Advertisement
I've been brewing my first batch of kombucha in my pantry for about ten days now. It's got a new culture growing nicely on top, and I tasted it today... it seems a lot less sweet than when I started, which is good, yes, but it doesn't taste very strong. Just sort of like tea. It has a cider-y vinegar-y smell, though. Will it get stronger if I brew it longer? Did I just not make the tea strong enough? I used green tea with jasmine, three tea bags to a gallon of water, and left the tea bags in as it cooled. Any advice?
Thanks!
Thanks!
posted by:
|
Portland
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 9:20 PMDid you put sugar in it? -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 9:28 PMKombucha likes air. Direct sunlight isnt good, but it likes to be a little warm with plenty of air flow and it doesnt mind indirect light. -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 9:38 PMsugar, yup, one cup per gallon. And it's in the pantry... not suffocating, but not the open air, either. From what I've read, lack of air is more likely to cause it to go sour or moldy than to just taste weak. Am I wrong? -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 9:55 PMIt should get stronger. I usually double up on the sugar then wait for it to get really strong. 1 cup is playing it safe, but if you use more sugar it takes longer for the kumbucha to metabolize it. -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 9:56 PMAlso, it likes it a littler warmer than cooler. It can take two weeks or longer if its cool, and as little as 4-5 days if its warm. -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 10:11 PMYep, the pantry is likely not a warm environment. Perhaps a stable temperature, but not quite enough to brew normally.
Everyone brews at a different temperature but the average is around 80-85F. Lower than 70F and it won't be healthy enough to fight off common airborne contaminants, especially due to the extended period necessary to ferment; over 105F and culture die-off starts occurring and it will brew into vinegar very quickly.
For myself I swear by 80F. I use a heat belt for my 2.5 gallon fermenter, and a heat mat for my secondary bottle fermentation and for my spare culture.
Heat mat
tinyurl.com/2rgvdt
Heat Belt
tinyurl.com/2m6t4n -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 10:59 PMyou sat three bags per gallon? of green tea? i don't think you have enough tannins or caffeine for the proper conditions. next time try maybe, 7 green tea bags, and 3 black tea bags. you could mess around with ratios to a certain extent, but i think the black tea is important for the tannins and extra caffeine. -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 11:08 PMI usually use five bags worth of loose green tea, and one bag worth of loose Oolong tea - 6 bags total per gallon, and I let them steep quite awhile; about 30 minutes.
I started brewing only with black tea, but the brew got too heavy and too vinegary too quickly for me. Then I tried all green tea and it was very light, dry and well carbonated but it didn't have a satisfying, full body taste to it. So I settled on the one bag worth of loose black tea and that works pretty well for me. -
-
This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 11:46 PMhm. well i've tried other teas, and different ratios with differeing effects. however i typically steep for 5 minutes, i see no point in keeping it in longer than that. all in all, i currently brew lazy-bucha. ten bags of black, and drink it straint from the jar after about 4 days. i like experiencing the change in the flavor. and i'll gladly forgo fizz if i don't have to clean and fill and clean and fill all those little bottles.
you know now that i think about it. the main problem with bottling was that i would end up giving them all away at work. but it's always like that at co-ops. now they have to pour it themselves! -
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 11:58 PMive been mixing green, oolong, and mate.
-
Re: new at this; advice?
Wed, August 15, 2007 - 11:58 PMI like mine carbonated and cold, and I distribute to family, so I bottle them.
I make some serious kick-ass, champagne-like carbonated ginger booch. Can't do it without the bottle. -
-
lovin diverse experiences
Mon, August 20, 2007 - 9:30 AMi always use at least about 7 tea bags
(or teabags worth of loose tea) per gallon.
and a short cut for less bottling
is to harvest directly into a spigoted suntea jar.
sometimes weve set this on the counter
or in the fridge for self service.
re: cup vs bottle washing,
ive found it worth it for me to
prep and bottle 6 -12
7oz- Quart jars
for the sake of to-go convenience.
and a single apple juice Gallon jar for the next round.
thanks for the tea blending experience sharing folks!
-
-
Re: lovin diverse experiences
Tue, August 21, 2007 - 9:01 PMi just don't like the idea of the suntea thingy. with such a high acidity the plastic would start to deteriorate in seep in to the kombucha, forming something unknown. however the exception would be if the plastic were polycarbonate (recycling code 7) but even polycarb would deteriorate after prolonged exposed to bucha. the vinegar and acids permeate everything....include my dorm and dorm suite. thank god my suite mates are all boys that drink.
i'm really pleased that although we've got so many people doing slightly differing methods, that each is tailored to the individuals liking and satisfies the individual. that's what it all about, right? -
-
Re: lovin diverse experiences
Tue, August 21, 2007 - 10:46 PM> (recycling code 7) but even polycarb
Actually, that's been warned off because it produces a chemical (Bisphenol A) that wreaks havoc with the endocrine system - like Nalgene, etc.
This has been discussed a lot in the media of late due to the uproar about bottled water and plastics. -
-
Re: lovin diverse experiences
Wed, August 22, 2007 - 9:13 PMalright, i'm glad someone is watching the news...
good to know. -
-
plastic concerns shared!
Thu, August 23, 2007 - 10:39 AMre: storing booch in suntea w/ plastic spigot...
i do this when there are enuf folks
that are drinking th booch
that it flows to empty quite swiftly.
not leaving much time for plastic deteriation.
otherwise i twinkle with the anti-plastic sentiment.
cheers
-
-
Re: plastic concerns shared!
Fri, August 24, 2007 - 8:26 AMThanks for all your advice, as well as the anti-plastic sentiments.
At the risk of getting back on topic :), I started another batch, this time with seven bags of green tea and one bag of black tea per gallon, and an extra quarter of a cup of sugar. I'll let y'all know how it goes.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
