Guest guest Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi all, I'm new here, just joined today. I've been doing a little research on Kombucha, wanting to get started making some of my own, when I can get a scoby. I want to know more about using them, so hopefully I don't mess it up! LOL I've looked at a few of the messages on the group, and have a few questions I'm hoping someone can find the time to answer. I'm sure I'll find more, once I have more time to look at past messages.sorry if these questions have been answered before, I didn't have time to go too far back. First of all, from what I've found so far on other sites, you are suppose to brew your kombucha in a dimly lit space, but in the messages on the group I noticed you all aren't doing that. I was worried about having the house warm enough to grow one, but someone was saying to use a light by it, to keep it warm.and that doesn't allow it to be in a dimly lit area, so I had to wonder what is the right way to do it. dimly lit, or not. We don't keep our house real warm in the winter, cause it's just too expensive to, it's usually in the 60's in here.almost never in the 70's, so I'm kinda worried about being ABLE to brew kombucha. I've also read you shouldn't have it near electrical appliances, yet one of the suggestions for heating it up, was to use a heating pad.that's electrical, so I assume what I read about the electrical problem, isn't really a big problem? I'm also wondering what apple cider vinegar does for the brew? I see you don't need it much, but someone used it to revive their scoby. Can anyone tell me how vinegar does this, or why, or how to know if you need to do it? Thanks so much for your help, I'm looking forward learning how to make my own brew, and being able to afford to go looking for my own scoby, so hopefully I can start feeling better and having more energy like a lot of people I've read about! The health food store in Lincoln NE. carries it, but we just can't afford to buy it all the time. Deb www.dapperdoxie.com " Remember when you quit laughing, you quit living. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Deb it is not that complicated.. if your house is most of the time in the 60's youcan brew.. While Kombucha may not like bright outdoors sunshine ( I don't know really if it cares or not) the dimly lit room is Not a requirement.. Your kitchen however it is lit is fine . Get a SCOBY .. Many here will be glad to provide with that.Get Distilled or Reverse Osmosis Water Culligan or the likes but Spring water is good... Reason why tap water is not recommended is that it may contain chlorine or worse Chloramine  ...Get Sugar.  White Sugar is good ... I know it is devoid of nutritional value for us humans but for the things inside the Kombucha it is a feast ..Get a glass jar .. A gallonGet some paper towel to cover the jar .. Viva brand is good ...Follow the instructions you may have gleaned already from this site and others.. Leave the darn thing alone in a dimly lit corner ....really leave it alone .. for at least 7 days in your case it may take longer , say 10 days...Don't sweat those Ph measuring strips or other things .. Just go by taste. Uncover the gallon .. take a spoon and taste .. If you find the taste sweet sour ..more sour than sweet then you have it ... You can bottle if you want to but remember bottling Kombucha has some dangers in it ... Read or ask questions but really, really it is not that complicated Frantz Subject: I'm a newbie with questions! To: original_kombucha Date: Monday, February 7, 2011, 11:36 PM  Hi all, I'm new here, just joined today. I've been doing a little research on Kombucha, wanting to get started making some of my own, when I can get a scoby. I want to know more about using them, so hopefully I don't mess it up! LOL I've looked at a few of the messages on the group, and have a few questions I'm hoping someone can find the time to answer. I'm sure I'll find more, once I have more time to look at past messages.sorry if these questions have been answered before, I didn't have time to go too far back. First of all, from what I've found so far on other sites, you are suppose to brew your kombucha in a dimly lit space, but in the messages on the group I noticed you all aren't doing that. I was worried about having the house warm enough to grow one, but someone was saying to use a light by it, to keep it warm.and that doesn't allow it to be in a dimly lit area, so I had to wonder what is the right way to do it. dimly lit, or not. We don't keep our house real warm in the winter, cause it's just too expensive to, it's usually in the 60's in here.almost never in the 70's, so I'm kinda worried about being ABLE to brew kombucha. I've also read you shouldn't have it near electrical appliances, yet one of the suggestions for heating it up, was to use a heating pad.that's electrical, so I assume what I read about the electrical problem, isn't really a big problem? I'm also wondering what apple cider vinegar does for the brew? I see you don't need it much, but someone used it to revive their scoby. Can anyone tell me how vinegar does this, or why, or how to know if you need to do it? Thanks so much for your help, I'm looking forward learning how to make my own brew, and being able to afford to go looking for my own scoby, so hopefully I can start feeling better and having more energy like a lot of people I've read about! The health food store in Lincoln NE. carries it, but we just can't afford to buy it all the time. Deb www.dapperdoxie.com " Remember when you quit laughing, you quit living. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 I am a newbie too, and here is my question- Should I be getting a new scoby with each batch of tea I brew? Is there any correlation to the time it takes the tea to brew and the time it takes to form a scoby? Maybe I shouldn't worry about whether a new scoby forms, as long as I have a healthy scoby and a spare. My house stays pretty cold, but I can get a really good tasting tea, just not necessarily a scoby, or just a very small one. Carla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.