Anyone make kombucha?

[isabel]

walterismydog maybe?

My MIL got me a kit for Christmas and I started my first batch last night! The kit says the ideal temperature for brewing is 76 degrees, but mine is hovering right at 72. Should I try to warm it up a bit? I can't really think of a warmer place in my house than where it is now.

Also, any tips or suggestions for flavor combos to try?

[moonriver]

I don't, but we do brew beer.

Can you wrap it up in a warm sweater or blanket?

[isabel]

Dec 20, 2015 15:34:13 GMT -5 moonriver said:

I don't, but we do brew beer.

Can you wrap it up in a warm sweater or blanket?

I did put a towel around it. I'll try something a little heavier. Thanks!

[walterismydog]

Hmm I never checked the temp. Just keep it in a kitchen cabinet. I usually make mine in the summer. As far as flavors, I love basil strawberry the most, but it's so fun to experiment!! Another big hit was grapefruit.

I didn't know they have kits! Fun! Good present.

I'll take one of the babies when you have extras! You'll end up with a ton of them if you make it regularly. You can house them in your fridge. You can also feed them to chickens if you know anyone with some!

Let me know if you have any other questions, I've been making this since high school. <3

[walterismydog]

The temp will probably only affect how long it takes. It'll be a little slower. In the summer sometimes it gets hot in my house (no AC) and I get really speedy kombucha.

[isabel]

Dec 20, 2015 16:06:59 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

Hmm I never checked the temp. Just keep it in a kitchen cabinet. I usually make mine in the summer. As far as flavors, I love basil strawberry the most, but it's so fun to experiment!! Another big hit was grapefruit.

I didn't know they have kits! Fun! Good present.

I'll take one of the babies when you have extras! You'll end up with a ton of them if you make it regularly. You can house them in your fridge. You can also feed them to chickens if you know anyone with some!

Let me know if you have any other questions, I've been making this since high school. <3

Oh, grapefruit sounds good! I want to try doing one with cherry and lime juice too.

She got the kit from thekombchashop.com. It's pretty cool!

I have chickens. I'll let you know when I have an extra and give the rest to them. I buy several bottles every week, so I imagine this is something we'll keep going pretty regularly.

[walterismydog]

YOU HAVE CHICKENS?!!!! New BFF. Lol.

Cherry lime sounds awesome. I made a mint one last summer that was super good. Usually I just throw in whatever I have. Be careful bc some fruits (the sweeter ones, like berries) can sometimes cause a lot of pressure. I burp mine every day when they're in the flavoring phase.

[walterismydog]

Do you have a high kitchen cabinet? That might help the temp. Just make sure wherever it is stored is dark. And try to resist messing with it/checking on it too much.

[walterismydog]

Other ideas for extra SCOBYs:
www.culturesforhealth.com/use-extra-kombucha-scoby

[wambam]

I tried once and it tasted fine, but didn't have nearly the effervescence that the bottled has. So I never did it again.

[isabel]

Dec 20, 2015 18:31:31 GMT -5 wambam said:

I tried once and it tasted fine, but didn't have nearly the effervescence that the bottled has. So I never did it again.

They add CO2 to the bottled stuff, so that's not surprising. I've had some locally brewed stuff so I know what to expect with it at least.

[isabel]

Dec 20, 2015 16:31:59 GMT -5 walterismydog said:

YOU HAVE CHICKENS?!!!! New BFF. Lol.

Cherry lime sounds awesome. I made a mint one last summer that was super good. Usually I just throw in whatever I have. Be careful bc some fruits (the sweeter ones, like berries) can sometimes cause a lot of pressure. I burp mine every day when they're in the flavoring phase.

Haha yes. I'll bring some eggs to the G2G in January.

I've read about burping them. I'll definitely do that when we get to that point. I think I'll try doing a basil lime one as well. Backyard Soda does a basil lime syrup that is delicious!

I may try putting it in the kitchen cabinet. We have one above the microwave that might work. In any case, I'm doing it now because we'll be out of town for the next week. I won't have to use willpower not to mess with it since I won't be here.