Hi y'all- I am going to try brewing my own kombucha soon and I have a question-it seems far more convenient to brew in a jar with a spigot so one could test and taste the tea without disturbing the mother, and then fill up smaller bottles easily with no funneling, spilling etc. I know some people use the sun tea jars for the "continuous brewing" method, but I'm not sure I need that much tea since it is mostly for my own use. I know to use only glass, but I have heard various things about the sun tea jars leaking, or leaching plastic into the kombucha, while others claim they are great. I don't want to spend too much either and they are only about $7 a pop online. Also, any advice on starting my own culture from just vinegar/store bought kombucha? I was supposed to get a mother from a friend but she left town and flaked out. Please let me know if you have any experience with brewing and any other advice about making kombucha! Thanks!
I brew my own kombucha. It is really easy. I would not use anything plastic. I'd be worried about the chemicals breaking down into the tea as it ferments. Don't place anything metal in it because it weakens/can kill the scoby. I bought a large glass cookie jar and cut a piece of fabric to put on top of it. Never put a lid on it because it needs to be able to breathe. I secure a piece of fabric with a rubber band. I tried growing my scoby from synergy kombucha, but it didn't work. I got a small slice of a scoby from a friend. Now I have 6 scobies. I would give you a scoby if you lived around here. I'm not sure how I could mail one.
