Thursday TeaDay 6/17/09 THE fringe of fringe tea, Kombucha?

[leiche]

Do. Not. Want.

I'd probably enjoy watching the scoby grow, but that's pretty much it. It reminds me of a lava lamp.

I think I need some medium-fire TGY now.

[coloradopu]

murrius



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From the picture I can see that Kombucha is obviously alive and sentient and inappropriate for vegans to consume. I believe the one in the photo is trying to communicate with us. Sure, it looks like something you might find forgotten at the back of your fridge, but she/he has rights too.

SAVE THE KOMBUCHA!

i guess I'm not a vegan because i was wondering if you can eat it. also the guys at ku cha in boulder have had this stuff but it died and they are looking for a new culture so if you got one and want to spreed the love PM me.
i wonder if it would scream like crayfish when it hits the hot stuff?
or i would scream when it hist me?

never tried it but am waiting too.

got some dong ding from ku cha and roasted it in my home made roaster then made iced tea.

[Drax]

See the Wiki-How page, http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kombucha-Tea, for instructions on how to prepare and maintain SCOBY. You can also buy the starter culture ingredients - run a google search using the key term phrase "organic kombucha starter". Lots of commercial sources available.

Try this link instead, without the comma, so you actually get to the intended page.

But be warned... even grosser pictures! If you've never seen a scoby or 'mother' before... (the one Chip posted is tame compared to the wiki page)

I just might have to finally break out the kombucha and give it a go...

[Intuit]

This microbial consortia ain't got no gray matter (brains). It won't make a peep if you consume it, but you'd be better off drinking the healthful metabolic byproducts, not eating the 'mother', because you need it for starter culture for future batches.

Consider this outlandish 'tea' a SuperFood.

Anxi Oolong Select in my cup. No bad.

Edit: Not only does the local tiny health food store have kombucha tea, it carries both the bottled and tea bag varieties in numerous flavors AND a starter culture kit.

Holy Moly!

Thanks for raising awareness of this fermented tea, Chip!

[Riene]

I didn't vote--I need an option that says "never heard of the stuff"

What is it?

Option 3 "Never heard of it, and I am tempted"
Option 4 "Never heard of it and will not enter the same room as Kombucha"

Someone posted before their tea kicked in maybe? As far as "what is it?" please see my original post for info and links.

Sorry, Chip, didn't realize those were links! I meant I just needed a "never heard of it" option, because at that point I was neither tempted nor horrified--just didn't know was it was.

But now that I've read it....ewwwwww. Am voting for option 4.

[Chester Copperpot]

This reminds me of that Kopi Luwak coffee (coffee beans that have been pooped out by a mongoose-like animal, cleaned and then made into really expensive coffee! Sounds good to me!). Ewwwwww.

[daughteroftheKing]

Uhh, no, I just don't think I could do it.
Every day I drink 1 or 2 Apple Cider Vinegar "cocktails" (ACV, cold water, and stevia) as well as a tablespoon of Coconut Oil in a cup of hot tea. But that fungal sponge is way too weird even for me.

The weekly T@3 Group really liked Wild Kwan Yin (Sparrow Tongue Yellow) tea with Rosebuds this afternoon.
My only other tea today was a nice floral Chinese green (Treasures of Spring) this morning.

[spot52]

There are a lot of things that I enjoy that sound gross in production. Moldy cheese is at the top, bacterial growth on my cheese? EWWW. The yeast involved in making beer/ale. EWWW. Yogurt with its live bacteria...I think I heard it scream once as it slid down my throat.

The first time I tried kombucha was on the street during a gallery night downtown. This guy was handing out samples outside of a gallery. He said it was fermented tea. Being a tea drinker I was down. The kind I tried smelled like it had alcohol in it and it tasted slightly like champaign. I loved it enough to find a store where he sold his concoction and then proceeded to buy some.

I would recommend giving this drink a try. It may sound gross, but a lot of things do when you know the entire process. However, it may speak to ya!

Here is an easier picture to look at:

[Intuit]

Good call, Spot! I'm going to look for the bottled version at the local health food shop.

I haven't tried it, but it's on my list of things to start growing.

[brad4419]

Thanks for the topic Chip I hadn't even heard of Kombucha but now its on my teas to try list. Things that look nasty but are edible and healthy are so much fun to eat/drink.

Long Jing in my cup today

[iannon]

i voted hellno...but i have had it..and my wife and daughter drink the synergy versions of the stuff..i dont unless im forced to..

[Chip]

Sorry, Chip, didn't realize those were links! I meant I just needed a "never heard of it" option, because at that point I was neither tempted nor horrified--just didn't know was it was.

But now that I've read it....ewwwwww. Am voting for option 4.

No problem. So, is this jar tightly sealed while fermenting (I don't wanna think of any of this stuff escaping. And who is holding some scoby?

Continuing the TD with Kunpu from Den's with DW, this shincha limited edition asamushi is great every time. It is not cheap, and is not available again til next year, but is sure is good shincha.

[woozl]

I heard it makes you see colours!!

[Chip]

No, that would be "KodaChrome"

They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah ...

Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away
Mama don't take my Kodachrome away

[Intuit]

And I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love (Kom)bu(cha)
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow