8592b$c74fa310$6400a8c0@biblekid2> you wrote: > <<They much prefer to be out on the kitchen counter. Do you think they > enjoy being on display and the center of attention? > *LOL*>> Yes, absolutely. My Kombuchas are very social creatures ;-) > I don't know Patty, mine are ont he counter as well and they are scaring > people, I think the subject line should read 'problems with people'! The problem is very rarely with the Kombucha itself, but lies in the eye of the beholder. I just can't understand how people can gripe about K cultures, or spiders and other creepy crawlies or the natural things of life! I honestly believe that a little educating needs to take place and the casting out of stupid phobias. It's all an attitude of the mind. Mind you, I have always liked to scare people and make them jump or squeak. So, you see, I am not the saint some make me out to be ;-) most kombuchaly, Margret, the Terrible;-) -- +------------------ Minstrel@... --------------------+ <)))<>< http://www.therpc.f9.co.uk <)))<>< http://www.AnswersInGenesis.com +----------------- http://www.Gotquestions.org ------------------+ God sent His only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him (1 4) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 <<They much prefer to be out on the kitchen counter. Do you think they enjoy being on display and the center of attention? *LOL*>> I don't know Patty, mine are ont he counter as well and they are scaring people, I have three big jars going on to keep up with all the KT lovers in my life ; ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 and you probably talked to them more lol Re: Problems with my brew When I cleared a nice place in my kitchen cabinet and placed my kombucha jars in there, they didn't like it. They much prefer to be out on the kitchen counter. Do you think they enjoy being on display and the center of attention? *LOL* -Patty > > When I got my first scobies several weeks ago, I brewed in the closet > next to my furnace, it was nice and warm. Then I found out that I > didn't need it quite that warm, so I set up an area in a spare room, > which is still nice and warm. > > Since I've moved them, several brew cycles ago now, the kt has gone > steadity downhill until now, this last batch has been sitting for > nearly a week, there is a new scoby, but NO yeast ooglies and it's > still sweet, so I assume everything needs to be discarded. > > I have new scobies on the way, so will be starting all over again. > > The only things I can think of are: > 1) for the last couple of batches, I used PG Tips black tea > http://www.pgtips. co.uk/ > 2) I relocated my tea to a shelving unit (3 years old) intended for > CD/VCR tapes made from whatever ready-to-assemble furniture is made > from. The compartments are relatively small, so each gallon jar has > it's own compartment, about 5 " taller than the jar. They aren't > enclosed, but the compartments are deep enough for the whole jar to sit > well back from the front edge. > > So does anyone have any suggestions? Do you think PG Tips tea contains > a fungicide? > Do you think there are vocs coming from the materials of the shelving > unit? > > When I get my new ones, I don't want them to die too. > > Thank you for any insight you can give me. > > Best regards, > Dee > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 Hello again, I have been around and then not. I had lost interest for a while but had a scoby hotel going so just gave it a rest for a while. Then I decided I had better get back to business. Got bronchitis and realized I'd better get back to being vigilant about my health. I started a brew and 10 days later opened my old brewing jar and yuk! MOLD. I figured my old scoby's maybe were not good any more. So I ordered one on line and started a new brew only to end up with mold again. I gave up. Now I have bronchitis again and I am determined to start brewing my old best friend again. I need a scoby. I live in Los Angeles but would be happy to pay shipping from ANYWHERE! I have been drinking KT from whole foods and I like it fine but it is expensive and I drink a lot when I get going. I'd also like to try kefir grains if anyone would like to share some of those. I'd be eternally grateful and thank you! Getting inspired in LA, Blessings, Roxanne Roxanne EXPECT A MIRACLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2008 Report Share Posted January 18, 2008 Hello again, I have been around and then not. I had lost interest for a while but had a scoby hotel going so just gave it a rest for a while. Then I decided I had better get back to business. Got bronchitis and realized I'd better get back to being vigilant about my health. I started a brew and 10 days later opened my old brewing jar and yuk! MOLD. I figured my old scoby's maybe were not good any more. So I ordered one on line and started a new brew only to end up with mold again. I gave up. Now I have bronchitis again and I am determined to start brewing my old best friend again. I need a scoby. I live in Los Angeles but would be happy to pay shipping from ANYWHERE! I have been drinking KT from whole foods and I like it fine but it is expensive and I drink a lot when I get going. I'd also like to try kefir grains if anyone would like to share some of those. I'd be eternally grateful and thank you! Getting inspired in LA, Blessings, Roxanne Roxanne EXPECT A MIRACLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Update. Last Friday, I took some KT left over from when it was still working and 3 scobies, one I had in my scoby hotel and 2 from a member of this list. I made a double batch of tea with sugar, cut each of the scobies in half and made 2 identical gallons of kombucha. I put one in the original location I started with (a closet) and the other in the vcr " bookcase " where my problems started. Now, 6 days later, the one in the closet has a nice new scoby about 1/4 " thick, but the one in the " bookcase " is just sitting there doing nothing, not even a hint of a scoby on top. The spaces are both dim and the temperature is within a couple of degrees of each other, so there's got to be something coming off the bookcase, some sort of fumes or such from the particle board glue or the vinyl covering. Bummer, but at least now that I know, I can get new, fresh scobies somewhere and start totally all over again. Earlier today, I tried 6 oz of the kt I made 3 weeks ago that still tasted sweet and it shot my blood sugar up to nearly 200! So, I'm going to dump every bit of all of it, all the scobies, all the kt, everything and start all over again. Oh well, live and learn. > > When I got my first scobies several weeks ago, I brewed in the closet > next to my furnace, it was nice and warm. Then I found out that I > didn't need it quite that warm, so I set up an area in a spare room, > which is still nice and warm. > > Since I've moved them, several brew cycles ago now, the kt has gone > steadity downhill until now, this last batch has been sitting for > nearly a week, there is a new scoby, but NO yeast ooglies and it's > still sweet, so I assume everything needs to be discarded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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