What are you having for dinner? (wanna share your recipe?)

[somerandomguy]

Did I mention that making kombucha is super disgusting? That's one reason most people go out and buy it. The store-bought versions are VERY expensive and not nearly as healthy.

Most people who make kombucha are super happy to share their scobies, so ask around.

 

[ILoveLife]

And they're usually the family pet along side with the dog, the cat and the chickens.

Life in the country side, people killing their own meat and all that, just takes a while to get used to.

Actually, my friend's dad couldn't kill his favorite pig and the pig ended up living a long time just acting like a dog.

And back to China, have you seen pictures of the markets? It's as fascinating as it is disgusting, from insects to cats. I cried my eyeballs out purusing one.

 

[blackemerald1]

scobies,

What is a scobie - I think I am going to have to make my own bc I don't know anyone who is dedicated enough except for my sister and she lives about 13 hours by plane away so I don't think we can share...

@Sietz - I grew up on a huge station. (Ranch?)

We slaughtered our own animals for food.

We had no pets. They ate things so they were not allowed.

I really do think I would have a hard time eating something I had named too lol...

 

[ILoveLife]

Oh that's right, I forgot :) Apologies.

It took some time for me to get used to farm living, to be honest. I never really did, completely. I'm more of a city girl.

 

[somerandomguy]

What is a scobie - I think I am going to have to make my own bc I don't know anyone who is dedicated enough except for my sister and she lives about 13 hours by plane away so I don't think we can share...

Unfortunately you cannot make your own scoby. It's like a starter for sourdough bread - it only comes from previous versions of the same thing.

Scoby = Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast - it's also called a "mother" if you really want to be like a hippie. They can live unrefrigerated for awhile. We brought ours back from Long Island, which is a two-day drive the way we did it and it was fine. You can also look locally for someone willing to share theirs on on Craigslist or Nextdoor or other social media.

 

[blackemerald1]

Hey @Sietz - I am living in a town now so no more slaughtering for me lol.... No apology needed :)

you cannot make your own scoby.

it's also called a "mother"

^^Would the local bakery (which makes sourdough) be likely to have a bit of mother that I could buy? - yeah I know what that is now!! I must be a hippee lol.... But I am far too young - I protest...

 

[somerandomguy]

Would the local bakery (which makes sourdough) be likely to have a bit of mother that I could buy?

Only if you want to make sourdough! For bread, it's a starter; for kombucha, it's a scoby. They are two totally different things, even though they're both yeast and bacteria.

I'm serious, if you want to make kombucha, post to Craigslist "ISO scoby." You'll have 25 or 30 earth-mother types beating a path to your door. You might even make a friend that way.

 

[blackemerald1]

Yikes - mother earthies coming for me - hell no! I've got no bead's to barter. I looked up Craig's list - no dice... I will not be beaten, shall investigate further. Thanks for the inspiration random :)

 

[hithere]

It IS disgusting. But it's delicious :D

I want to try it, but does it HAVE to be made with sugar I wonder. I don't do sugar (usually)

 

[Friday]

@blackemerald1 ... Safer to just hit up the local brewery :sneaky: Brewers yeast & home brew supplies = all the cultures you need.

@hithere Yes. Otherwise it cannot ferment & all of your live cultures will die. Fermentation requires sugar.

 

[somerandomguy]

does it HAVE to be made with sugar I wonder

Afraid so, it's part of the fermentation process. You gotta give those bacteria something to eat!

 

[hithere]

Afraid so, it's part of the fermentation process. You gotta give those bacteria something to eat!

yeah, i figured. I will still try it--I have a friend who makes it -- the snot part doesn't bother me because I love raw oysters, well certain kinds. Now I worry about disease because of how dirty the waters are now