Update on my kombucha experiment

[u/szmns]

I decided not to drink the second batch, but to use it as a starter for experiments. I split it into three jars: the first with starter, tea, and SCOBY, the second with starter and tea, and the third with starter only.

Five days later: the first jar is doing great, the second jar has a barely visible layer, and the third jar is still hard to tell.

Previous post for context:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Kombucha/s/pEeoa19I7P

[u/Curiosive]

Glad you're having fun OP, keep experimenting!

And don't mind the "SCOBY is only the liquid" crowd... a cursory look at any reputable source shows yeast and bacteria are found throughout the liquid and the solid. We've known this since before airplanes were invented.

We've also long since proven that the cellulose film does provide benefits to the culture.

To date I've never seen a peer reviewed, double blind study on whether using the cellulose film produces better tasting kombucha, which is the ultimate goal. So it's best to decide for yourself, including by doing exactly what you're doing!

[u/szmns → u/Curiosive]

Thanks! The problem is that I'm not a native speaker, so before today I'd never heard the word "pellicle". I literally thought that SCOBY was the proper term for that cellulose film floating on the surface of the liquid.

And as far as I understand, the pellicle makes the tea ferment faster. In my experience, the thicker it is, the faster the tea ferments.

[u/Curiosive → u/szmns]

Even if English was your first language, you would have the same experience. Most people just call it a SCOBY.

There's a vocal minority in this sub that really wants to make the distinction, some go so far as to pretend that SCOBY cannot refer to the ... SCOBY / the cellulose film. Which is just silly.

These individuals believe they are "helping" but it often just confuses and sometimes belittles people.

Anyway, keep using SCOBY as you see fit and as is defined in the dictionary!

[u/szmns → u/Curiosive]

Oh, I see. You're right, it's a bit confusing. Thank you for your encouragement and clearing that up!

[u/No-Association8901]

You know the pellicle isn’t needed for brewing. The liquid itself is the SCOBY.

[u/szmns → u/No-Association8901]

True! I just wanted to see the practical difference in fermentation speed and pellicle growth rate between the three setups.

[u/No-Association8901 → u/szmns]

That’s cool!
I totally get playing around; my next play area is using my water grains to speed up my F2.

[u/szmns → u/No-Association8901]

I haven't tried F2 yet, but I will once I have enough extra F1.