Guest guest Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Hey Modiste, sounds like you're doing great! I didn't see the pics, but your first batch sounds perfect. The important thing to know, if it tastes good to you then it's perfect. If you like it less sweet let it ferment a little longer or if you like it sweeter ferment for a shorter time. After a week or so you can start sampling it and see how it tastes to you. For your second batch, just grab the scoby and place it in a glass bowl. Pour off the fermented tea, leaving a couple cups (this will be your starter for the next batch). You'll see some grainy stuff at the bottom, that's yeast. Swoosh it into the starter and pour into the bowl with the scoby. Put sweetened tea in the jar, put the scoby in there, and add the starter, just like you did for your first batch. That new film you talk about is a baby scoby. It's ok to leave it on there, the scoby will just get thicker. You can peel off layers of scoby to start other jars for yourself or to share with friends. Ok, now i'd say you're offically a brewmeister, you gotta check out flavorings. That's where it can really get fun! - Woody Subject: second brew question To: " original_kombucha " <original_kombucha > Date: Monday, March 26, 2012, 11:26 AM Â Ok, So for my second brew (with this I am going to start a continuous brew I think...or do you think I should keep doing batches for awhile to get used to the process?) The method is to take the scoby off, and put it on a plate while decanting and getting the new tea ready. I don't wash the scoby? Even though it has that new film on it? Sorry to be naive, I just want to make sure I do it correctly. Just put the scoby with its new film on the new cooled tea and some starter liquid? Modiste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 One of the benefits of doing continuous brewing is that it is less work. But you really need a large jar with a plastic spigot. That way you don't have to handle the scoby each time. You just dispense what you want, leaving a goodly amount in the jar, and add back fresh sweet tea in the quantity that you withdrew. It is good to top it with some processed KT to protect from mold. I have a 2.5 gallon jar and remove a gallon at a time, then refill with a gallon. It takes 3-4 days to get to the bottling stage that I like. Cheers! in Texas > > Ok, So for my second brew (with this I am going to start a continuous brew I think...or do you think I should keep doing batches for awhile to get used to the process?) > The method is to take the scoby off, and put it on a plate while decanting and getting the new tea ready. I don't wash the scoby? Even though it has that new film on it? Sorry to be naive, I just want to make sure I do it correctly. Just put the scoby with its new film on the new cooled tea and some starter liquid? > > Modiste > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 These are great questions. I've been doing CB for a couple weeks or so and the results are great but i wonder if my process is optimal. I break the seal along the side and pour the replacement tea down the side. Most of it goes under the scoby, but some gets on top. I've been pushing the scoby under the surface so the new tea is fully mixed in the mature tea. The scoby floats back up and looks great (except it's getting so thick i think i'll need to feed some to the chickens before long). I worry about leaving new tea on top over concern about contamination. I mix it around so the mature (low pH) tea will protect the new tea. Any comments by the gurus would be most welcome. - Woody Subject: Re: Re: second brew question To: " original_kombucha " <original_kombucha > Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 9:37 AM  Thanks Chris!  I have a 2.5 gal with plastic spigot. when you top off you pour it right on the SCOBY or do you try to get it down beside the SCOBY? Also, I noticed today that my SCOBY got folded over a little bit when I put it in the new container because it is a bit less wide. That isn't a problem is it? It looks like it is forming a new seal nicely.... Modiste ________________________________ To: original_kombucha Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 3:24 PM Subject: Re: second brew question  One of the benefits of doing continuous brewing is that it is less work. But you really need a large jar with a plastic spigot. That way you don't have to handle the scoby each time. You just dispense what you want, leaving a goodly amount in the jar, and add back fresh sweet tea in the quantity that you withdrew. It is good to top it with some processed KT to protect from mold. I have a 2.5 gallon jar and remove a gallon at a time, then refill with a gallon. It takes 3-4 days to get to the bottling stage that I like. Cheers! in Texas > > Ok, So for my second brew (with this I am going to start a continuous brew I think...or do you think I should keep doing batches for awhile to get used to the process?) > The method is to take the scoby off, and put it on a plate while decanting and getting the new tea ready. I don't wash the scoby? Even though it has that new film on it? Sorry to be naive, I just want to make sure I do it correctly. Just put the scoby with its new film on the new cooled tea and some starter liquid? > > Modiste > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Hi Woody, If you have a spigot on your jar just decant some of the finished KT and pour it on top of your SCOBY before covering your new brew. That helps to prevent molds from forming. Peace, Love and Harmony, Bev > > > > > > Ok, So for my second brew (with this I am going to start a continuous brew I think...or do you think I should keep doing batches for awhile to get used to the process?) > > > The method is to take the scoby off, and put it on a plate while decanting and getting the new tea ready. I don't wash the scoby? Even though it has that new film on it? Sorry to be naive, I just want to make sure I do it correctly. Just put the scoby with its new film on the new cooled tea and some starter liquid? > > > > > > Modiste > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Just pour your new sweet tea on top of the scoby. My scoby is quite thick and floats, but if yours doesn't float that's OK. If I forget to draw off some KT to pour back after the sweet tea is added, I just take a spoon and push the scoby down to make sure the sweet tea and processed KT get mixed. I have never had mold. Your scoby being folded isn't a problem. Any size or shape of scoby is fine. I leave mine in the jar for up to three months before taking the scoby out, straining what is in the jar through an old dishtowel(to remove spent yeast), cleaning the jar and spigot, then reassembling and topping with fresh sweet tea. While I have the scoby out I usually remove part of it by pealing some of the layers off, or cutting pieces off. I like to leave several layers together to get a more varied input of aged flora and fauna. Then I dry my excess scoby for dog chews. It's all good! in Texas > > > > Ok, So for my second brew (with this I am going to start a continuous brew I think...or do you think I should keep doing batches for awhile to get used to the process?) > > The method is to take the scoby off, and put it on a plate while decanting and getting the new tea ready. I don't wash the scoby? Even though it has that new film on it? Sorry to be naive, I just want to make sure I do it correctly. Just put the scoby with its new film on the new cooled tea and some starter liquid? > > > > Modiste > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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