kb0426

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

damn it. I suck today.
Renée.

I fear I am in the camp of someone that just wants to see newbies succeed, but also need to learn when the ST*U.
Unless I can find a quote from a mod, I will put myself in time out for now.
Reneé.
Just doing that because I had to try it .

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

I fear I am in the camp of someone that just wants to see newbies succeed, but also need to learn when the ST*U.
Unless I can find a quote from a mod, I will put myself in time out for now.
Reneé.
Just doing that because I had to try it .

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

I fear I am in the camp of someone that just wants to see newbies succeed, but also need to learn when the ST*U.
Unless I can find a quote from a mod, I will put myself in time out for now.
Reneé.
Just doing that because I had to try it .

Hi!
Susan had a wonderful idea of having one place where it is all things related to making/brewing Kombucha could be asked and answered. There are several of us that are newbies at this (me) and some real pros out there (Susan, Miss Mary, Nadia...) and thought that one place to keep all things related to making your own kombucha would be helpful for others embarking on this journey.
I have begun the process of making my own SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) and if this is an epic failure, will end up getting SCOBY locally. I have heard Craig's List is a great source for people giving away free SCOBY to a good home! My potential source is one from Miss Mary!
I am reading up on the process to actually make the kombucha. Just like when I made my own sauerkraut for the first time, I am a little intimidated! This isn't something my mother taught me how to do growing up!
We will all learn together!

 
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!

 
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!

So I have, over the past couple of days, read this entire thread.  I think I may be sold on the idea of making my own booch.
 
Rather than re-hash the basics, I've got some questions for folks who are already brewing their own:  What do you wish you'd known going into the process of making your own booch?  Did you ever make a mistake that created a speedbump in your progress, and if so, how would you suggest a novice avoid it?  What one thing do you think a booch novice should try?
 
I'll probably be looking at vessels and starting a SCOBY this weekend.  Whee!

Ladies and Gentlemen, count me in. My hubby gifted me with a complete continuous brew system from Hannah at Kombucha Kamp (http://www.kombuchakamp.com/) -- Merry Christmas indeed! It arrives tomorrow and I am oh so excited. I've been making our own sauerkraut for years in Gartopf crocks (indispensable) and before wheat left the building I kept a rockin' sourdough starter. So I know to trust the fermentation cycle. I've been drinking GT's booch for years and never could bear to let go of those sturdy glass bottles so I'm set for bottling. But I absolutely have opening night jitters!

I just opened a bottle of hibiscus ginger and it spewed forth like a mighty geyser. I consider it a great personal triumph.

I never have extra.  I have 1 1.5 gallon continuous brew going.  Just this week, I decided that since it has gotten colder, I am going to need longer than a week in my first fermentation.  This made me sad.  I had such a great 7 day rhythm going!
 
That means I will actually have to pay for some booch this week. Shameful I tell ya! 
 
Also, those of you with not a lot of fizz...I was having  low fizz booch (blech) and extended my second fermentation and that took care of it! As I said, I was doing 7 days, now will likely have to increase second fermentation too.
 
Gasp.  I think I might have to BUY booch next week too!
 
Oh, the horrors.

 
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. 

I never have extra.  I have 1 1.5 gallon continuous brew going.  Just this week, I decided that since it has gotten colder, I am going to need longer than a week in my first fermentation.  This made me sad.  I had such a great 7 day rhythm going!
 
That means I will actually have to pay for some booch this week. Shameful I tell ya! 
 
Also, those of you with not a lot of fizz...I was having  low fizz booch (blech) and extended my second fermentation and that took care of it! As I said, I was doing 7 days, now will likely have to increase second fermentation too.
 
Gasp.  I think I might have to BUY booch next week too!
 
Oh, the horrors.

If you need more evidence of the fizz in my booch, check this out!
 
Another batch of hibiscus ginger .
 

Hi all brewers,
 
I currently have my first ever starting batch going and so far so good. I bought the scoby from a very helpful lady on E-bay UK and followed her tips and advice.
 
I will check on Friday how it taste as suggested then start with a full new batch in my 6L massive glass jar, very exciting 
 
I would like to hear your best flavouring successes if you would like to share, please 
 
The Elderberry sounds like a great start, thanks for that Kabob 
 
Cheers,
Maria

Get ready for it..............elderberry flavor!
 
With flu season upon us this may be something you might want to try.  I put one teaspoon dried berries into a 16 oz bottle to second ferment and it was slightly fizzy, beautifully hued and pretty darn delish.      I didn't let it go very many days (2 days) before I cracked it open so there my be potential there for more carbonation action.  I'll be making more of this next time I decant.
 
Oh, I got the dried elderberry in the herb/spice bulk section of my coop.
 
Happy brewing!

Flat booch to me just does not agree with my taste buds!
 
My understanding was to leave as little room as possible, but I do leave a bit at the top - call me paranoid.
 
I do perform one burp after a couple of days, in a 7 day second fermentation.  i do take caution to open over the sink or a towel .
 
I have not had it shoot 30 feet however.

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.