Brew Kombucha? No baby neccesary...

coinboy75 · 07-07-06, 13:54

This info may be already out there, and I really haven't searched, but here it is anyway.
I have been brewing Kombucha off and on for many years. I am with the number that believe it to have inumerable and immeasurable health benefits. It is very simple to grow/brew and with cleanliness, easy to attain positive results your very first shot. However, one serious limitation that has screwed me up is finding a 'baby' with which to start the process. I see want ads on bulletin boards at health food stores requesting a 'baby' all of the time. Well the answer is actually inside that very store.
Now, most health food stores, co-ops, even some major scum-bag stores are beginning to sell quality, company made, 100% Kombucha. (a lot are 95% or so). These drinks are living cultures just like your kombucha 'baby' or even your cup of yogurt. It occured to me sometime back to simply take one of these bottles and dump it into my premade and cooled tea and sugar in lieu of a 'baby'. Much to my pleasant surprise, I had a beautiful, strong healthy 'baby' forming after only a few days. I'm on my 50th plus generation from that experiment. Worked great.
Beware of Kombucha "flavored" drinks, "Kombucha Tea" that is actually sold in tea bags, or pre-fab iced tea drinks. These contain no active cultures and will not work. And please never buy a 'baby' from some jerk for $20. All you will need is one bottle of raw, organic, live (95%+) kombucha.

Machinamentum · 07-07-06, 14:57

I too have been growing kombucha for many years ( 9 years or so ). I know the drinks that you are talking about. I have stoped growing kombucha for right now because i turned my girlfriends mother on to it and she grows enough for all of us. But if you want to start from scrach here is how... Grow your own tea leafs and make your own tea from the tea you grow. Do not use the microwave! Try not to use metal or sunlight when you brew your tea. when finished add your suger and let it sit like your normal kombucha would. Then in 4 weeks to 8 weeks Boom!! and new baby kombucha shroom!! The micro-organisms in the tea form a new shroom. If you buy tea at the store they sometimes raidate the tea. This kills your micro-organisms.

coinboy75 · 07-07-06, 19:54

I guess I can't figure out what you mean. Grow your own tea? Brew it up? When it's done add sugar, and boom? What do you mean the micro-organisms in the tea form a baby? Where does the Kombucha Organism come in? And it sure seems me that growing our own tea for this process would be out of practical reach for most people these days.
I would never use a microwave or metal or direct sunlight. That I understand, the rest I'm not so sure.
And who's radiating my tea? I'll kill 'em! I specified raw, organic, live kombucha. That's all I've used for years and it's never failed me yet...

waylitjim · 07-07-06, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by coinboy75

I guess I can't figure out what you mean. Grow your own tea? Brew it up? When it's done add sugar, and boom?

The most popular brand is GT's Synergy. You can find it at Whole Foods and other health food stores. It's 100% raw and un-pasteurized. Just don't use Kombucha Wonder Drink because they pasteurize their product for health/safety reasons. But you are correct Coinboy, no need to buy a culture.

Start with a bottle of GT's Synergy which has a nice culture in the bottom. Drink 3/4 of it and save the rest. Next brew a gallon of black tea, with around 5 tea bags and 2-3 cups of sugar. Once it cools, dump the remainder your beverage plus the culture into your gallon of tea. Cover the top with a paper towel, and leave it out in room temperature to ferment. In 10 days you'll have a gallon of Kombucha. You'll also notice the cutlure in the bottom has grown considerably. Simply chop it up and double your next batch. It can go on, and on, and on. I drink isome every day.

cloudtop · 07-19-06, 18:39

WLJ, do you just drink the straight tea, or do you add in any of the various flavors as GT's does?

I'll probably start doing this very soon because I'm sick of paying the $2/day to chug it.

waylitjim · 07-20-06, 03:33

I just drink the tea as is, no additional flavors added.

Noema · 06-14-09, 21:36

Thanks Waylitjim!!

Just ran to Whole Foods. They didn't have the GT brand but I just looked for "LIVE" and was successful!

Made yogurt yesterday so I figured I'd try this today! Beer and cider in the near future!

Cool beans bros!

Coughing_Anon · 06-15-09, 18:23

I'm about to start brewing kombucha in 5-gallon buckets.
I'll never have to pay 3.50 again at Whole Fools.

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07-07-06, 13:54	#1 (permalink)
coinboy75 Mycophiliac Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 32	Brew Kombucha? No baby neccesary... This info may be already out there, and I really haven't searched, but here it is anyway. I have been brewing Kombucha off and on for many years. I am with the number that believe it to have inumerable and immeasurable health benefits. It is very simple to grow/brew and with cleanliness, easy to attain positive results your very first shot. However, one serious limitation that has screwed me up is finding a 'baby' with which to start the process. I see want ads on bulletin boards at health food stores requesting a 'baby' all of the time. Well the answer is actually inside that very store. Now, most health food stores, co-ops, even some major scum-bag stores are beginning to sell quality, company made, 100% Kombucha. (a lot are 95% or so). These drinks are living cultures just like your kombucha 'baby' or even your cup of yogurt. It occured to me sometime back to simply take one of these bottles and dump it into my premade and cooled tea and sugar in lieu of a 'baby'. Much to my pleasant surprise, I had a beautiful, strong healthy 'baby' forming after only a few days. I'm on my 50th plus generation from that experiment. Worked great. Beware of Kombucha "flavored" drinks, "Kombucha Tea" that is actually sold in tea bags, or pre-fab iced tea drinks. These contain no active cultures and will not work. And please never buy a 'baby' from some jerk for $20. All you will need is one bottle of raw, organic, live (95%+) kombucha.

07-07-06, 14:57	#2 (permalink)
Machinamentum Mycophiliac Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 30	I too have been growing kombucha for many years ( 9 years or so ). I know the drinks that you are talking about. I have stoped growing kombucha for right now because i turned my girlfriends mother on to it and she grows enough for all of us. But if you want to start from scrach here is how... Grow your own tea leafs and make your own tea from the tea you grow. Do not use the microwave! Try not to use metal or sunlight when you brew your tea. when finished add your suger and let it sit like your normal kombucha would. Then in 4 weeks to 8 weeks Boom!! and new baby kombucha shroom!! The micro-organisms in the tea form a new shroom. If you buy tea at the store they sometimes raidate the tea. This kills your micro-organisms. __________________ We are the music makers, and the dreamers of a dream.

07-20-06, 03:33	#6 (permalink)
waylitjim A Mirror Image Join Date: Sep 1972 Posts: 4,232	I just drink the tea as is, no additional flavors added. __________________ *Waylit's Exotic Roundup - a collection of sexy threads*

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07-07-06, 19:54	#3 (permalink)
coinboy75 Mycophiliac Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 32	I guess I can't figure out what you mean. Grow your own tea? Brew it up? When it's done add sugar, and boom? What do you mean the micro-organisms in the tea form a baby? Where does the Kombucha Organism come in? And it sure seems me that growing our own tea for this process would be out of practical reach for most people these days. I would never use a microwave or metal or direct sunlight. That I understand, the rest I'm not so sure. And who's radiating my tea? I'll kill 'em! I specified raw, organic, live kombucha. That's all I've used for years and it's never failed me yet...

07-19-06, 18:39	#5 (permalink)
cloudtop Mycophiliac Join Date: Dec 1972 Posts: 28	WLJ, do you just drink the straight tea, or do you add in any of the various flavors as GT's does? I'll probably start doing this very soon because I'm sick of paying the $2/day to chug it.

06-14-09, 21:36	#7 (permalink)
Noema Market Restricted Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 45	Thanks Waylitjim!! Just ran to Whole Foods. They didn't have the GT brand but I just looked for "LIVE" and was successful! Made yogurt yesterday so I figured I'd try this today! Beer and cider in the near future! Cool beans bros!

06-15-09, 18:23	#8 (permalink)
Coughing_Anon Mycophage Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 218	I'm about to start brewing kombucha in 5-gallon buckets. I'll never have to pay 3.50 again at Whole Fools.

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