what PH level should finished Kombucha be at

[Guest guest]

I'm new at this. First brew in the making.

What PH level should my kombucha be when finished?

I tested the brew today and it's '6' yellow marker on strip. It's had 13 days

of fermenting.

However, I'm not able to keep a very warm house. Day time 68-70. Night temps

drop down to 64, so I realize growth will be slow.

Initially, over first week, spreading out around 'mother', the tea took on this

filmy appearance.

Gradually the film, slime has thickened and seems to have become an extension of

the 'mother', although it still does not look like one large piece.

Top of tea/scoby is uneven. Looks brown in some areas, and raised in other

areas - air bubbles maybe?

Scoby hasn't reached sides of container yet, but almost! I can't tell if a

'baby' is growing yet either. The mother has stayed a-float this whole time.

One area has a strip of white substance on top of film. Doesn't look fuzzy, but

it's hard to tell.

This white area is on top of new scoby growth. About an 1 inch in width and runs

5+ inches long; almost full width of glass canister.

Anyhow, at this time I've decided I should double check with you all. Perhaps

several of you here can give me guidance and/or clarification of what's going on

with my brew.

Thanks folks!

~Sara ._,___

[Guest guest]

I have seen so many different recommendations for " brew time " , it is really

confusing for the beginning brewer (like me).

I just started my first brew, basic Liptons Tea/sugar two medium scobys in a

2.5 gallon crock with plastic spigot at bottom. I started the brew Friday

night, so it has been 6 days now.

It is starting to smell a little like vinegar, and a film has formed on

top. I taste it every day (ok I am a newbie and like most, probably get

over anxious). But since it has a spigot at the bottom, taking a little to

taste does not disturb things. Each day it has changed a little in taste,

first the sweetness, not a hint of tart. (was bland in between).

I have seen 5 day, 7 days, 7-14 days, and yours below of 13 days.

And for newbies like me, it is hard to not get anxious and " over-think "

things, and hard to go by the " just taste it and when you like it, it is

done " . With lack of experience, you might pull the plug too soon, or

whatever.....

On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 12:29 PM, G S Marks <gsmarks@...> wrote:

> Sara and Tina...

>

> The measured PH shuld be somewhere in the '3' range. I never measure mine

> and rely on taste, as do most other brewers once they get past the

> nervousness of their first brews. There is no definitive answer to what

> the

> Ph of the tonic should be...the Ph is right when it tastes good to you!

> By

> 13 days you should be able to smell the vinegary scent of KT...

>

> Sara...that film you were seeing IS the baby! Very often the mother and

> baby will be connected to some extent if the mother is a floater. The

> mother culture may float, swim, or settle somewhere in between. It's

> position may change in mid brew...all fine.

>

> The film that is the developing baby gradually thickens and becomes

> opaque.

> This may happen uniformly across the top of the brewing container, but not

> necessarily so.

>

> The surface of the baby may be totally flat or bubbly all over...it may

> have

> holes in it. It may have air bubbles. Take a look at the photos

> sectionand

> you will see quite a variety.

>

> If you have any suspician something you don't recognise may be mold...let

> it

> continue to develop until you know for sure...mold is fuzzy. If you are

> in

> doubt...throw it out!

>

>

--

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[Guest guest]

>The surface of the baby may be totally flat or bubbly all over...it

may have >holes in it. It may have air bubbles. Take a look at

the photos section and you >will see quite a variety.

>If you have any suspicion something you don't recognise may be

mold...let it

>continue to develop until you know for sure...mold is fuzzy. If you

are in >doubt...throw it out!

Gayle

For a couple of photos of " Textbook Mo(u)ld " go ye unto

http://health.ph./group/kombucha tea/photos/view/367f?b=2 & m\

=s & o=0

and take a decko at " 's Bits " Only 2 photos, 1 shows mo(u)ld in its true

colo(u)rs, the other gives a better idea of the sort of size the growths are in

a 23/4 " or 7cm jar neck

N. England.