TeaChat

That looks like a kombucha scoby(symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). The taste of the fermented tea is sweet/sour like cider. More info
http://www.kombuchatea.co.uk/
http://www.happyherbalist.com/kombucha_ ... _guide.htm
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/original_kombucha/
Some things in your instructions seem off and very conducive to mold formation.
Sufficient acidity is needed to prevent mold. Rinsing the colony in water would dilute the acid.
I would not drink it hot. Most people drink kombucha for it's live bacteria/yeasts. Heating will kill them. Slightly warm on a cold morning is yum though.
Also do not store the culture in the fridge. It is best at room temperature in its own tea.
Air flow is important too. A tight lid on your fermenting vessel would block this A tightly woven cloth or paper towel over the top of the jar held with a rubber band is recommended.

I've been brewing kombucha for over a year and these recommendations come from my experience and a lot of reading that I've done. Kombucha is an acquired taste and becomes addicting. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

thats the most disgusting thing ive ever seen next to the pu erh spongebaths space samurai used to pay me to give him...

Being convinced that a hunk of bacteria from the bottom of the amazon is worth more than gold -
$800

Taking 5 hours to Explain to homeland security it's health benefits -
Priceless

Watching your child brew bacteria using a nine-step, week-long process -
Priceless

Buying a new cooking pot - $30

Recently a coworker found a bottle of Gatorade with broken seal. The contents looked quite similar to your pictures. Except they were Fruit Punch.

EWWW! I never want to hear that Gatorade story again! Ever!

But yeah, this looks a lot like kombucha. The Wall Street Journal was obsessed with it a few weeks back. (And by obsessed I mean published an article or two.) It is vile, but intriguing enough that I might write something on it.

I sell the hell out of kombucha in my store, which is proof people will drink anything to "be healthy." We ran out once, and I feared for my life until I could get some back in. Its crazy.

The taste could be worse. Imagaine if you combinded almost equal portions of vinegar and club soda.

oh... my... *BLEEECCHHHHHHH*