Ok, well I didn't make it, but I helped it along. I had several kombucha scobies in the refrigerator- just sitting there because we weren't drinking the kombucha we had and I didn't have time to mess with it. I was afraid they were dead, but thought I would give it a try. Well, after many days nothing was going on, so I put it in a warmer place, and just in case that didn't turn out, I tried an experiment.
I took the brew that was in the fridge that we were supposed to be drinking and just let it sit at room temperature for a few days. (3-5) A 'mushroom' started forming and I let it go until it was somewhat held together and 'pancake'-like. It looked kind of scary, but I gave it a shot and made up a small batch and put it in there. WOW! Look at the whopper it made! I just made another brew of kombucha and put the new scoby in there.
I am continually amazed at how this thing works. Give it the right stuff and it will keep reproducing itself. And might I add, the last brew I made was the best I've made yet. I used a pomegranate herbal tea bag with two regular black tea bags- tastes like fruit punch or something. The kids like it and we've all been drinking it- yea!
This is the one that formed from a batch of the kombucha drink. It's rather wimpy and unevenly formed.
This is the 'baby' that formed after the 'mother' above was sitting in a brew for a week.
This is how thick it got- you can see the difference much better in person. Oh well, I'm still proud of the experiment!
A side note- before I started making kombucha I thought this looked horrendous, but now it's just cool and it doesn't bother me at all to touch it. Weirdo I am!
Anyways, most of my family thinks I am a complete weirdo fermenting food and actually eating it. I happened on some interesting websites last night that sells cultures for making kombucha, kefir, sourdough bread and yogurt. I tried kefir a long time ago, and could never work up the courage to drink it! However, there are some other dairy cultures available that I may try. For more information you can go here:
http://www.gemcultures.com/index.htm
http://www.fermentedtreasures.com/index.html
I am very interested in trying some of these out. It's so hard to decide though!
8 comments:
Good for you on growing a new scoby! I'm waiting for things to settle down and start one myself. I buy it now at the health food store and like it. Wonder how it tastes compared to homemade? Hmm. I enjoy stuff like that. Pretty cool to me. It really detoxes you and makes me feel so good when I drink it. :) Hey, maybe later you can do a series/discussion/photos on making a batch of it!? Just a thought.
Yes! Next time I will try to do a step by step 'how to' and take pictures. There really isn't a lot to it, but for someone new to it breaking things down into steps would help a lot.
ok, I have *no* idea what you are talking about. Please, please post some more info about this "scoby" thing-a-ma-bob.
*scratching my head in confusion*
~Lori
Hmmm...interesting...what IS it?!!!! It looks kinda gross- you eat that thing?! Please fill me in as to WHAT that thing is!
Good Grief!!!
What on earth does that taste like?
Looks like you made a homemade elephant ear or something!
I'll check out the link, but please, explain what it tastes like!
Taste, well that's the hard part. It is sweet, and tangy, and sort of tastes like tea still. Sometimes it resembles apple cider, or a fruity drink depending on what tea I put there. Sometimes I lose track of how long it's been brewing and it gets more sour tasting, or after it has been in the fridge for a long time it gets sour too. You only drink 2-4oz of it at first and gradually work up to more if you want.
The best way I can describe it.. kinda tastes like seltzer.. it's carbonated.. tea. It can be flavored. I thought it stopped turning sour once you bottled it up and put it in fridge?
I get mine at the health food store. It comes in flavors. I dilute it with some water as its is really carbonated. It helps detoxify your body :) I try to drink a glass a day!
I would LOVE a photo step by step when u get time. even if it is after the first of the year :)
The glob is the mushroom that ferments the tea you add to it. So the mushroom is sort of like a "starter" like bread starters.. only this is for tea.
It's really neat and it's good for you!
We made our first batch of Ginger Beer from the Nourishing Traditions cookbook and we were amazed at how well it turned out. I thought I would be a good first fermented beverage for a husband and teenagers who aren't so crazy about fermenting. They loved it! It is sweet and tangy and bubbly. It tastes very much like pop. The kids were impressed. I didn't tell them it was healthy. I think that would have ruined it :) We are going to try Root Beer next. I found a local source of Sarsparilla root and sassafrass, and they smell delicous.
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