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Todcasil
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Anyone Else Grow Kombucha?
#14042457 - 02/28/11 02:16 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Originally posted this in the pub, but thought I would get more replies here, so sorry for the "pubtext" 
Also, will take pictures of my babies today, below was just a googlepic for the pub to get them interested.
Quote:
Does anyone else here grow their own kombucha tea?
I'm sippin' on a blackberry cinnamon bottle right now. I usually wait a couple more days for the flavor to mature, but I am stoned and it is delicious 
the cinnamon makes it CRAZY effervescent, like champagne 
here's what it is if you don't know!
I have two jars going with HUGE scobe's in them! the first ones name is CALLIOPE and t second one (who matured off of Calliope) is GEMINI.

Does anyone else here grow their own kombucha tea?
I'm sippin' on a blackberry cinnamon bottle right now. I usually wait a couple more days for the flavor to mature, but I am stoned and it is delicious 
the cinnamon makes it CRAZY effervescent, like champagne 
here's what it is if you don't know!
I have two jars going with HUGE scobe's in them! the first ones name is CALLIOPE and t second one (who matured off of Calliope) is GEMINI.


-------------------- Men look at themselves and they see flawed humans, we look at women and we see perfect GODDESSES Women look at themselves and they seem utterly human, when looking at men they see proud GODS. ~Casil
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Tangich


Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 8,723
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? [Re: Todcasil]
#14042589 - 02/28/11 02:32 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Well, kombucha isn't actually a mushroom, despite being called that, so this isn't the right forum for this either. just kidding! I've read contradictory things about this, some say it's extremely beneficial, others say that those colonies may even be harmful, can become contaminated and so on. Some time ago I really wanted to try it, but then decided against it. Also, it's a hassle to share cultures, from what I heard it has to be in a jar with liquid at all times? Would you say you notice any effects from it, beneficial or otherwise? Does it at least taste good?
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Todcasil
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? [Re: Tangich]
#14042732 - 02/28/11 02:48 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Well to be honest, I wouldn't do it if I didn't think it tasted good I love the stuff!
As far as noticing any real benefits from it, I think it may all be psychological... The reason being that it seems like a "tonic" and it does give you energy, so I imagine it may just be in my head.
And I started my Scobe from store-bought bottle of kombucha, and yes it can only be taken out of the liquid for about 30ish minutes at the least, when it is full grown.
I like to drink it with a meal and I do feel like it aids in my digestion (I have a notoriously sensitive stomach) which is my main reason for brewing it.
-------------------- Men look at themselves and they see flawed humans, we look at women and we see perfect GODDESSES Women look at themselves and they seem utterly human, when looking at men they see proud GODS. ~Casil
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nicolerc
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? [Re: Todcasil]
#14045073 - 02/28/11 08:34 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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The jars with the blob kind of creep me out.
What does it taste like?
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Inu
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? [Re: nicolerc]
#14045105 - 02/28/11 08:39 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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it tastes like beer to me, but significantly less alcohol. the tea flavor all but disappears.
this is what I drink:
Edited by Inu (02/28/11 08:41 PM)
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Todcasil
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? [Re: Inu]
#14047068 - 03/01/11 06:13 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Those are how I started my Scobys'.
I think they taste delicious and more like champagne.
-------------------- Men look at themselves and they see flawed humans, we look at women and we see perfect GODDESSES Women look at themselves and they seem utterly human, when looking at men they see proud GODS. ~Casil
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: Todcasil]
#14047073 - 03/01/11 06:16 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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This thread was moved from Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms.
Reason: Not a mushroom. Moved to a more appropriate forum.
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: RogerRabbit]
#14047104 - 03/01/11 06:32 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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No I don't cultivate kombucha. I smoke too much once in a while in order to rot my teeth
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nicolerc
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: koraks]
#14048938 - 03/01/11 02:49 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I really want to try this stuff now, even though it kinda freaks me out.
How do you culture from the store bought? Just keep it warm and wait for it to grow the blob?
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jokefox
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: nicolerc]
#14049640 - 03/01/11 04:46 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I have been trying to get a culture of this forever scoby or kombucha
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linkamathingy
Aspiring Mycologist


Registered: 10/27/10
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: jokefox]
#14052868 - 03/02/11 04:49 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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oh man i want to try this now. that stuff was expensive but tasty when i bought those very same bottles from a local store.
time to buy more and inoculate tea with it?
if you could elaborate on your brewing method that'd be awesome. links or whatnot.

lolz, tasty looking eh?
-------------------- SCIENCE!!! If NIST didn't even investigate whether explosives were used, how can we trust their investigation? It's a rule whenever explosions are heard. Though I Laugh EyegasmArt.com anonymous: without name Anonymous: a group with a name don't be fooled, have a revolution on your own terms.
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nicolerc
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: linkamathingy]
#14059303 - 03/03/11 10:59 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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oh god it's like a giant oyster or something
I found a few places online where you can order baby starter blobs for just the cost of shipping.
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jokefox
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: nicolerc]
#14059724 - 03/03/11 12:27 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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scoby, synthetic culture of bacteria and yeast,,,, i think thats what it was
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Yrat
Hello

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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: jokefox]
#14060427 - 03/03/11 02:25 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
jokefox said: scoby, synthetic symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast,,,, i think thats what it was
my SCOBY is currently about four inches thick, gotta chop it and throw out 80%. at this size the tea goes too sour too fast. i make about 4-5 gallons of kombucha at a time.
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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jokefox
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: Yrat]
#14060998 - 03/03/11 04:04 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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when you toss it out, put my address on it , and throw it in the mail box
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SheikCorp
Stranger

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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: jokefox]
#14061192 - 03/03/11 04:30 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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Just get regular bottles of unflavored Kombucha, make the tea base and pour the bottles in to start a culture. One bottle will work, but two would work faster.
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Yrat
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: SheikCorp]
#14061221 - 03/03/11 04:32 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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if you do so, it's gotta be raw kombucha and not pasteurized. might be tough to find after the FDA crackdown a few months ago.
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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linkamathingy
Aspiring Mycologist


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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: Yrat]
#14062161 - 03/03/11 06:57 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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it's kind of stupid that people trust the government, the corporatocracy, with food and drugs administration. i better be able to find this unpasteurized.
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nicolerc
Newbie :D



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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: linkamathingy]
#14066769 - 03/04/11 02:53 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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I bought some kombucha today. This stuff does not look, smell, or taste like anything I should be drinking on purpose. lol I'm hoping it's just because the kind I got was made with green tea, which I don't care for to start with. I used what I bought to start a culture with black tea and I guess I'll see how it is in a about 10 days if all goes well.
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jokefox
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: nicolerc]
#14066957 - 03/04/11 03:37 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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jvm
I knew the pieces fit!



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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: jokefox]
#14071027 - 03/05/11 01:41 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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i recently just started drinking this stuff. Tried a ginger/kombucha mixture and it tastes like real ginger ale.
Anyone have any recipes or guidelines for starting it up?
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linkamathingy
Aspiring Mycologist


Registered: 10/27/10
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: jvm]
#14071752 - 03/05/11 04:41 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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The kombucha mushroom people, sitting around all day! who will believe you, who will believe you? let your mother pray.
SUGAR!!!
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Yrat
Hello

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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: linkamathingy]
#14088076 - 03/08/11 06:03 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
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just opened up the carboy for the first time in awhile. chopped about half away.



-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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liali
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: Yrat]
#14293220 - 04/14/11 10:47 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Wow that's a thick scoby. what is that container that you brew in? I have been looking for bigger containers but have waited to find something made of glass like a gallon pickle jar or something even bigger, but haven't yet. If you're using plastic, which it looks like from the picture, is it a specific kind or does the sub-micron level particle leakage not bother you (if it is even that severe)?
hmm a carboy..I'll google that and see if anything comes up
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liali
almost complete(ly insane)



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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: liali]
#14293244 - 04/14/11 10:52 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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oooh a carboy..aka a demijohn...saw those at a brewing store recently but their mouths were too narrow. They were for beer and had to have special caps I think?
the glass ones were that way at least..anyway..just heard that plastics (some plastics, maybe not nearly all as is my fear-driven perception) will leech. anywhoo..mason jars for now..
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Yrat
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: liali]
#14296042 - 04/15/11 02:48 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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it's a food grade plastic carboy for wine making. it's nice because it has a spigot at the bottom, so i do the "continuous brew" method: fresh tea in the top, kombucha out the spigot at the bottom. i chop and toss a bunch of the scoby when it gets too thick after awhile.
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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SheikCorp
Stranger

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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: Yrat]
#14564145 - 06/05/11 10:59 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Anyone ever add Reishi or Chaga or any other medicinal mushrooms to the tea?
I been toying with the idea.
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no.reservations
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: SheikCorp]
#16622705 - 07/31/12 02:08 PM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
SheikCorp said: Anyone ever add Reishi or Chaga or any other medicinal mushrooms to the tea?
I been toying with the idea.
I like the idea of doing that, the Katalyst Kombucha Green Lovin' [second from right] has Cordyceps mushroom in the ingredients list.

I don't know whether they use the fruit bodies or mycelium, it would be more sustainable to use myceliated brown rice like Stamets' company and NewChapter do in their extracts.
I'm in the process of making a Chaga/Amadou extract and make wild harvested tea all the time, my scoby is only a month old so I have yet to have a drinkable batch. Any other contributions warmly encouraged!
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lillFish
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I brew Kombucha, I'm sort of a newbie at it. I don't have a Ph meter. I go by color of the tea or taste cause I brew mine in half gallon mason jars. I'd like to have a continuous brew vessel. Do you guys bottle your Kombucha? I have been using old GT's bottles but the tops become incredibly hard to take off after doing the second fermentation. I would also like to know how to get better at making my tea fizzy. The only way I get fizz is to add fruit puree. Does the tea have to be at a certain Ph to become fizzy after bottling?
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no.reservations
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: lillFish]
#16656580 - 08/06/12 08:29 PM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
lillFish said: I brew Kombucha, I'm sort of a newbie at it. I don't have a Ph meter. I go by color of the tea or taste cause I brew mine in half gallon mason jars. I'd like to have a continuous brew vessel. Do you guys bottle your Kombucha? I have been using old GT's bottles but the tops become incredibly hard to take off after doing the second fermentation. I would also like to know how to get better at making my tea fizzy. The only way I get fizz is to add fruit puree. Does the tea have to be at a certain Ph to become fizzy after bottling?
I too have yet to grab Ph test strips...right now I have a SCOBY that's only a couple months old and I tasted 5 days ago and it tasted great...kind of fizzy. I have yet to bottle anything as it seems a kind of awkward vessel to bottle stuff from. I like the idea of a continuous chamber like the Wine-grade vessel dudeman on page 1 had. I know it's not always great to bump oldie threads but this seems like it's worthwhile you know? Pictures to come, love to hear/see all of your guys adventures with this hobby.
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  Current Log "Now, I don't know if I know...though some, with certainty insist, 'no certainty exists!'" "We'll have it all back in due time."
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DanteB
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How much tea do you brew, is there sugar added I have heard such mixed reviews but i think I will try When you remove"scoby" can you throw some in another jar of tea to start another batch
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“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha
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Shroomism
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: DanteB] 1
#16702914 - 08/15/12 05:39 AM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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Brewer here. I just lost a mother scoby that was like 14 layers and 6 inches thick.. I just neglected it for way too long and it got contamed. Here was a pic of it when it was last seen healthy
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Starting fresh with a new batch.
DanteB, it's quite very simple. - Brew batch of Tea (for ~3 gallons of kombucha, I use about 8-10 tea bags (black tea) in a pot of water. Steep for as long as possible to get it super dark. - Bring to a rolling boil, Remove tea bags, Add sugar.. for the 3 gallons I use about 1 1/2 cups of sugar and reduce heat to medium - Stir and allow sugar to melt into tea, take off heat after about 1 minute - I then add the "Super Sugar Tea" into my 3 gallon vessel which is ~75% full of room temp water - Add 5-10% volume of Kombucha from previous batch as an "acidity starter", or if no kombucha, use a ~1/4 cup? of white vinegar. - When liquid is room temperature, add scoby to sugar/tea/water mixture, - Cover with cheesecloth and rubberbands, let sit for 3-6 weeks and then pull out scoby and start all over. - Bottle fresh kombucha and add additives/flavors if into that sort of thing
Every batch you make, the scoby forms a new layer and it gets thicker and thicker. You can peel "baby" layers off the bottom of the scoby and create a whole new batch of scobies, you can even cut them up and use them They basically grow to size to fit whatever container they are growing in
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DanteB
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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: Shroomism]
#16706092 - 08/15/12 07:33 PM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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Very cool is green tea usable
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“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha
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Panick
Psychonaut



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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: DanteB]
#16752304 - 08/29/12 03:05 AM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yes! I've grown Kombucha for a few years now. I started by getting one of those bottled ones from Whole Foods that had a lot of culture hanging around the bottom. Before long I had a SCOBY and it was good times from there.
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Panick
Psychonaut



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Re: Anyone Else Grow Kombucha? (moved) [Re: DanteB]
#16752310 - 08/29/12 03:07 AM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yes, green tea or black tea are the most common mediums used. White tea can also be used, but I suggest green or black. Avoid teas with any additives like orange teas. Also avoid teas like Earl Grey which have other ingredients like bergamot in the case of Earl Grey.
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