How to Store Your Kombucha SCOBY

Between batches of Brew and wondering how to store your SCOBY when she's not in use?

You have come to the right place, I'll tell you just how to do it so you have a beautiful, healthy SCOBY that can be used to brew delicious Kombucha over, and over, and over again.

The simplest way to store your SCOBY is to pop it into a new batch of Kombucha, but if you are taking a break between brews, you can store your SCOBY at room temperature, swimming in sweet tea for up to 6 weeks.

More than 1 SCOBY -- Build a SCOBY Hotel

Do not refrigerate, or dehydrate your SCOBY for storage

SCOBY HOTEL

What is a SCOBY?

SCOBY stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast

A SCOBY is made up of all the beneficial bacteria's you need to facilitate fermentation of the sugar and tea tannins into alcohol, acids, and carbon dioxide to create kombucha.

I have also heard SCOBY called a Kombucha Mushroom - which is kind of what it looks like!

You can Grow Your Own SCOBY (Article to do this coming SOON), or you can get one from a friend, or buy one from a local brewer!

You cannot brew Kombucha without a SCOBY - This is where the magic comes from

How to Store A SCOBY

Your SCOBY is a living creature; it needs to be fed and breath in order to live

When you regularly brew Kombucha, your SCOBY will be fed with each new batch of sweet tea. It will stay healthy and happy as long as it is being fed.

So what if you're going on vacation, or need a break between batches? All you have to do is set another batch of Kombucha to "Brew" Find Recipe Here --> Brew Your Own Kombucha. Your SCOBY can live in this batch for up to 6 weeks, which it will then need a refresh.

The Kombucha vinegar produced after 6 weeks of time will not be drinkable - you can simply remove 3/4 of the liquid and replace with sweet tea. The remaining liquid will act as your starter tea for the next batch - you can brew this batch or it will keep your SCOBY alive for another 6 weeks.

Keep the Kombucha vinegar !! You can use it for cleaning, or cooking, it makes EXCELLANT salad dressings

If you have more than 1 Kombucha SCOBY, you can build a SCOBY Hotel.

Overtime your Kombucha Batches will produce a thicker SCOBY, when you separate these layers off you can store them in your SCOBY hotel if you ever need a replacement SCOBY, an additional one to brew 2 batches at once - or you can gift one to a friend.

Building a Kombucha SCOBY hotel follows the same process as building a home, however it will need to be refreshed at about 4 weeks to keep your SCOBYS happy, more feeders needs more food!

To build your own SCOBY Home or Hotel you will need:

• Gallon Jar

• Cloth Jar Cover or Cloth with Elastic

• 1 Batch of Kombucha - Find Recipe Here --> Brew Your Own Kombucha

• SCOBY(S)

Instructions:

1) Prepare fresh batch of Kombucha per directions --> Here

2) Place SCOBY(S) into prepped batch, cover with jar cover, or a few layers of cotton fabric secured with an elastic

3) Store in a dark cupboard, or on the counter out of direct sunlight for up to 6 weeks for a single SCOBY home, and 4 weeks for a SCOBY Hotel

4) Refresh following the same process!

Notes:

** Your SCOBY Hotel will continue to produce new SCOBY overtime, When I refresh my Hotel I generally only keep the 2-3 that are at the top, thickest and newest. This ensures that the cultures stay active. If you accumulate too many SCOBY, the ones at the bottom of the hotel will be blocked from oxygen and eventually die off

** If there is ever mold on your SCOBY, throw it out, including the liquid it is in and start fresh. It is very important to sanitize jars and tools when fermenting anything

** I have seen people suggest refrigerating your SCOBY for long term storage, up to 6 months. I do not recommend this method as it can take weeks for your SCOBY to restore functioning coming out of the fridge, and often times it wont come back. If you are bowing out of the Kombucha game for an extended period of time, and cannot maintain feeding it, I suggest rehoming your SCOBY, or composting it and starting fresh when you're prepared to do so

As Always, Please let me know your thoughts, questions, and successes in the comments below

Happy Brewing,

With Love,

Katie

Mother Made is supported by our audience - when you make a purchase through the links in my articles I may earn some coffee money, this is at no additional cost to you. I promise to use the commissions to keep creating free content for you! :) These links are for products I use and LOVE, if I could not find the exact product I have linked something similar.