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Jar with a ScOBY in it covered with cheesecloth next to two glasses of kombucha.

Home Grown SCOBY

40aprons.com/how-to-grow-your-own-kombucha-scoby/
Skip the $15 SCOBYS online, start your homemade kombucha journey by making your own SCOBY from a bottle of store-bought kombucha!
Prep 15 minutes

Equipment

  • 1-quart glass jar
  • Tightly woven cloth or coffee filter
  • Large rubber band big enough to cover the neck of the jar

Ingredients

  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 2 black tea bags (or 2 teaspoons loose black tea)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
  • ½ to 1 cup plain raw, unflavored kombucha (at room temperature)

Instructions

  • To make the sweet tea, bring the water to the boil. Steep the tea for about 10 minutes before removing the teabags. Stir in the sugar until completely dissolved before leaving to cool completely. This is important as hot tea can kill the live cultures!
  • Pour the cooled sweet tea into the clean jar you're going to grow your SCOBY in. Add the store-bought kombucha and gently swirl.
  • Cover the jar, and secure the cloth of coffee filter over the top with the rubber band. This will allow the air to flow while keeping insects and dust out!
  • Place the jar somewhere at room temperature where it won't be disturbed, away from direct sunlight. 75–80°F (24–27°C) is ideal! This is what to expect:
    Days 3–7: You'll see a cloudy film forming.
    Weeks 2–3: The film will thicken into a translucent SCOBY.
    Weeks 3–5: The SCOBY should grow to about ⅛–¼ inch thick, and will then be sturdy enough to brew with!
    The exact timing depends mostly on temperature. Cooler rooms can take 5–6 weeks.

Recipe Notes

Warning signs: The appearance of fuzzy green, blue, black or pink mold, or a rotten or cheesy smell are really bad signs and you should throw the SCOBY away, clean everything well, and start again.
For your first batch of kombucha: Follow these instructions!
Storage: Between batches of kombucha, store your SCOBY back in the jar you made it in, covered with finished, unflavored kombucha so that it is completely submerged. Cover the jar with the same breathable fabric or coffee filter, and store at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Change the kombucha for fresh every time you use the SCOBY, and if it grows any mold throw it away.
Spare SCOBYS: Each time you make a batch of kombucha, you'll grow baby SCOBYS which you can give out to friends!

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Net Carbs: 0g
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/how-to-grow-your-own-kombucha-scoby/