Comments on: Keeping Stored and Finished Kombucha Air-Tight

By: Grace

Grace — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:33:17 +0000

I use grolsh type bottles as well as maison jars “leak” (since you dont really seal them as its raw) … keeping them in this type of bottles assures that nothing “leaks” out even if refrigerated … in fact i have noticed that some at the end of my patch get even more fizziness and carbonation WHILE in refrigerator … i also add 1/4C of organic juice (apple – you can use whatever but apple seams like logical choice) and keep it out initially 2-3 days and than refrigerate … thus producing fizziness and than stopping/slowing it down in the fridge … works beautifully …

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:44:40 +0000

I’m seeing this article a little late but thought I’d comment on the issue you’re having getting your jars to seal and the possible explosion problem.
First, if these are normal mason jars, you can buy the rings and lids that are used for home canning. The lids (the small flat portion) can be replaced as needed with a new one with a new gummy rim so that you keep that seal tight.
Second, i’m a home brewer and so would recommend using beer bottles to store your K Tea in. You can get large bottles (or even use champagne bottles). An inexpensive capper will allow you to cap and seal these bottles very easily. Since these bottles are made to withstand high pressures of beer or champagne, they will have no problem at all withstanding a little pressure from the K Tea…

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:00:54 +0000

Amy, thanks for asking – two reasons. 1) Just as you said, too much to keep in the fridge, and 2) It goes “flat” in the fridge, no natural carbonation. How exciting that you’re getting into K-Tea!

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:33:44 +0000

I’m just curious, why don’t you refrigerate the stored stuff without scoby you are keeping? It slows the fermentation way down so it won’t go sour.

Maybe it is because you are doing such a quantity and it would take up too much space in the fridge ?

I read that last part where you advise people to put it in the fridge if they aren’t going to drink it but was just wondering why you didn’t, if there was a special reason… new to kombucha!

Thanks,

Amy

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:40:06 +0000

Lisa, I would be happy to share one of mine, if you live in the U.S. You would only need reimburse me for Priority Mail shipping of $4.95. Use the contact form to send me a message with your full name and address. I can't ship finished K-tea because it will leak all over. So you'll have to buy a bottle of that to use to start the recipe off.

By: Lisa Davis

Lisa Davis — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:52:02 +0000

Does anyone know where I can get a scoby? I drank K-Tea years ago and would love to get back into it. I’m also interested in trying your tea recipe sounds yummy! Thanks!
L.D.

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:30:27 +0000

Tiffany — No, I haven’t really shared the benefits. I’m so young to K-Tea brewing that other than sharing my recipe, I don’t feel too much of an expert. I’m a learner and a believer. If you search on google for “Kombucha Benefits” you will see 100s of benefits (mostly experiential).

The ones I believe: beneficial effects on the digestive system, (encouraging the growth of good bowel flora); it being an alkaline-producing food to balance acidity; stabilization of blood sugars (which we have experienced). I would love to mail you one of my scoby to get your own K-Tea going.

Mary — You’re a Kombucha evangelist! How interesting to hear that my recipe uses more tea bags than others, and that you think this gives a good flavor. I must credit my friend Jami, who got me going and told me how many tea bags to use. Have you tried Organic Jasmine Green Tea for your K-Tea? That makes the BEST K-Tea!

Everyone — I received an email from a friend yesterday. After reading this post, she wrote to sweetly remind me that I could have a potential explosion on my hands from all the built-up pressure in the bottles. She is right! However, since we drink the Kombucha in less than a week, I think I’m okay with the risk. I haven’t had any explosions yet! And I do think my jars are not completely airtight.

So… please don’t follow my advice for storing the K-Tea in airtight jars if you’re not planning to drink the Kombucha right away. If you know you’re not going to be drinking it soon, the safest place to store it is the refrigerator, as this will stop the scoby’s growth altogether — and prevent explosions from built-up pressure!

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:04:34 +0000

We are still enjoying our kombucha. I keep 4 gallons going – rotating in 2s. I’ve shared with several people your “grandbaby” scobies. I gave some recently to a friend who had her own and thought she had killed them. I gave her a quart of finished tea and several fat scobies. She drank some of the finished tea and called to tell me it was excellent – better than her own. I gave you all the credit. I think the difference may be using the ORGANIC tea bags. Your recipe also uses more tea bags than some I’ve seen on the internet and that may be a factor too. Anywho – your kombucha tea recipe ROCKS! The health food store here has a newsletter and it had a really good article about kombucha.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:38:55 +0000

Wardeh,
Hi, I was just wondering what the benefits are of drinking kombucha? Maybe you have posted that before?
Thanks,
Tiffany