Growing kombucha and kefir grains

City farm

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We are growing milk & water kefir grains along with kombucha.. We added raw unfiltered honey to the water kefir grains. . having a big party tomorrow, so we hope to add cranberry, raspberry and blueberry juice to the water kefir grains. .I bet it will be a party favorite. .
 

sumi

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That sounds interesting!
 

journey11

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Agh...you just reminded me that I left my kombucha under the cabinet and forgot about it. Better go check to see what it has been up to. I'm sure I left it too long. :\
 

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Agh...you just reminded me that I left my kombucha under the cabinet and forgot about it. Better go check to see what it has been up to. I'm sure I left it too long. :\

Oh boy do I know that feeling.. I have a new one again. Acctaully a neighbor had a 2 gallon of live kombucha, all he did was pour some into our mason jars.. The mother has been growing, he adds tons of fruit & juices to his kombucha..
What I mean by just pouring, I did not see a baby like before.. Just looked like brewed tea..fascinating
 

journey11

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Oh boy do I know that feeling.. I have a new one again. Acctaully a neighbor had a 2 gallon of live kombucha, all he did was pour some into our mason jars.. The mother has been growing, he adds tons of fruit & juices to his kombucha..
What I mean by just pouring, I did not see a baby like before.. Just looked like brewed tea..fascinating

I have heard that you can even make kombucha babies from store-bought kombucha, if you're patient enough. :) I poured some from my batch into mason jars to make scobys for my mom and sis. It took longer, but they were plump and even and looked much nicer that way.

How do you like your kombucha flavored? I just dump about a half inch or so of fresh or frozen berries directly into the bottom of the jars for the second brew. We like to eat the fizzy berries too. Someone on here mentioned to me pineapple juice and fresh ginger and that has become our very favorite. It comes out tasting more like lemonade.

I have had milk kefir before and really liked it and I want to try water kefir someday. My sis was going to buy some and get them started to share, but hasn't gotten around to it yet, so maybe I will instead.
 

valley ranch

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Earlier, I ease dropped on a thread about Kombucha. I turned up my nose up at the idea.

Most recently I was offered a Scoby and my interest was sparked. I accepted the Scoby, started a batch, with some consultation with journey11, thanks. I've read to start slowly, drinking only a small amount at a time. but, I drink it in large amounts, I could easily drink it all before the next batch is ready, I like it that much.
I'm very fond of it. I don't do a second fermentation. I like the taste as it is. I've stated two 1gallon batches.
I use a small heating mat to raise the temp, not at all times, just now and then to bump up the temperature to at or above 74degrees.

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Most kombucha in the store today has been spiked or pasteurized, so I've read, and will no longer reproduce.
 

Smiles Jr.

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Earlier, I ease dropped on a thread about Kombucha. I turned up my nose up at the idea.

Most recently I was offered a Scoby and my interest was sparked. I accepted the Scoby, started a batch, with some consultation with journey11, thanks. I've read to start slowly, drinking only a small amount at a time. but, I drink it in large amounts, I could easily drink it all before the next batch is ready, I like it that much.
I'm very fond of it. I don't do a second fermentation. I like the taste as it is. I've stated two 1gallon batches.
I use a small heating mat to raise the temp, not at all times, just now and then to bump up the temperature to at or above 74degrees.

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Most kombucha in the store today has been spiked or pasteurized, so I've read, and will no longer reproduce.

Good for you. Your body will love you for it.
 

valley ranch

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Greetings Smiles, I am in proud receipt of you post.
I have read that this brew contains glucosamines. I take glucosamine for a skiing injury from years back. I didn't find this out until after I began the culture, if this is so, drinking this beverage might kill two birds with one stone.

Richard
 

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I can't grow a mother, I had a good one going it was tea, lemon juice, ginger and honey. It never made a floating scoby but it would roar when I put fresh tea in it and it took 4 days. I tried a new batch without the ginger and lemon but that failed, turned into sweet vinegar:barnie. I think I need a jun scoby that can live on honey, its the only sweetener I will use.


I used synergy in my last batch that failed...
 

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