megmac

 
My only advice is this:
 
1. Have fun
2. There are no kombucha failures.  Just lessons on how to improve the next time .  Kind of like the whole30.  Or life
 
Seriously, have a great time with it!

If you have a healthy looking scoby (whitish and thick, like a rubbery disk) I wouldn't bother to make a new one. I find the recipes often have way more sugar than needed. The sweeter the tea the longer it takes to eat it all up! FWIW I use one cup of sugar in about two-1/2 gallons of strong tea. I let it brew for at least a couple weeks, more like a month in the winter.
 
If your scoby doesn't seem healthy. though, go ahead and start a new one. easy peasy.   I've had great luck using the GTs plain for this.

 
My favorite show

My husband called me "Breaking Bad Kombucha".
 
That's a reference to a Netflix show about a chem teacher who cooks meth, for those of you not familiar.
 
Last booch batch was only good with tequila.  Oh well, that works too. 

Even when I burp mine (I always burp mine) they fizz like crazy and sometimes blow up if I use real fruit.  I had a BAD blow up the other morning-front door, ceiling, floors, computer, my clothes of course...
 
I spent about 30 minutes cleaning up and was off to work.  About an hour later I got a text from my hubby who had finally gotten up, "is that kombucha on the sliding glass door or is one of the pets bleeding?"  Seriously-that's a good 30 feet away.  I now open every bottle either with a towel around it, or in the front yard if I'm really worried about it.

I do my second ferment for 5 days.  Always.  I burp on day 3 or 4, whenever I remember.  I keep mine in a box as well, and have never had an explosion there.  It's only when I go to open them to drink.

Even when I burp mine (I always burp mine) they fizz like crazy and sometimes blow up if I use real fruit.  I had a BAD blow up the other morning-front door, ceiling, floors, computer, my clothes of course...
 
I spent about 30 minutes cleaning up and was off to work.  About an hour later I got a text from my hubby who had finally gotten up, "is that kombucha on the sliding glass door or is one of the pets bleeding?"  Seriously-that's a good 30 feet away.  I now open every bottle either with a towel around it, or in the front yard if I'm really worried about it.

Even when I burp mine (I always burp mine) they fizz like crazy and sometimes blow up if I use real fruit.  I had a BAD blow up the other morning-front door, ceiling, floors, computer, my clothes of course...
 
I spent about 30 minutes cleaning up and was off to work.  About an hour later I got a text from my hubby who had finally gotten up, "is that kombucha on the sliding glass door or is one of the pets bleeding?"  Seriously-that's a good 30 feet away.  I now open every bottle either with a towel around it, or in the front yard if I'm really worried about it.

Okay, I'll say it...my booch is better than GT's booch. 

I am happy to announce that my booch is back to being fuzzy!  Lizzard you are my hero! Second fermenting for a few extra days has definitely brought my fizzy back!
 
Now that coffee booch has me intrigued!  I am glad I started a new SCOBY a few days ago!

Okay, I'll say it...my booch is better than GT's booch. 

 
Shut the front door! Ok, I need to pin that to try once I master (start?) the tea.

OMG. I have to share. I need to make it. Has anyone tried it?
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/kombucha-coffee-recipe

Okay, I'll say it...my booch is better than GT's booch. 

That's so funny...I never thought of not flavoring mine.  You've inspired me-I'm going to do one bottle with no flavoring.  I've never even tried a plain GT!
 
I'm also going to try to make something like gingerade.  I think I'll try it in a white batch so it's light.  Nothing but ginger.  Maybe a drop of lemon.

Okay, I'll say it...my booch is better than GT's booch. 

I got back from vacation on Saturday and both my batches were ready to go.  I have been thinking about the continuous brew option and the comments here about the "constant project".  I decided against CB, and will just deal with a few hours of bottling and brewing every few weeks.  (2 weeks works great for my first brew, so it's always over the weekend.)  I dumped Scooby, who never quite became strong, but my second one is flourishing. 
 
I have about 18 bottles in 2nd brew, which I will shorten and burp in 2 days so they don't explode.  (Maybe 4 days to the fridge.)  I had 2 bottles yesterday of my first batch and so far the blueberry/cherry/ginger is my favorite.  This time I did some of those, some strawberry/blueberry/ginger.  Of course I didn't label anything, so every bottle will be a surprise. 

Okay, I'll say it...my booch is better than GT's booch. 

I got back from vacation on Saturday and both my batches were ready to go.  I have been thinking about the continuous brew option and the comments here about the "constant project".  I decided against CB, and will just deal with a few hours of bottling and brewing every few weeks.  (2 weeks works great for my first brew, so it's always over the weekend.)  I dumped Scooby, who never quite became strong, but my second one is flourishing. 
 
I have about 18 bottles in 2nd brew, which I will shorten and burp in 2 days so they don't explode.  (Maybe 4 days to the fridge.)  I had 2 bottles yesterday of my first batch and so far the blueberry/cherry/ginger is my favorite.  This time I did some of those, some strawberry/blueberry/ginger.  Of course I didn't label anything, so every bottle will be a surprise. 

My CB project is up and running and I've already got a new film across the top, in addition to the original scoby that is at the bottom.  I have another gallon in my closet from Scooby.  He is still a rather strange animal, and behaves very differently. 
 
I tasted one of the bottles that exploded on me and it's delicious!  I am leaving on vacation tomorrow and will have a lot of bottling to do upon my return.  I may drain most of my CB project to bottle since it will be 2 weeks in, and then start a real CB process after that.  I'll have to see how it tastes.  My hubby assures me he can drink Grolsch as fast as I can bottle my booch! 
 
Thanks for checking in Liz-it was getting a bit lonely out here!

Holy cow...it's magnificent! I need to work on the flavoring a little, but I love it!
Woohooooo!!!!!

This morning my hubby was staring at my 2 scobies in the closet and he said, "This really isn't what I was hoping we'd be growing in the closet." 

Holy cow...it's magnificent! I need to work on the flavoring a little, but I love it!
Woohooooo!!!!!

My first batch (tea from growing Scooby) is ready.  I put it in the fridge last night.  I will try it tonight!  It's grape/cherry/ginger/lemon.  It sounded good at the time. 
 
I will post a pic tonight!  I have a feeling it's going to be pretty sour, but we'll see.

I love kombucha so much, I want to take it behind the middle school & get it pregnant