FAQ's:

(This is just some of the info I print and send with all my orders)

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My original culture sank to the bottom,or is sideways in the jar,Why?-Just remember the culture is living, A scoby that falls to the bottom is fine even if it stays there or moves back up anyplace the original culture wants to be in the jar during fermentation is fine,it makes no difference at all.Its all OK.(I prefer the batches where the culture stays on the bottom of the jar) However you really don't want the forming baby culture to fall under the tea.

What should I avoid having near the kombucha that can kill or cause it to mold?-Don't touch the culture or the fermented tea w/any form of metals,Never use any vinegar other than Distilled white.Don't use sweet tea thats to warm,Don't have near or in the same room with: chemicals,cleaners,bug sprays,Fragrances,paint fumes,fire places.Don't have close to where grease is cooked. No smoking,No chlorine water,no anti-bacterial soaps to clean utensils or jars etc.(alternative to harsh cleaners is distilled white vinegar, It kills 99% of bad germs/bacteria leaving the good)You can gradually kill a Kombucha culture over successive ferments with ginger,cinnamon & other herbs/spices. They should only be added when you're ready to bottle k-tea. Never allow them in the starter tea or near cultures. Always do the final rinse on all items with distilled white vinegar to remove contaminants.

What is mold? I see dark slime (of spots,strings,clumps),is this mold?-1:Sometimes the yeast cells or tea tannins get caught in the forming culture & causes dark brownish,greenish slime that can be seen on/in the tea,or on/in cultures,it is all OK.(Can also happen while K-tea is in fridge) It may look like mold.If its wet, Slimy bubbly etc or under the surface of the tea its not mold. 90% of what beginner kombucha makers think is mold,is the newly forming baby culture as it starts growing across the top of the tea &/or tannins or yeast cells,slime strings forming in/on the tea.2:The culture protects itself from mold when healthy fermentation is taking place,it possesses great skill in the killing of molds. However it can sometimes occur.A mold spot resembles the mold you find on a piece of bread-green,pink,grey & is dry,powdery,fuzzy,spiny,hairy in look.If you get mold throw out & start over completely.Discard culture & Don't drink tea from that batch. (if you need to see mold pictures email me)Remember mold will be on the surface, not in the tea.During fermenting you might see a spiny,hairy,web like formation coming from the bottom of the tea or cultures, this is OK & part of the process of the tea fermenting & baby forming.

What does the forming baby culture look like?-The baby culture will look like a layer of skin growing across the surface of the K-tea to the size & shape of the jar & may look like mold at first, So don't dump your K-tea.The new culture forming will look like a cloudy white/grayish skin,film or layer across the top of tea until formed, sometimes w/foam &/or bubbles & brownish spots.(sometimes it will be clear,slimy or blotchy)This is normal.The baby will only be attached to the mother if the mother is floating on the surface during fermentation, when they are attached just peal them apart if desired.

My tea doesn't look dark enough or taste strong enough, Why?-Everyones taste are different,you may like 8 tea bags per gallon in some brands, But other brands 15+ bags. You will learn your own taste. Don't worry about finished tea color to much & even tea type(white,green or black) effects the color & taste. (Some brands are weaker & it may be necessary to use more bags)

Additional info:

(This is just some of the Additional info I print and send with all my orders)

Pot for boiling sweet tea-ONLY use a stainless steel or glass pot for boiling sweet tea.Don't use pots such as: Aluminum,Teflon,Cast Iron etc for boiling sweet tea, these add dangerous toxins to the water during boiling.

Fermenting containers,jars & breathable covers-1:Only use clear glass when fermenting K-tea as it will detoxify its container,Don't use plastic,pottery,ceramic,crocks (glazed or unglazed)Jars older than 5 yrs,colored glass or crystal containers, K-tea will leach toxins from them that will harm the cultures & you.The babies grown thereafter will always be contaminated.Starting over with a glass container after the fact won't solve the problem.Reusable glass Jars of: mayo,apple sauce,spaghetti sauce,pickle or canning jar etc work great.2:Use a coffee filter,paper towel or cut up cloth etc for breathable cover. Makes sure the cover won't allow bugs in.(Cheesecloth is not at all recommended)

Fermentation time & how to taste-1: The 1st batch fermenting for 15-21 even 30 days may be needed.Normal batches are best at 8-12 days & during warm months.In some cases longer ferments make stronger K-tea.2:To start tasting K-tea to know how long you want to ferment to your taste, Stick a straw in it put your finger over the end & draw a little out.(Try not to disturb the baby culture to much,put straw between the baby culture & the side of the jar.)Smell,bubbles & yeast cells-1:

Storing K-tea-after you have pulled cultures from the finished tea, refrigerate K-tea if you don't it will continue fermenting.Best to store in clear glass(if jar has metal lid cover opening of jar w/ plastic wrap,or put lid in a ziplock then screw on),If you use plastic to store K-tea only use food grade but I don't recommend any plastic,it causes the tea to be more acidic & have a off taste. Never store in Milk or water jugs.

Growth of original culture "mother"-After cultures are removed from jars it no longer grows, It becomes the mother & grows a baby culture per batch.It may seem bigger w/a baby on it.Any baby that falls below tea becomes a mother. A thin/clear or blotchy baby culture after 10 days.-The 1st batch may be like this (The original culture has to snap back from being mailed sometimes) But if it grew even a thin layer or blotchy baby culture all is OK, If you want just give it a few more days to ferment.This can also happen when the PH is out of balance or during cooler weather.See my info on my pages. Thin babies can't do their own batches but can be added with the original on the next batch to help jumpstart that batch.The brown slime strings & sludge that forms in K-tea -All of the slime,sludge,globs(spent yeast cells & tea tannins)that forms in fermenting K-tea are safe to drink if you want,you can strain them or drink them. If you do not drink them use the sludgy part in the bottom of your batch of K-tea in the starter for the next batch.

Types of tea-Only use regular white, green or black tea no extras, other herbal teas can permanently weaken the Kombucha culture or even kill it.don't use decaff teas

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