Re: Starter

[Guest guest]

>Hello all,

>After doing enough research, I think I'm ready to get started. Can someone

>recommend the best place for me to get a starter? Is it best to purchase a

>kit from somewhere, or just get the starter and assemble my own containers?

>Thanks so much in advance for the help!!

>Christiane

>Lancaster, PA

Christiane, I'd really recommend using glass vessels for brewing, and

assembling those for most people is not difficult. If you are in a

situation where you have more money than time or are housebound or anything

like that, then buy a kit. But it needn't be expensive to bring KT into

one's life. I would, however, really recommend glass, and the 1-gal jars

are good to start with, the kind that delis get condiments in and then

throw away; they can also be ordered through most natural-food stores in a

case of 4 empty jars.

Another option: I don't really like this store, but Target sells the

Anchor-Hocking candy jars in 1-gal and 2.25 gal sizes that are

straightsided with a lip at the top to make it easy to secure the fabric

cover. Since those jars are extremely difficult to find, and since I would

spend the money on them anyway, I have bought them at Target. It seems

that virtually every Target carries these jars or will get them in on

request. They are also about half the price than elsewhere. The larger

size is a dream for brewing because it's essentially the same labor time to

set up the brew and you get at least twice as much. I use a ladle/funnel

to decant.

Below are links to lists of people who are offering SCOBY/starter. If you

get a SCOBY it doesn't matter so much about the liquid starter because you

can use vinegar as starter. hth --V

There is a folder with the contact information for people on this list who

agreed to share Kombucha. Go to the list Homepage and click on the Files

link on the left side of the page.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/original_kombucha/

The " Worldwide Kombucha Exchange "

Where you get a Kombucha Starter Culture

http://www.kombu.de/suche2.htm

There is a list of suppliers US and International at URL:

http://w3.trib.com/~kombu/starts.html

~~~ There is no way to peace; peace is the way ~~~~

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

Hello Christiane,

I would not bother with getting a kit. See first if there is someone

nearby, perhaps from this forum, who can supply you with a scoby and

starter liquid.(Sorry, I am in Canada)Or if you go back a page or two

on this forum, you will see people offering free scobies...

The rest is simple, get a 1 gal glass jar for free from a

deli/restaurant, or buy a jar with pickles, at Costco's for abt $ 5.-

Wishing you a great start

Do

> >

> > One point that eluded me for some time and affected my outcome was

> to use

> > the KT off of the top of my brewing jar for my starter tea.

> Apparently, the

> > top stuff has more of the bacteria which makes for better brewing

> and scoby

> > production.

> >

> > I was using the KT (brewed tea) off of the bottom for awhile and

> getting

> > vinegar-y brew. Apparently, the bottom of the brewing vessel has

> more yeast.

> >

> > So, in sumamry, after you have brewed your batch, save the top

> liquid (after

> > removing your " film " turned scoby) for started tea for the next

batch.

> >

> > Joy

> >

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