Next Kombucha Demo: July 23

Looking forward to my next Kombucha Demo on Saturday, July 23, from 2-3 pm in Brookline, MA. For more details and to RSVP, please visit the event page on the Urban Homesteaders' League here. You can also RSVP by e-mailing me at kombuchafuel[at]gmail.com. Hope to see you there!

Fruit Fly Trap

Fruit flies can be quite troublesome for kombucha brewers, particularly during the warmer months. To help prevent fruit flies from getting into your brew, it is suggested to cover your ferment with a breathable covering with tight weaving. If you do use cheesecloth, layering the cheesecloth with multiple layers is also recommended.

Brewing

Making a fruit fly trap is an effective and easy way to catch fruit flies. To make a fruit fly trap, take a glass jar, and add some kombucha or apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar other than white vinegar) to the bottom with a few drops of liquid soap. Placing an inverted funnel in the glass jar (such as the top half of a plastic water bottle) also helps to ensure that the fruit flies won't escape.

Fruit fly trap

Read some more about kombucha and fruit flies and other kombucha cautions and concerns on Happy Herbalist.

Q&A: I left my kombucha mushroom in the fridge for awhile. Can I still use it?

I've been receiving many questions about individuals who have SCOBYs stored in the fridge, or brews forgotten on the counter. Can you still use the SCOBY to brew?

I typically say yes, but it also depends on various factors.

Usually I recommend to individuals that SCOBYs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a year, with increased chances of the SCOBY remaining viable the better your sanitation is. In addition, I usually do not recommend individuals to leave their brews out for more than a few weeks, but this is also dependent on several factors (for example, fermentation goes slower at cooler temperatures). If you do leave your brew forgotten on the counter, it's still possible that you can use your kombucha mushroom.

Typically, kombucha smells like hard cider or apple cider vinegar. The longer the kombucha and the mushroom are stored, the more acidic the kombucha will be in taste and smell. Here are some suggestions for what to do if your kombucha is too sour.

If you notice anything funky, such as mold, or off-odors, it may be safer to just discard your kombucha mushroom in the compost. If this is the case, you may consider growing a kombucha mushroom or finding other sources for a SCOBY.

However, if you don't find anything out of the ordinary, you may just want to give brewing with the mushroom a try! If you have some fresher starter tea to use as well, that can also be helpful.

If a SCOBY has remained dormant in the fridge for awhile, it may take a few cycles for the mushroom to kick back into gear. And if your intention is to grow a nice thick mushroom (because brewing good-tasting kombucha and growing a thick SCOBY do not always equate to the same thing), you may consider reading this post for tips. Once you have a good younger mushroom to brew with (or a few), you may want to put the older SCOBY to rest in the compost. In my experience, the younger mushrooms tend to out-perform the older ones.

Unsure if your brew or mushroom are safe? Read Happy Herbalist's Kombucha Cautions and Safe Brewing Tips. Some pictures of healthy mushrooms can be found in this post, and pictures of healthy (and unhealthy) mushrooms can be found on Happy Herbalist's Kombucha Pictures page.

Happy brewing!

Upcoming Kombucha Demo on Monday, May 16

My next Kombucha Demo will be on Monday, May 16, from 7-8 pm in Brookline, MA. For more details and to RSVP, go to the event page on the Urban Homesteaders' League here. You may also RSVP by e-mailing me at kombuchafuel[at]gmail.com. Hope you'll join us!

Kombucha Demo on March 21

I am happy to announce that my next kombucha demo will be on Monday, March 21, from 7-8 pm in Brookline, MA. For more details and to RSVP, please go to the event page on the Urban Homesteaders' League. If you have any questions about the event, please e-mail me at kombuchafuel [at] gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Keeping the Kombucha Brew Warm

It's been a pretty cold and snowy winter this year in Boston, and because the house that I'm currently living in is on the chilly side, I finally decided to purchase a seedling mat for my brew!

Ideally, kombucha brews at around 74 - 84 degrees F. According to Happy Herbalist, the warmer temperatures produce a "faster more consistent ferment while the lower temperatures produce a less harsh more mellow taste though more inconsistent and with a greater susceptibility to molds and pathogens forming. Kombucha brewing seems to work better in the summer than in the winter months."

I agree that kombucha brewing works much better during the summer months than in the winter. So to keep my kombucha warm, I purchased this seedling mat from Amazon. The mat, which you plug into an electric outlet, is supposed to warm the area about 10-20 degrees F above ambient temperature. Although the kombucha and SCOBYs still don't seem to be as happy as they typically are during the summer, the seedling mat has definitely helped!

Other ideas to keep your kombucha warm:

• Brewing your kombucha in a warm (but undisturbed) location, such as in a kitchen cupboard
• Brewing the kombucha in a cabinet with a light bulb (as recommended by Happy Herbalist)
  
• Using a heating pad
  
  

What do you do to keep your kombucha warm?

Next Kombucha Demo: Jan. 31

My next Kombucha Demo will be one week from today: Monday, January 31, from 7-8 pm in Brookline.

For more information about the demo and to sign up, please go to the event page on the Urban Homesteaders' League here.

Hope to see you there!