Kombucha

[charlie]

i keep trying to send you messages but I'm pretty certain that they are just being sent to me.

i've emailed admin but I think that the same has happened.

i don't think that it is user error but that wouldn't be the first time that I've made that erroneous assertion.

I don't want to post my address on here.

hopefully an admin will read this and take pity on poor addled Charlie

Charlie

[MashBag]

I have sent you an email, let's try that

[MashBag]

Thanks Mashbag,

I'm really looking forward to getting back into production.
I'll have to store a healthy one in case of further disaster.

Chas

Is there an easy way to scale up. If I wanted a glass most days?

[charlie]

I use a big bowl that will hold 2 kettles worth of water/tea/sugar with a tea towel over it to keep out nasties.
I find that will fill 3 750ml bottles which gives me 2 small glasses a day.

A bowl works well because it provides a good area for the scoby to grow over and breath.

I never had a problem when I could brew in the house.
Now I have to do it in the shed on a heated brewing pad.
Sometimes I get too much evaporation and have to top the bottles up with a bit of water.

Even now, when I'm drinking from the results of the sickliest looking scoby in the world - it tastes just fine.
but supplies are dwindling.

Chas

[MashBag]

Thanks,
I might try to get a 10 litre bucket going and just draw off, a weeks worth in a bottle and then add some fresh.

sickliest looking scoby

You might regret say that. Half the pack in the post is "a good vintage"

[charlie]

Two nice looking chunks of Scoby arrived on Friday.
Brewing away nicely now.

They were very healthy and fermenting like mad in the package.
I'm surprised that they delivered it.

The package was so swollen and firm that they must thought I'd bought a black pudding.

Thanks again for helping me get back into the cult.

[MashBag]

Oo I never thought of that.

Pleased they arrived OK.

The one I thought was vinegar isn't, just seems to make a slightly different (sharper) product.

Need to work on my flavours a bit.

[charlie]

I bottled my first batch with my lovely new pellicle on Sunday.
I haven't tasted but the new Scoby was as healthy as any that I have seen and nearly an inch thick (25mm) I apologise for the mention of a barbaric, archaic, imperial, measurement.
I'll let it mature a few weeks in bottle and report back, hopefully it will be nice and fizzy.

I might dry out some Scoby and pass it to my daughter. She has been dying to try out Scoby leather.

thrilling.

[MashBag]

I have never dried it out. Is it like beef jerky or best for repairing scandals

[MashBag]

I bottled my first batch with my lovely new pellicle on Sunday.
I haven't tasted but the new Scoby was as healthy as any that I have seen and nearly an inch thick (25mm) I apologise for the mention of a barbaric, archaic, imperial, measurement.
I'll let it mature a few weeks in bottle and report back, hopefully it will be nice and fizzy.

I might dry out some Scoby and pass it to my daughter. She has been dying to try out Scoby leather.

thrilling.

I want to thank you for getting me back on track with this. I have several jars on the go now, all producing really nice stuff.

Question if I may.. When do you thin down the scobies? I have been building up a supply, so never had too many before but now...

And is there any effect? Less scoby = less flavour or longer brewing time?

[charlie]

it's quicker with a bigger, healthier Scoby.
According to the books, every week, you just throw the old one away and continue with the new one.
I've got a copy of a new ageie book about Kombucha and I've recently downloaded it as well.
I'll send you it from home asap.
To be taken with a pinch of salt.

Kombucha jerky sounds disgusting but I have read about it going into ice cream.
Maybe Kombucha Pemmican might work but you'd have to be pretty bonkers to try it.

I had a great first week and then not so good.
Nice healthy Scoby but not growing too well, I think that it is just down to temperature..
I have to brew it in my shed on a brew pad so I'm going to bodge up some insulation and see if that gets me back on track.

[MashBag]

I am so lucky that our airing cupboard keeps a nice 24c, they seem to go well, and they seem to be faster and sharper with more scoby layers.

[MashBag]

Had to look up Pemmican

https://www.anoffgridlife.com/making-pe ... game-meat/

Nah. Might make dog chews.