How to Grow Your Own Kombucha SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast)

A SCOBY is used in the process of brewing Kombucha (fermented tea) and is super simple to DIY using store bought tea instead of buying a live or dehydrated one.

Materials:

  • GT’s Organic and Raw Kombucha (has to be organic and raw)
  • Glass Jar
  • Breathable Material (coffee/tea filter, old t-shirt, cheesecloth, fabric napkin, etc.)  
  • Rubber Band or Jar Ring

Step 1:

Make sure the glass jar is clean and dry before beginning this process.

Step 2:

Pour the Kombucha tea into the jar.

Step 3:

Cover the jar opening with your breathable material. I cut up an old t-shirt to use for mine.

Step 4:

Secure the material in place with a rubber band or the ring on your jar.

  

Step 5:

Place the tea in a dark, but warm place. I put mine in a cabinet in my kitchen that I rarely use, so it would not be disturbed. NOTE: I first put my SCOBY jar in my pantry, (corner pantry with an exterior wall), but I think it was too cold. After about a week and not much action, I moved it to my cabinet where it did much better!

Step 6:

Leave the tea in the jar for 2-4 weeks until your SCOBY starts to grow and get bigger.

Two Weeks (1 week being in a warmer location)

Three Weeks

Four Weeks (SCOBY fell to the bottom of the jar and a new SCOBY started forming on top)

Step 7:

Once the SCOBY is grown and ready, brew some Kombucha tea and add the SCOBY to the jar to help with the fermentation process. NOTE: Do not remove the SCOBY from the jar until you’re ready to add it to your Kombucha and make sure your hands are clean before you handle the SCOBY. 

   

Step 8:

Return the remaining tea to the jar, secure the top with the material and rubber band (or jar ring) and continue to let it create another SCOBY. The more SCOBY you have, the more Kombucha batches you can have brewing at a single time!

 

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