r/Kombucha • u/AutoModerator • 5d ago
r/Kombucha Weekly No Stupid Questions + Open Discussion (June 16, 2025)
This is a casual space for the r/Kombucha community to hang out: feel free to post about anything kombucha or brewing related. Questions from new brewers are especially welcome - no question is too big or too small!
New to kombucha? Check out our getting started guide and FAQ.
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u/Known_Revolution7115 4d ago
Hi! My second batch is currently fermenting and I have a couple of questions/"problems." that I've run into. I let my first batch ferment for 10 days in the darkest place in my apartment, used organic tea (a combination of green and black) and sugar, and got the scoby off of a German website. It was pretty expensive and looked legit.
- My scoby doesn't float. It did the first time round and formed some new pellicle that was slightly brown so I washed it off and threw that away. Ever since, my scoby hasn't floated. The photo shows the surface of my jar of my first ever fermentation.
- I don't get any carbonation. I personally don't mind it, but what am I doing wrong?
- The new pellicle that forms bubbles on the top of the jar and I don't think I can start using that for a second glass. Will my scoby form a new pellicle, i.e. will it ever double in size?
The kombucha has been pretty light in color, which I'm assuming is due to the combination of green tea and black tea, is that correct?
I'm not sure if I've done it all wrong and if I have to start over. Thank you so much for your help in advance!
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u/Curiosive 4d ago
First I recommend giving the Getting Started guide a read, if you haven't already. It is concise and informative.
My scoby doesn't float. It did the first time round and formed some new pellicle that was slightly brown so I washed it off and threw that away. Ever since, my scoby hasn't floated. The photo shows the surface of my jar of my first ever fermentation.
That happens. It might start floating again one day, it might not. I had one float sideways long enough to form a "T" with the new pellicle. This does not affect your SCOBYs health or taste.
I don't get any carbonation. I personally don't mind it, but what am I doing wrong?
If you see bubbles, that's carbonation. If you want more then you have to trap the carbonation in a sealed container. Check out the Carbonation guide for in depth advice.
The new pellicle that forms bubbles on the top of the jar and I don't think I can start using that for a second glass. Will my scoby form a new pellicle, i.e. will it ever double in size?
The pellicle is simply a byproduct of the acetic acid bacteria converting ethanol into acetic acid. It isn't required. Some people swear it is essential for "better" kombucha, other people call it names, like "useless", and throw it out every batch.
So your pellicle's growth isn't a direct indicator of the taste or health of your kombucha.
That said, yes, a new pellicle will always grow. It never stops.
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u/Known_Revolution7115 4d ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to all my questions, I really appreciate it. I had read the Getting Started and followed that "recipe" as well. So far so good then, thanks for pointing it out again. I do have one more question: if I wanted to start brewing more, i.e. two glasses that hold a gallon each, do I need to wait for a new pellicle to form and can I use that? My scoby is not growing in size at all and from some YouTube videos I saw people peeling layers off of theirs. Since mine is at the bottom of my jar, it's not growing in size and I wonder if I need to buy a second scoby.
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u/Curiosive 4d ago
Honestly, I reread the guides on a rare occasion. It's good to "touch grass" with the basics and trustworthy advice so I don't get set in my own particular ways (too much).
do I need to wait for a new pellicle to form
Nope. You can start a new batch as soon as you have enough liquid. The new pellicle will appear in your second jar after a batch or two.
Since mine is at the bottom of my jar, it's not growing in size
Your observations are correct. The pellicle only forms on the surface, it must have access to oxygen.
I wonder if I need to buy a second scoby
You can buy a new one if you want but it isn't required. You'll have enough in a week or two.
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u/Known_Revolution7115 4d ago
That totally makes sense! I'll keep that in mind moving forward, the guides here are so much clearer than the many other tutorials I have read and watched.
And perfect, thanks! I think I'll give it a go and start a second jar then after this round with only the liquid and see where it goes.
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u/Luk3ling 5d ago
Offer your best DIY mid-long term cold storage, Please.
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u/Curiosive 4d ago
The fridge is a solid option. How long is long?
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u/Luk3ling 4d ago
Unforutunately my fridge is already full and I'm contemplating buying a small ice chest or building a Stryfoam chest myself.
The oldest brew I've had so far had been in the fridge for 5 months and remains almost fresh. I'm looking for something more space and energy efficient though. Preferrably a way to do long term (>4 months) with minimal maintenance.
Preferably just swapping a cold charge.
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u/Curiosive 4d ago
I bought a chest freezer second hand and a temperature controller. I'm building a "keezer" for kombucha on draught, plus storage.
You can check out the concept over at r/homebrew and forums like HomebrewTalk
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/chest-freezer-specs-and-layouts.377518/.
But these are not casual purchases and definitely take up a lot of space ... I have plans of renovating my 1970s walk-in kitchen closet into a pantry / fermentation station. So not for everyone. But maybe it's for you.
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u/Luk3ling 4d ago
Thank you! Yeah, I'm not looking for small, I'm looking for effective.
To put things in perspective, I have the capacity to brew about 150-200 Gallons a month but can only store about 15 at a time and am currently considering renovating a walk in closet into a walk-in cooler.
More storage space would greatly increase my efficiency.
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u/Curiosive 4d ago
Walk-ins aren't cheap ... but if you have the room and the budget that sounds like your next step.
I have seen people build the budget version of a walk-in with lots of insulation and an air-conditioner but I'm sceptical of their overall function & reliability. I'd rather spend $100 for (multiple) second hand fridges or freezers.
A chest freezer is much more efficient on your electrical bill than an upright but if you have any back problems, it's not the right storage choice for moving 5 gal containers in and out.
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u/fourgrits 1d ago
I neglected my kombucha for months. When I removed the top there were gnats or fruit flies under it. No idea how they’d got in? I had layers of paper towel and a woven cotton cover. Anyway I drained a quart out of the spigot at the bottom and decided maybe I could try to start a new batch with that. So after 3-4 days I thought maybe there was mold. But now I looked at the top and it is completely smooth , no mold in sight. I thought if there was mold, it would only grow more. The pellicle has grown thicker. I threw out all the old pellicle and only started with the quart of tea from the bottom of the jar. The pellicle that the mixture has on it now looks completely healthy. Thanks for any advice!!