I will admit to being sceptical of kombucha and kombucha brewers previously. I don’t know what changed my mind, but one day I decided to try some at a cafe, and it wasn’t all bad. The next time I saw a bottle at the shops, I bought one home, and thought it was actually rather delicious. I bought another bottle, and then a two-for-one deal, and then thought about doing it myself. Husband was not impressed, but I knew I would win him over, just like I did for ditching shampoo. So the next time I bought a bottle, I saved part of it and put it in a jar with some sweetened tea, and covered it, and waited. And waited. And waited. Then I moved it to the pantry for better air flow, even though the temperature is probably lower in there. The high cupboard above the oven where it was before, still smells a little extra vinegar-y.
Then I kept waiting, then peeking under the cheesecloth, and worrying about the gnarly white plops on top of the big plop, and then I worried less because the big plop became the mother and got thicker. I’ve been wondering for a week or so, when to add more tea, and decided to do it today, so she can drink it up over the next few weeks. Maybe I can have my first drink during spring break. I could mix it up with dandelion greens from the lawn, and Husband would really roll his eyes.
But how to transfer the scoby?

Would it be damaged from being poured into a new jar? I searched online and found a video of a woman picking the bloody thing out of the jar – ewww – and putting in the new jar. I don’t think so. I did eventually just gently pour it into the bigger jar with the tea and more of the bottled stuff,  just to be on the safe side. I bought a bottle but the flavour was awful, but I didn’t want to waste it, so I’m assuming the mother will eat that shit up, too. So now the cheesecloth is back on and back into the pantry it went. Hopefully I will remember to check out the scobyaroo when we come back from our little vacation, and the juicy juice might be fizzy and ready for flavouring. But not with cranberry.