What is Reddit's opinion of The Kombucha Shop Kombucha Starter Kit - 1 Gallon Brewing Kit Includes All The Essentials Required for Brewing Kombucha At Home?

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The Kombucha Shop Kombucha Brewing Kit with 1 Gallon Glass Brew Jar, Kombucha SCOBY and Starter Pouch, Temperature Gauge, pH Strips, Loose Leaf Tea and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW7OR4A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VylKDbCSV34PS

I am on my 5th brew - this kit was awesome. I also have their heatpad because I like to keep my apartment an ice box!

The Kombucha Shop Kombucha Starter Kit - 1 Gallon Brewing Kit Includes All The Essentials Required for Brewing Kombucha At Home https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LW7OR4A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_KDTKWDVYNN1SZG8NY496?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

My first batch was started with The Kombucha Shop kit, that went fine and I didn't even use filtered water. I followed the directions provided in the kit. From there the second batch was also ok but I did notice that each time my scoby was not that thick as I was seeing in photos. After reading more I purchased Organic Sugar and tea. I wanted an affordable option for filtered water so I got this pitcher. I also bought two heat strips because the gallons were only being kept at 72. I also have ph strips to check how we're doing when I go to bottle.

As for my process here is what I did this last batch: - Clean gallons and other equipment with distilled white vinegar as well as keep my hands clean the entire process - Boil water (the last time I did this I think I may have only boiled 4-8 cups for a batch size of 2 gallons. Perhaps this is where I failed.) - Add 1-2 tbsp tea to steep for about 5 minutes - Add sugar and dissolve after steeping is done - Pour equal amounts of tea into the 2 gallon jars & top off with filtered water - Once the temp was cool enough (I believe I waited until it was low 80s I want to say) I added 2 scobys to each gallon jar with the starter liquid from this seller. - I put the heat strip around both jars rather than use 1 per jar. I was not sure how hot they would be. I can now use 1 per jar. - Covered top with the cloth provided when I ordered my gallon jars. The temp has been at 76 degrees F for 2 weeks. I keep the jars on a ledge that is between my kitchen and dining room. They do not get direct sunlight but there is a window in the dining room.

Thanks again!

I bought a kit initially just to get past any worry that I would miss something....it got me started anyways. If I would do it over I would just buy a gallon glass jar (wide mouth), some black tea, a starter scoby with liquid, some sugar, a flexy funnel (for bottling), and some flip top bottles. The kit added about 15 extra bucks to the cost if I had bought everything by itself. I also bought a few large glass pyrex jars for scoby hotels and/or to hold the scoby if I don't re-make a fresh batch that day. I also bought fresh cutting boards, saucepan and wooden spoons so I can keep that separate and really clean away from any other cooking I do. Kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LW7OR4A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Bottles: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011SGS8U8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For the cover I have been using a coffee filter with a rubber band and it's been working super.

I've had no issue with mold or worrisome stuff happening to my kombucha. Each time it works perfectly and forms a nice healthy pellicle/scoby for the next batch. I think a few things you can do to make sure it doesn't 'go bad' is to remember to get all liquids to room temperature before dumping it in, don't use metal on it, wash your hands well before touching, don't use antibacterial cleaning products near it, and clean utensils with white vinegar before using. That being said, it appears to be sort of hard to kill it so it's a pretty beginner-friendly hobby.

I'm guessing you got this? How do you like it?

That's the direction I'm leaning. This kit looks good:

https://www.amazon.com/Kombucha-Brewing-Organic-Scoby-Temperature/dp/B00LW7OR4A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8