kombucha?

[Alucard]

GT's Kombucha is great, I would probably be addicted except $3.50 per bottle it can add up. As others have said is does taste a little like carbonated vinegar but has never tasted too sweet. I think there is little to none in GT's and they offer several flavors. Think i am going to stop by wholefoods tonight and get one or two.

[tenuki]

My colleague used Wuyi in one of her batches and she is claiming she will never go back to any other tea!

I've drunk locally made kombucha for several years and just gave a go at trying my own. My first batch (which I just decanted and sampled a few minutes ago) I used wuyi (big red robe) and I would have to agree - the taste is far superior to any kombucha I've ever had, wow. WuYi kombucha FTW!

[Ironica]

I've not thought of making my own kombucha from my teas.... interesting thought!

I do buy and drink it occasionally but find I've had my fill after about half a bottle or so.

[iannon]

i just tried growing a mother scoby from the stuff in the bottom of a bottle of gt's..it grew! now i have to split it and brew it ..i...think...

[joelbct]

Ah that's funny I was just posting a new Kombucha thread when i noticed the old one...

Back drinking it again, but $4 a bottle is getting expensive...

Here's a couple how-to's

http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/kombucha

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kombucha-Tea

[silverneedles]

i just tried one of those bottled ones at WF
2 sips
vomit inducing
health benefits shoot me first.

[geeber1]

The last paragaph of this article caught my eye. As healthy as Kombucha might be, if you have immune system deficiencies, please drink it with caution!

http://www.prevention.com/health/nutrit ... 0012281eac____

[aya_s]

Why is it called kombucha? I thought kombucha was powdered kelp tea. I drink ume kombucha, but it comes in a packet and is mixed with water. Didn't think it actually had camellia sinensis in it anywhere.

[TwoPynts]

Why is it called kombucha? I thought kombucha was powdered kelp tea. I drink ume kombucha, but it comes in a packet and is mixed with water. Didn't think it actually had camellia sinensis in it anywhere.

The camellia sinensis is in the starter tea. The type of tea and the strength of the brew is what give every batch of Kombucha it's unique flavor. aya_s, I think you were confusing it with Japanese Konbu Cha tea.

There is a slight vinegar taste to most Kombuchas, but it should only really be pronounced if the batch is overfermented. I love the stuff and swear by it's healthful benefits. It took me a bottle or two, but after that I was hooked. GT's is the best over the counter natural version, but is so VERY pricey. It is better to brew your own. Carpe Diem makes a good one too, though it probably isn't as natural and has more sugar. The sugar that goes into gets converted during the fermentation process, so if brewed properly, it should contain very little in the final product.

[iannon]

once you have the mothers growing they are hard to kill! they keep growing and growing and growing...

[TwoPynts]

once you have the mothers growing they are hard to kill! they keep growing and growing and growing...

Yes, good to share with friends, or sell even.
Just don't let them get contaminated -- I know an odd thing to say about a colony of bacteria.

[AdamMY]

Yes, good to share with friends, or sell even.

I'm wondering if that might soon become illegal to do by yourself, as a lot of Kombucha has been getting pulled from store shelfs because of the possibility it could have higher Alcohol content than legally required for it to be considered non-alcoholic (a lot of soda's are actually slightly alcoholic but they are under the .5% ABV so they can be sold to anyone).

So I'm curious if selling your own Kombucha tea, or possibly your scoby, might eventually land you in trouble with the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Tobacco.

Thing to watch out for in the future for those of you that drink Kombucha.

[TwoPynts]

If things keep going the way they are going in the USA, then it wouldn't surprise me. But I've not noticed any issues locally and believe me, I have bigger day-to-day worries than the ATF busting down my door for Kombucha peddling.

[Alucard]

They were pulled a month ago and still not back yet. I need my fix!

[iannon]

Take my Scoby PLEASE!