Kombucha

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by metqa

A new market for Grape and Coffee flavored dog chews. Coming Soon From the Kitchen of Faithful!

:h yst:

You are so funny!

Yep! When these ABOMINATIONS & I mean it (Thank you for coining that a long time ago!) are finished Nitro will love his Scoby Snacks cause he loves fruit & prolly coffee & I PROMISE I WILL NEVER make them again!

I Don't want to risk losing a big brewer again!


ON A DIFFERENT THOUGHT:
Have you ever tried a third brew?
I am thinking of a way to not have fruit in my swing bottles. Maybe doing some kind of ferment on a large basis (1/2 gal) with fruit & then straining to bottle.
Got any thoughts on how I could do that or have you tried anything like that?

[Selahgal]

I 'found' some old scobies I had dehydrated months ago [still in the dehydrator!] and thought AHA and slapped one into some sugared tea ... the scoby sank to the bottom and has been sitting there for weeks.

Now it looks gray and DEAD. So much for great ideas! DRAT.

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by Selahgal

I 'found' some old scobies I had dehydrated months ago [still in the dehydrator!] and thought AHA and slapped one into some sugared tea ... the scoby sank to the bottom and has been sitting there for weeks.

Now it looks gray and DEAD. So much for great ideas! DRAT.

Make good "Scoby Snacks"!

DO YOU NEED A NEW ONE? I can send a small one that makes 2qt first brew.

Let me know tonight if you can... Cause I am going to post office Friday. PM me.. With an address if you want me to gift to you...

[Selahgal]

Originally Posted by iamfaithful

Make good "Scoby Snacks"!

DO YOU NEED A NEW ONE? I can send a small one that makes 2qt first brew.

Let me know tonight if you can... Cause I am going to post office Friday. PM me.. With an address if you want me to gift to you...

Sure!!! I don't have PM here, but my email is belovedgal@gmail.com. Email me and I'll give you my address.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

[metqa]

some companies send people dried scobies. it might just take longer to rehydrate and cultrt the teA. Just make sure it has some vinger and give it some more time.

Faitful ,i've never done that idea, but it sounds good. i agree, not having extra things in the swing bottles would make cleaning easier. Be our guinea pig.

[Selahgal]

Originally Posted by Selahgal

Sure!!! I don't have PM here, but my email is..... Email me and I'll give you my address.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

Since we've connected now via email, I'm editing out my email so it's not out there for anyone to grab!

ARGH, I can't edit the original post now! Anyone know how to delete it?

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by metqa

some companies send people dried scobies. it might just take longer to rehydrate and cultrt the teA. Just make sure it has some vinger and give it some more time.

Faitful ,i've never done that idea, but it sounds good. i agree, not having extra things in the swing bottles would make cleaning easier. Be our guinea pig.

OINK! Oink!

Will advise... Need to wait a while to try cause I want my white batch plain... & you know what I did to the big batch!

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by Selahgal

Since we've connected now via email, I'm editing out my email so it's not out there for anyone to grab!

ARGH, I can't edit the original post now! Anyone know how to delete it?

No, maybe if you get with the admin & give them the # of the post they can edit ir take down.. Might ask them why you don't have PM cause if you did we would not have the dilemma. When I started here I was having a problem & they responded.. Tok a few days!

& if not you proly won't get plagued...not many ppl read past pages unless they are avid brewers....i think

I saw some email addresses but never replied...

let us know if they can help...

[sjl330]

My dog is the biggest piggie I know and she turns her nose right up at the dried scoby. Just like my kids with the kombucha, lol. Oh well, I tried.

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by sjl330

My dog is the biggest piggie I know and she turns her nose right up at the dried scoby. Just like my kids with the kombucha, lol. Oh well, I tried.

I remember you telling me that! Glad to see you back posting again!

[j4Christ]

Oh my! I go away camping for a few days and you ladies go crazy with new concoctions and doggie scoby treats. I'll never catch up now!! My family may think I'm off my rocker some times, but I know I'm in good company here!!

I haven't started my white grape juice brew yet. I either need to start a new scoby (after Faithful's WARNING about not adding the juice to my continuous brew) or see if cb scoby is willing to divide a bit. How can you tell? It's about 1/4 in. thick right now.

Yes, I guess I have been thinking about the white grape juice KT for a while. I kinda gave up the brewing for a while, but I'd like to go back to the thread in 09 and see what I was thinking then.

Metqa-I may have you mixed up with someone else...did you do the hcg plan? If you did, did you incorporate the KT into the the plan?

[metqa]

Well, I'm too lazy to keep my brew going so I've only had it for a few days on HCG before I forgot to feed it and it went sour. So technically No.

I'd LOVE to be on top of brewing and have it during a round because I think it's a great digestive, energizer and appetite suppressor/enhancer-if you aren't hungry it keeps you that way, and if you are hungry it pings you to make you want to eat. It would be a great morning beverage, and I think help to digest the little bit of food you are allowed on Protocal. Okay, Now you've done IT! I'm going to feed my scoby RIGHT NOW!!!

[metqa]

Well, I've got about 7-8 inches of scobys of various thicknesses. the 2 inch scoby,not included in that measure, is back in my brewer.

Does anybody need scobys. I'm up to my gills in them.

Anybody know where to get another 2 1/2 gallon glass with spigot container?
Happy Herbalist is plumb out of them and has been for a while.

Will trade scobys for kefir!

just kidding, I'd love to get some milk kefir grains, but these scobys need a home or they are gonna have to become shoe leather.

Has anyone on this board had any luck dehydrating a scoby and then bringing it back to make a good batch? I've heard of one company that sells people dried scobys that you have to rehydrate in order to use, so I guess since they still sell them people haven't complained them to death. maybe I'll dry them all and vacuum seal them for backup for the apocalypse.

[iamfaithful]

Metqa:

A lady that sends dehydrated SCOBIES overseas said she dehydrates them at her dehydrators lowest setting then mails them. She didn't say how to rehydrate them or what to use as starter as I only inquired as to how to dry them

I got a nice glass one from JC Penny home store in June. Didn't see then there today....Some find them @ Costo & stores like that. I am in KY & was fortunate to find anything like that here.


If I mail you postage I would love too have one of your little girls. I have plenty but would like to add your growth into my continuous brewer.

Would do 2 things -
Add additional strains of bacteria to my cont brew
Be something personal from you, someone I whose
entries dated several years inspired me.

If I have MK would send- mine have just reached 2tsp & are finally getting productive. Perhaps Sandy can mail you a TBSP if she has extras...


PM me with info: Thanks!

[Selahgal]

Originally Posted by metqa

Well, I've got about 7-8 inches of scobys of various thicknesses. the 2 inch scoby,not included in that measure, is back in my brewer.

Does anybody need scobys. I'm up to my gills in them.

Anybody know where to get another 2 1/2 gallon glass with spigot container?
Happy Herbalist is plumb out of them and has been for a while.

Will trade scobys for kefir!

just kidding, I'd love to get some milk kefir grains, but these scobys need a home or they are gonna have to become shoe leather.

Has anyone on this board had any luck dehydrating a scoby and then bringing it back to make a good batch? I've heard of one company that sells people dried scobys that you have to rehydrate in order to use, so I guess since they still sell them people haven't complained them to death. maybe I'll dry them all and vacuum seal them for backup for the apocalypse.

Walmart and Kroger's both sell glass gallon jug 'suntea' jars with the spigot. I got two I'm not even using. If you hurry you can get them before the summer's over!

[metqa]

Oh, okay. I've got a couple of those, but was hoping to find another large one. Doesn't hurt to get more. Thanks for the heads up. I always get annoyed when they take the spigot jars off the shelves. As if people don't need to decant beverages once summer is over.

ETA: with all these extra scobies, I could start a huge batch of experiments!!!!

[iamfaithful]

I don't use my spigot any more! There is one on the 2.7 gal beverage I got from JC Penny Home store & it keeps forming small SCOBY strings in it & get clogged. So I only use it to sample & when it gets to where it just drips out, I just have to rebuild the jar so I can use it. (have to do a rebuild after the grape mess AGAIN)

The sun tea spigots kept leaking on the counter... Messy. I got my sun tea jars @ Rual King... Don't know if they have 1 in your area.

I decant using a clear piece of tubing 3/8", I can drain from mid tank & leave the bottom (even in gallon jars) as one would in cont brew. Works great! I miss handling the scoby a tad but it is so easy! No extra bowl & mess. I just need a gal jar to siphon into- most times the ferment is so clean I don't need to strain & can siphon again into bottles that I have set inside the sink.

When I go to the coop to pick up my order of swing bottles, I am going to price & maybe get one of the siphoning devices brewers use for wine. Will let you know how it works!

Will also advise how "Batch Flavoring" goes. The Kombucha Momma saids to just batch flavor according to quantity/fruit for 3-4 days, strain & bottle. I may add 1/8 tsp sugar @ bottling just to be sure the fizz fator is there. Will let you know!

Wonder what happened to all the other brewers on this thread of yester-year..... Hummmmmmmm...

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by metqa

Oh, okay. I've got a couple of those, but was hoping to find another large one. Doesn't hurt to get more. Thanks for the heads up. I always get annoyed when they take the spigot jars off the shelves. As if people don't need to decant beverages once summer is over.

ETA: with all these extra scobies, I could start a huge batch of experiments!!!!

Why not trying to Google 2.5 gal beverage servers & see what pops up. That is how I found mine at the local JCP store! Hope this helps!

Experiment #1 - white grape for J4Christ ~ BF might like too... My "Abomination" & Mess still brewing - tasting good but no new SCOBY on the "Abomination" ?

[metqa]

I'm all googled out.

the only place that carries that size WITH a spigot ( and doesn't have hammered glass , octagonal shape or a uselessly placed spigot) was Happy Herbalist and they've been out for over a year. Plus the one they feature is a squat hammered glass version. I don't want that. The only one close to the design I want is the ceramic one, but you can't see into it. I like being able to see the scoby and the brew. That's too much out of sight out of mind for me.

My spigot doesn't get clogged often, but then I clean it out with a skewer and jiggle it every once in a while to keep threads out. I keep a gauzy drawstring bag over it to keep anything from trying to crawl into it. Don't want any surprises when I sample.

[j4Christ]

Originally Posted by metqa

Well, I'm too lazy to keep my brew going so I've only had it for a few days on HCG before I forgot to feed it and it went sour. So technically No.

I'd LOVE to be on top of brewing and have it during a round because I think it's a great digestive, energizer and appetite suppressor/enhancer-if you aren't hungry it keeps you that way, and if you are hungry it pings you to make you want to eat. It would be a great morning beverage, and I think help to digest the little bit of food you are allowed on Protocal. Okay, Now you've done IT! I'm going to feed my scoby RIGHT NOW!!!

That's encouraging. I started a new round today (after gaining back all of last year's round's losses) so I will just add the cals into my daily allotment instead of the fruit cals.

Originally Posted by iamfaithful

Why not trying to Google 2.5 gal beverage servers & see what pops up. That is how I found mine at the local JCP store! Hope this helps!

Experiment #1 - white grape for J4Christ ~ BF might like too... My "Abomination" & Mess still brewing - tasting good but no new SCOBY on the "Abomination" ?

Will report in on the white grape juice brew as soon as I get going on it


Happy brewing everyone!

[iamfaithful]

Hello Ladies! Today I am officially declaring the grape thingys (both) a disaster & throwing them down the drain.

The Mess turned into just that- grape juice was free & Brewer wasn't right so no loss but time- will dehydrate the SCOBY -she always tried to climb out anyway!

The grape Apbmination really fermented into wine and strong wine...just a sip or two has my head fuzzy not fizzy.

Ok for someone that drinks...maybe I will bottle that one for my son...Hmmmm.

Metqu- I never thougt of tying a sack on the inside of my spigot! Great thougt! I havesome tea/spice bags I bougt some time back for egg shells in water kefir. When I wash out brewer today & rebuild I will add that.



Thanks! Such a wonderful friend..

Happy we all have met here.

Still wonder where the others are that started us on this together journey & I worry about Cindy... Any one know how she is?

Happy brewing everyone!

Marci - SCOBY leaving here in 2 hours ...

[Selahgal]

Originally Posted by iamfaithful

Hello Ladies! Today I am officially declaring the grape thingys (both) a disaster & throwing them down the drain.

The Mess turned into just that- grape juice was free & Brewer wasn't right so no loss but time- will dehydrate the SCOBY -she always tried to climb out anyway!

The grape Apbmination really fermented into wine and strong wine...just a sip or two has my head fuzzy not fizzy.

Ok for someone that drinks...maybe I will bottle that one for my son...Hmmmm.

Metqu- I never thougt of tying a sack on the inside of my spigot! Great thougt! I havesome tea/spice bags I bougt some time back for egg shells in water kefir. When I wash out brewer today & rebuild I will add that.



Thanks! Such a wonderful friend..

Happy we all have met here.

Still wonder where the others are that started us on this together journey & I worry about Cindy... Any one know how she is?

Happy brewing everyone!

Marci - SCOBY leaving here in 2 hours ...

Got the tea ready and waiting!

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by Selahgal

Got the tea ready and waiting!

Got 2 jars? I decided you needed 2. Getting ready to leave for PO right now.

[Selahgal]

Originally Posted by iamfaithful

Got 2 jars? I decided you needed 2. Getting ready to leave for PO right now.

Got lots of jars! Great!!!

[porcupine73]

I bought a bottle of 'raw' kombucha at the health food store (said it also had chlorella and a couple other things but unsweetened). Wow, it is absolutely delicious. I was on the fence about getting into kombucha brewing but now I have to go for it!

Where to get the mushroom? I was thinking of ordering one from kombucha2000...

What's a good organic black tea to use? Most I'm seeing say 'English Breakfast'?

[Selahgal]

Originally Posted by porcupine73

I bought a bottle of 'raw' kombucha at the health food store (said it also had chlorella and a couple other things but unsweetened). Wow, it is absolutely delicious. I was on the fence about getting into kombucha brewing but now I have to go for it!

Where to get the mushroom? I was thinking of ordering one from kombucha2000...

What's a good organic black tea to use? Most I'm seeing say 'English Breakfast'?

Scroll back ... metqa said she has tons of scobies! Any tea is good as long as there are no oils, I think? I just use green or black or white tea...healthy ones.

[metqa]

Porcupine, I need to send a scoby to Faithful. I'll Pm you may email address so you can supply your mailing address if you'd like one as well.

[j4Christ]

Okay, so I finally added some tea to my continuous brew, trying to remember how I did it a few years ago (still haven't gone back on this thread to read up) and my beautiful, creamy scoby sunk to the bottom Is she okay? If I remember correctly a new scoby will form on the top and mama scoby is still on the bottom?

Faithful-Wine, really? Hmmmmmm.....I always wanted try to make wine, didn't know it could be this easy

Oh, my poor unsuspecting family

[iamfaithful]

Originally Posted by j4Christ

Okay, so I finally added some tea to my continuous brew, trying to remember how I did it a few years ago (still haven't gone back on this thread to read up) and my beautiful, creamy scoby sunk to the bottom Is she okay? If I remember correctly a new scoby will form on the top and mama scoby is still on the bottom?

Faithful-Wine, really? Hmmmmmm.....I always wanted try to make wine, didn't know it could be this easy

Oh, my poor unsuspecting family

Yep! Scoby is fine- they sink- go perendicular-float in the middle & stick to the jar. If she is alive she is already expecting! Look for a baby.

This is not the conventional wine but
carbonated... My swing top ltr bottles won't be picked up tol Mon. I have it in plastic with a loose lid but it keeps bellowing out-huge! It is in bathtub in a bucket with a bag over thr top & shower curtain closed... I burp twice a day & there isn't a scoby in it!

I might try white grape with a piece of an old scoby 1/2 water & juice.

All odd scobies are now dry-taste sweet- even grandaughter chewed one. She is falling in love with the scoby family & posted a sign above the jars The Best Scobys In The World!

Got to go make breakfast-
Metqa email me- I might have a CB for you if you are interested...

[metqa]

Doesn't matter if ti floats. It only floats to start because it is being created on the surface. Sinking won't hurt anything, it'll just make another scoby on top and keep growing.

When I regularly added fresh tea, I had beautiful thin translucent scobys that peeled like puff pastry!