First Batch Questions

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

First off ... thanks for all of the wonderful information that you take the time

to share with the group. This site really feels like a close knit family and I

look forward to contributing to it in the future.

I recently got into KT at the suggestion of an herbalist to help address a bad

case of dermatitis that I believe is related to poor digestion. I have never

even tasted KT(until today), but after much research, I settled on this site and

purchased a continuous brew kit. I followed the brewing directions for a 2

gallon batch closely, placed both Scoby's into the pot, added 1/8 cup of white

vinegar to the starter KT, and now... 8 days later I have a beautiful white

(somewhat shiny) Scoby floating on top of the brew. I live in the northeast and

keep that part of the house at 60 degrees most of the time. I placed the brewing

pot on a 50 watt heating pad (set on LOW)and strapped it up around the sides. I

measured the temperature of my first draw and got 80 degrees F. A couple of

questions after my first taste:

1)Is it OK to drink the " stringers " that came out of the spout? I already did so

hopefully it is.

2) I measured the acidity using the strips that came with the kit and the color

that I got is a pale orange. I am not sure how to interrupt this reading. Any

advice??? The taste is a combination of slightly sweet and slightly tart. It

smells like mild apple cider vinegar. Unfortunately NO carbonation at this

point.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,