Post Punk Kitchen Forum

after a lot of procrastination, I created a pictorial of my kombucha making process for my co-op blog: http://4thstreetfoodcoop.wordpress.com/ ... ha-method/

I notice my measurements are a bit different from Vijita's link, which just goes to show how forgiving the whole process really is.

Disclaimer, I didn't read the whole thread, but I work at a couple of vegan places in LA, and there is this guy in my neighborhood who makes the rounds of all the 'booch selling hotspots and buys like 6 bottles of the stuff everyday! He doesn't talk, always has headphones on, and has a crazed look if we happen to be out and waiting on our delivery. There's definitely something in the 'booch, so watch out, and don't become a kombucha zombie! (I'm sure you're not zombie material, but this guy has me thinking 'booch might be the new bath salts.)

/PSA

I've never had kombucha. Any recommendations on a great brand/flavor to try?

I ordered a scoby from a lady and have just started brewing my own. If anyone gets in a bind and needs a scoby, I'd be happy to send you one.

I brew my own but my favorite store bought stuff is gt's in trilogy or gingerberry.

I just tried GT's Grape Chia one and it was a little hard to swallow, so I chased every sip with some green tea. It tastes a bit like vinegary wine to me. I also got the mango one to try. Is it an acquired taste?

For me, it was definitely an aquired taste. The first time I tried Kombucha, I thought I was going to barf. But strangely, I kept making myself drink it and now I am a total addict. A day without Kombucha is a sad day...

I need a scooby: help me find one. I'm tired of forking over $25 ish a week for gt's

Hey you can grow your own scoby with a bottle of unflavored GT's. Put the GT's in a glass bowl or jar along with one cup of very strong tea (not herbal) and a heaping tablespoon of white sugar. Cover it with a clean cloth and you should have a scoby in 5-10 days. That scoby will be kinda thin but once you brew your first batch it'll thicken up.
I've done it several times myself.

I've been drinking the same bottle of Grape Chia (4 oz at a time) for 3 days and am starting to really like it. I'm trying the mango flavor next. :)

don't do it! i tried it a long time ago before the recall and hated it and had a raspberry chia a few days ago and loved it. and i had a gingerberry yesterday and that was awesome, but i also picked up a mango and am not so into it. it also has so much sugar in it! the gingerberry had 4g per 8oz serving and this one has 10g. i'm guessing from the mango puree, but i don't think it tastes very good to make up for it.

well, i guess it's not so bad it's just a disappointment after those first two were.

i also have a bottle of High Country Elderberry and Hibiscus in my fridge, am i going to be pleased with it?
Wegmans also has Kevita which is probiotic coconut water-based drink, that iw ant to try, does anyone know if it is similar or worth trying?

Sooooo, I decided my kombucha needed more sugar so I boiled some water and sugar, let it cool and added it. It sat on top and didn't mix and got the towel that keeps the flies out of the kombucha wet, which means it got in contact with the kombucha, obivously.

So, do I toss the batch, or the whole scoby, or just go for it and bottle it? Taste it and see how it tastes?

I'd just taste it but I'm not one to phase easily.

I'd say as long as you don't see mold, you're good. I'd usually soak the towel on top in some white vinegar before putting it back, and I'm sure it's touched something at some point.

Man, do I really miss kombucha brewing!

I have a question about reaction to kombucha, maybe it belongs in the bathroom. I posted here about being very excited to get a scoby and make my own kombucha, which I did and it turned out well and tasted delicious. I had only had store-bought up to that point and only occasionally because of the price but with my own cheap homemade stuff I was drinking some every day. This may be too much personal womanly information for some so I will spoiler it

No idea about the burning. I'd probably drink more kombucha and see if it comes back. maybe brew it less so its less acidic?

I'm gonna bottle it, it didn't taste funny and there was no mold. I will probably not save any leftover liquor though to brew the next batch, just the scoby.

Could be a weird allergic reaction?

Cherry chia is awesome!!
The kelvita is meh. Not bad.

I don't know that I've seen it unflavored... I'll look. I've tried it with some of the others I have had and it didn't work.

The mango one tasted too much like alcohol to me and the hubby had to finish it. I got the raspberry chia and gingerade to try next (bonus: I somehow got one of them for free! Which means I only paid ~1.93 each!!).

kombucha in a bottle is good, but kombucha on tap is a m a z i n g.

I got a SCOBY from a PPKer whose real name I know and whose screen name I've forgotten! I can't keep it all up there :D

After 9 days I just moved my first batch from a gallon glass jar to smaller bottles for the 2nd ferment/fizzy making/fruit flavor adding, and I started a 2nd batch.

Batch 1 was 1/2 English Breakfast and 1/2 Irish Breakfast and I made it into plain, blueberry ginger, and pineapple.

Batch 2 is 1/2 Green Tea and 1/2 Black Tea.