Re: brewing without a scoby

[Guest guest]

In message <ftk1n8+jj08eGroups> you wrote:

> Hey everyone.. Joe in Oklahoma City here. I found some info online

> about stating a batch of KT without a scoby. they said you can grow

> your own mother by brewing the tea and adding a bottle of raw KT from a

> healthfood store. I am trying it and it's been less than a week. I'm

> seeing a little action some things forming and a bit of bubbleing.

> Just wanted to know if anyone has tried this with any success. I'm

> VERY new to this and trying to do what I can.

Hi Joe,

It is quite possible to brew a batch of proper Kombucha tea with just

the Kombucha liquid, as it also is ALL the culture, consisting of yeasts

and bacteria microflora.

On my recent 'scoby grow' record I have followed the progress of

3 cultures, 2 of them which had no scoby, but only liquid KT as starter.

My conclusion was, that all three batches produced fine Kombucha, but the

one which also had a scoby, made the best new scoby - probably because the

extra bacteria presence in the original scoby.

http://www.therpc.force9.co.uk/family/scobygrow/home.html The Minstrel's Scoby

Pages

So, although your batch grown from shop-bought Kombucha will take a

lot longer, because it is a very slowly fermented KT with more bacteria

than yeasts, it should eventually produce proper KT. Carefully try the

liquid after 2 weeks and see what it tastes like. It should be cidery

and have a pleasant, marked acidity.

It is the yeasts that are mainly responsible for producing

acetic acid, which gives the Kombucha its vinegary character - the longer

the brewing the more vinegary.

It is best to bottle the KT (or drink it ;-) when it tastes good to you.

Remember to use some of your ferment as new starter plus any scoby that

may have formed. This may be very thin and tatty to start with. It does

not matter! Just keep going, observing the liquid KT, as it's the thing

you consume. The scoby is actually just the fibrous by-product of

fermentation - not the most important constituent of the brew!

Best wishes for a happy day,

Margret UK - across the Big Pond! ;-)

--

+------------------ Minstrel@... --------------------+

<)))<>< http://www.therpc.f9.co.uk <)))<><

http://www.AnswersInGenesis.com

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of

living water will flow from within him. [Jesus]

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe,

I'm in OKC. I used to brew KT years ago. I used to mix my brew with

peach tea and it was like drinking sparkling champagne. Good luck. I

work at Akin's which is where I'm guessing you purchased your KT?

Deborah

>

> Hey everyone.. Joe in Oklahoma City here. I found some info online

> about stating a batch of KT without a scoby. they said you can grow

> your own mother by brewing the tea and adding a bottle of raw KT from

a

> healthfood store. I am trying it and it's been less than a week.

I'm

> seeing a little action some things forming and a bit of bubbleing.

> Just wanted to know if anyone has tried this with any success. I'm

> VERY new to this and trying to do what I can. Anyone in Oklahoma

City

> area who has had any success with this or brewing in general? I just

> want to learn to brew a good batch and appricate any help anyone can

> offer.

> enjoy the rest of the week!!

> Joe in OKC

>

[Guest guest]

If that don't work...I'm sure someone here will send you one (scoby) if you ask.

I have read here several times that various people have been successful at

culturing a scoby from the purchased KT. I think IMHO however you will not get

the full benefits of the KT with that approach. The " scoby " , as I understand

it, is a victim/product of it's environment. I'm sure the store bought KT is

screened very carefully to make sure the " mini beasties " in the KT are carefully

chosen. A Law suite in the making if they make someone sick. If we all face

the fact....this stuff we are all drinking is alive and well. My kt has some of

the yeasts and bacteria(s) that were in Gayle's house. That is where my start

came from. As I understand it, They are now combined/altered or replaced with

the environment (yeasts and bacterias) of my home. Including occupants, visitors

and....YUCK..even pets. ( I love my cats)....

Don

Joe <upstatenyerinok@...> wrote:

Hey everyone.. Joe in Oklahoma City here. I found some info online

about stating a batch of KT without a scoby. they said you can grow

your own mother by brewing the tea and adding a bottle of raw KT from a

healthfood store. I am trying it and it's been less than a week. I'm

seeing a little action some things forming and a bit of bubbleing.

Just wanted to know if anyone has tried this with any success. I'm

VERY new to this and trying to do what I can. Anyone in Oklahoma City

area who has had any success with this or brewing in general? I just

want to learn to brew a good batch and appricate any help anyone can

offer.

enjoy the rest of the week!!

Joe in OKC

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