Re: Containers and brewing questions

[Guest guest]

Hi

I think your trying to complicate thing. You do not have to start

your second batch right away. Add your starter tea and SCOBE to your

jar, cover and set a side till your at half your fermentation

cycle. Then add your sweet tea and away you go. Right now I have 8

Gallon jar in progress. The number in use vary over time. I've had

SCOBE and starter set for over a month before starting a new

batch. I check on them about every two weeks and sometimes have to

add some additional starter.

Bill

>Just a few things I was wondering about...

>

>How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

>takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

>scoby which formed off your original one.. how do you get it to brew

>slower so you don't end up with two batches ready at the same time?...

>hmmm... maybe I should explain it this way.. I want to eventually have

>a batch of KT ready each week... if I start off with one Scoby and it

>makes a second one.. when I start it (the newest Scoby)in it's own jar

>of tea wouldn't it be ready the same time as my original one?

>

>Also .. how many jars does everyone use to brew in (number of batches

>brewing at the same time).. and what sizes do you use? I was thinking

>it was gallon sized jars.. but I remember reading somewhere where

>someone uses 5 gallon ones...

>

>Thanks!

> in Texas

[Guest guest]

Hi

I think your trying to complicate thing. You do not have to start

your second batch right away. Add your starter tea and SCOBE to your

jar, cover and set a side till your at half your fermentation

cycle. Then add your sweet tea and away you go. Right now I have 8

Gallon jar in progress. The number in use vary over time. I've had

SCOBE and starter set for over a month before starting a new

batch. I check on them about every two weeks and sometimes have to

add some additional starter.

Bill

>Just a few things I was wondering about...

>

>How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

>takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

>scoby which formed off your original one.. how do you get it to brew

>slower so you don't end up with two batches ready at the same time?...

>hmmm... maybe I should explain it this way.. I want to eventually have

>a batch of KT ready each week... if I start off with one Scoby and it

>makes a second one.. when I start it (the newest Scoby)in it's own jar

>of tea wouldn't it be ready the same time as my original one?

>

>Also .. how many jars does everyone use to brew in (number of batches

>brewing at the same time).. and what sizes do you use? I was thinking

>it was gallon sized jars.. but I remember reading somewhere where

>someone uses 5 gallon ones...

>

>Thanks!

> in Texas

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill,

I'm not trying to over complicate things.. just trying to get an idea of how to

do things later on .. as it is right now I don't have my first Scoby yet... and

I hate making repeat trips into town to get supplies when I can grab them all in

one trip! I am guessing I should probably pick up three, one gallon glass jars

when I do go supply shopping (one to use right away and two to keep as back

ups).

Thanks for the advice!

in Texas

Bill Fieszel wrote: Hi

I think your trying to complicate thing. You do not have to start

your second batch right away. Add your starter tea and SCOBE to your

jar, cover and set a side till your at half your fermentation

cycle. Then add your sweet tea and away you go. Right now I have 8

Gallon jar in progress. The number in use vary over time. I've had

SCOBE and starter set for over a month before starting a new

batch. I check on them about every two weeks and sometimes have to

add some additional starter.

Bill

>Just a few things I was wondering about...

>

>How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

>takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

>scoby which formed off your original one.. how do you get it to brew

>slower so you don't end up with two batches ready at the same time?...

>hmmm... maybe I should explain it this way.. I want to eventually have

>a batch of KT ready each week... if I start off with one Scoby and it

>makes a second one.. when I start it (the newest Scoby)in it's own jar

>of tea wouldn't it be ready the same time as my original one?

>

>Also .. how many jars does everyone use to brew in (number of batches

>brewing at the same time).. and what sizes do you use? I was thinking

>it was gallon sized jars.. but I remember reading somewhere where

>someone uses 5 gallon ones...

>

>Thanks!

> in Texas

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

You need organic green, black or white tea, Organic sugar, A large

stainless steel pot to boil a gallon of water, A funnel, A fine

strainer, bottles for the finished KT, Gallon jugs for brewing,

Tightly woven cloth to cover tea with, and a rubberband to hold the

cloth around the jar. and distilled white vinegar. I think I listed

it all. Everytime you brew you can double the amount of batches you

make. Thats your call. Or you can just store the extra scobies in an

extra jar with some KT or put extra scobies in the brewing jars.

Hope this helps, nne

Hi

>

> I think your trying to complicate thing. You do not have to start

> your second batch right away. Add your starter tea and SCOBE to

your

> jar, cover and set a side till your at half your fermentation

> cycle. Then add your sweet tea and away you go. Right now I have

8

> Gallon jar in progress. The number in use vary over time. I've

had

> SCOBE and starter set for over a month before starting a new

> batch. I check on them about every two weeks and sometimes have

to

> add some additional starter.

>

> Bill

>

> >Just a few things I was wondering about...

> >

> >How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

> >takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

> >scoby which formed off your original one.. how do you get it to

brew

> >slower so you don't end up with two batches ready at the same

time?...

> >hmmm... maybe I should explain it this way.. I want to eventually

have

> >a batch of KT ready each week... if I start off with one Scoby

and it

> >makes a second one.. when I start it (the newest Scoby)in it's

own jar

> >of tea wouldn't it be ready the same time as my original one?

> >

> >Also .. how many jars does everyone use to brew in (number of

batches

> >brewing at the same time).. and what sizes do you use? I was

thinking

> >it was gallon sized jars.. but I remember reading somewhere where

> >someone uses 5 gallon ones...

> >

> >Thanks!

> > in Texas

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> The fish are biting.

> Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - more questions from a newbie.

Can you use a green tea that is a blend? Like the tazo green tea is green

tea with an herbal infusion - would it be ok to use that?

Also, does anyone think that the caffeine content is so much that it would

be harmful for children to drink?

I just made my first brew and I think it was too sweet when I went to decant

- from this group, I think I tried the top but didn't stir it. Also, the

baby was very thin (someone gave me a nice, healthy momma) - so I'm trying

to figure that one out too for the next batch.

Thanks.

in Ohio

[Guest guest]

> >How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

> >takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

> >scoby which formed off your original one..

You stagger your start times on the vessels so they are ready about as

needed. So the first time you have an extra SCOBY (and I strongly

recommend not separating them after the first brew, but giving them at

least 2-3 brews using all the SCOBY that develops in the same vessel), you

wait a few days to start it, just leave it floating in the liquid KT you've

reserved as starter, in its vessel on the counter, covered until you're ready.

Figuring out how to stagger your batches and managing the whole thing is,

in my opinion, the first major task of a new brewer who wants a steady

supply-- it ain't that easy to get that together unless you're a born

organized person. After that comes fun variations and experimental

brews. Also, make sure you put aside SCOBY backups, at least one, that you

just let sit aside and float in KT. If anything bad happens, you want to

have a backup SCOBY.

--V

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

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>Can you use a green tea that is a blend? Like the tazo green tea is green

>tea with an herbal infusion - would it be ok to use that?

It depends on the herbs. Some herbs are antibacterial which, over time,

really may affect the culture.

>Also, does anyone think that the caffeine content is so much that it would

>be harmful for children to drink?

Addressed several times lately. The caffeine content is weak because

you're using a small amount of tea in a large amount of water.

Margret wrote another time:

>It has always been my opinion (formed by personal experience) that

>Kombucha is great for all ages to drink and enjoy. (I have 6 children!)

>The only caveat is, I would say, to increase it gradually although I never

>did, as I didn't know you ought to ;-) but never suffered any ill effects.

>

>My advice would be: let everyone (including yourself) drink as much as

>desired, but make sure that you drink plain water as well, because KT

>is diuretic and therefore easily dehydrating. This would be specially

>important for you, as you are still breast-feeding (B R A V O !)

>

>Kombucha is NOT a drug, but a wonderfully balancing food which I

>recommend everyone to try. As regards my family, not all of them have

>liked Kombucha; some have started and stopped drinking it again; some

>are very irregular consumers; two of my sons are brewing it themselves now

>in their households; my husband and myself are hopeless addicts (if you

>can call it that ;-)

>

>We have never had any sickness due to Kombucha, or had detox symptoms,

>and those that consume it regularly are blessed with a great resistance

>to colds and flu and bugs in general.

>

>So, let that 2 year old have some more sips. She will stop when she has

>had enough ! :-) Maybe, you could even dilute it with water for her, unless

>you cause some more stamping of the foot ... ;-)

>

>Enjoy your wonderful tonic, and lay your worries aside, is my advice.

>I just made my first brew and I think it was too sweet when I went to decant

>- from this group, I think I tried the top but didn't stir it. Also, the

>baby was very thin (someone gave me a nice, healthy momma) - so I'm trying

>to figure that one out too for the next batch.

The first few brews may indeed have thin SCOBYs it is not a problem. Just

keep the new material together with the old when yoou start the next batch.

--V

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

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>Can you use a green tea that is a blend? Like the tazo green tea is green

>tea with an herbal infusion - would it be ok to use that?

It depends on the herbs. Some herbs are antibacterial which, over time,

really may affect the culture.

>Also, does anyone think that the caffeine content is so much that it would

>be harmful for children to drink?

Addressed several times lately. The caffeine content is weak because

you're using a small amount of tea in a large amount of water.

Margret wrote another time:

>It has always been my opinion (formed by personal experience) that

>Kombucha is great for all ages to drink and enjoy. (I have 6 children!)

>The only caveat is, I would say, to increase it gradually although I never

>did, as I didn't know you ought to ;-) but never suffered any ill effects.

>

>My advice would be: let everyone (including yourself) drink as much as

>desired, but make sure that you drink plain water as well, because KT

>is diuretic and therefore easily dehydrating. This would be specially

>important for you, as you are still breast-feeding (B R A V O !)

>

>Kombucha is NOT a drug, but a wonderfully balancing food which I

>recommend everyone to try. As regards my family, not all of them have

>liked Kombucha; some have started and stopped drinking it again; some

>are very irregular consumers; two of my sons are brewing it themselves now

>in their households; my husband and myself are hopeless addicts (if you

>can call it that ;-)

>

>We have never had any sickness due to Kombucha, or had detox symptoms,

>and those that consume it regularly are blessed with a great resistance

>to colds and flu and bugs in general.

>

>So, let that 2 year old have some more sips. She will stop when she has

>had enough ! :-) Maybe, you could even dilute it with water for her, unless

>you cause some more stamping of the foot ... ;-)

>

>Enjoy your wonderful tonic, and lay your worries aside, is my advice.

>I just made my first brew and I think it was too sweet when I went to decant

>- from this group, I think I tried the top but didn't stir it. Also, the

>baby was very thin (someone gave me a nice, healthy momma) - so I'm trying

>to figure that one out too for the next batch.

The first few brews may indeed have thin SCOBYs it is not a problem. Just

keep the new material together with the old when yoou start the next batch.

--V

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

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

>Can you use a green tea that is a blend? Like the tazo green tea is green

>tea with an herbal infusion - would it be ok to use that?

It depends on the herbs. Some herbs are antibacterial which, over time,

really may affect the culture.

>Also, does anyone think that the caffeine content is so much that it would

>be harmful for children to drink?

Addressed several times lately. The caffeine content is weak because

you're using a small amount of tea in a large amount of water.

Margret wrote another time:

>It has always been my opinion (formed by personal experience) that

>Kombucha is great for all ages to drink and enjoy. (I have 6 children!)

>The only caveat is, I would say, to increase it gradually although I never

>did, as I didn't know you ought to ;-) but never suffered any ill effects.

>

>My advice would be: let everyone (including yourself) drink as much as

>desired, but make sure that you drink plain water as well, because KT

>is diuretic and therefore easily dehydrating. This would be specially

>important for you, as you are still breast-feeding (B R A V O !)

>

>Kombucha is NOT a drug, but a wonderfully balancing food which I

>recommend everyone to try. As regards my family, not all of them have

>liked Kombucha; some have started and stopped drinking it again; some

>are very irregular consumers; two of my sons are brewing it themselves now

>in their households; my husband and myself are hopeless addicts (if you

>can call it that ;-)

>

>We have never had any sickness due to Kombucha, or had detox symptoms,

>and those that consume it regularly are blessed with a great resistance

>to colds and flu and bugs in general.

>

>So, let that 2 year old have some more sips. She will stop when she has

>had enough ! :-) Maybe, you could even dilute it with water for her, unless

>you cause some more stamping of the foot ... ;-)

>

>Enjoy your wonderful tonic, and lay your worries aside, is my advice.

>I just made my first brew and I think it was too sweet when I went to decant

>- from this group, I think I tried the top but didn't stir it. Also, the

>baby was very thin (someone gave me a nice, healthy momma) - so I'm trying

>to figure that one out too for the next batch.

The first few brews may indeed have thin SCOBYs it is not a problem. Just

keep the new material together with the old when yoou start the next batch.

--V

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

--A.J. Muste

[Guest guest]

Thanks V!

Baker wrote:

> >How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

> >takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

> >scoby which formed off your original one..

You stagger your start times on the vessels so they are ready about as

needed. So the first time you have an extra SCOBY (and I strongly

recommend not separating them after the first brew, but giving them at

least 2-3 brews using all the SCOBY that develops in the same vessel), you

wait a few days to start it, just leave it floating in the liquid KT you've

reserved as starter, in its vessel on the counter, covered until you're ready.

Figuring out how to stagger your batches and managing the whole thing is,

in my opinion, the first major task of a new brewer who wants a steady

supply-- it ain't that easy to get that together unless you're a born

organized person. After that comes fun variations and experimental

brews. Also, make sure you put aside SCOBY backups, at least one, that you

just let sit aside and float in KT. If anything bad happens, you want to

have a backup SCOBY.

--V

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

--A.J. Muste

---------------------------------

Finding fabulous fares is fun.

Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel

bargains.

[Guest guest]

Thanks V!

Baker wrote:

> >How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

> >takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

> >scoby which formed off your original one..

You stagger your start times on the vessels so they are ready about as

needed. So the first time you have an extra SCOBY (and I strongly

recommend not separating them after the first brew, but giving them at

least 2-3 brews using all the SCOBY that develops in the same vessel), you

wait a few days to start it, just leave it floating in the liquid KT you've

reserved as starter, in its vessel on the counter, covered until you're ready.

Figuring out how to stagger your batches and managing the whole thing is,

in my opinion, the first major task of a new brewer who wants a steady

supply-- it ain't that easy to get that together unless you're a born

organized person. After that comes fun variations and experimental

brews. Also, make sure you put aside SCOBY backups, at least one, that you

just let sit aside and float in KT. If anything bad happens, you want to

have a backup SCOBY.

--V

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

--A.J. Muste

---------------------------------

Finding fabulous fares is fun.

Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel

bargains.

[Guest guest]

Thanks nne!

danishmom416 wrote: You

need organic green, black or white tea, Organic sugar, A large

stainless steel pot to boil a gallon of water, A funnel, A fine

strainer, bottles for the finished KT, Gallon jugs for brewing,

Tightly woven cloth to cover tea with, and a rubberband to hold the

cloth around the jar. and distilled white vinegar. I think I listed

it all. Everytime you brew you can double the amount of batches you

make. Thats your call. Or you can just store the extra scobies in an

extra jar with some KT or put extra scobies in the brewing jars.

Hope this helps, nne

Hi

>

> I think your trying to complicate thing. You do not have to start

> your second batch right away. Add your starter tea and SCOBE to

your

> jar, cover and set a side till your at half your fermentation

> cycle. Then add your sweet tea and away you go. Right now I have

8

> Gallon jar in progress. The number in use vary over time. I've

had

> SCOBE and starter set for over a month before starting a new

> batch. I check on them about every two weeks and sometimes have

to

> add some additional starter.

>

> Bill

>

> >Just a few things I was wondering about...

> >

> >How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

> >takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

> >scoby which formed off your original one.. how do you get it to

brew

> >slower so you don't end up with two batches ready at the same

time?...

> >hmmm... maybe I should explain it this way.. I want to eventually

have

> >a batch of KT ready each week... if I start off with one Scoby

and it

> >makes a second one.. when I start it (the newest Scoby)in it's

own jar

> >of tea wouldn't it be ready the same time as my original one?

> >

> >Also .. how many jars does everyone use to brew in (number of

batches

> >brewing at the same time).. and what sizes do you use? I was

thinking

> >it was gallon sized jars.. but I remember reading somewhere where

> >someone uses 5 gallon ones...

> >

> >Thanks!

> > in Texas

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> The fish are biting.

> Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks nne!

danishmom416 wrote: You

need organic green, black or white tea, Organic sugar, A large

stainless steel pot to boil a gallon of water, A funnel, A fine

strainer, bottles for the finished KT, Gallon jugs for brewing,

Tightly woven cloth to cover tea with, and a rubberband to hold the

cloth around the jar. and distilled white vinegar. I think I listed

it all. Everytime you brew you can double the amount of batches you

make. Thats your call. Or you can just store the extra scobies in an

extra jar with some KT or put extra scobies in the brewing jars.

Hope this helps, nne

Hi

>

> I think your trying to complicate thing. You do not have to start

> your second batch right away. Add your starter tea and SCOBE to

your

> jar, cover and set a side till your at half your fermentation

> cycle. Then add your sweet tea and away you go. Right now I have

8

> Gallon jar in progress. The number in use vary over time. I've

had

> SCOBE and starter set for over a month before starting a new

> batch. I check on them about every two weeks and sometimes have

to

> add some additional starter.

>

> Bill

>

> >Just a few things I was wondering about...

> >

> >How do you manage to have a batch of KT ready each week?... if it

> >takes about 2 weeks to make.. and you start a new batch from a new

> >scoby which formed off your original one.. how do you get it to

brew

> >slower so you don't end up with two batches ready at the same

time?...

> >hmmm... maybe I should explain it this way.. I want to eventually

have

> >a batch of KT ready each week... if I start off with one Scoby

and it

> >makes a second one.. when I start it (the newest Scoby)in it's

own jar

> >of tea wouldn't it be ready the same time as my original one?

> >

> >Also .. how many jars does everyone use to brew in (number of

batches

> >brewing at the same time).. and what sizes do you use? I was

thinking

> >it was gallon sized jars.. but I remember reading somewhere where

> >someone uses 5 gallon ones...

> >

> >Thanks!

> > in Texas

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> The fish are biting.

> Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing.

>

>