My neighbor's weird kombucha method actually makes sense now

I always thought you had to keep kombucha brewing in a dark cabinet for the full 7 days. My neighbor in apartment 3B brews hers on the kitchen counter with a towel over it, and after 3 batches I finally asked her why. She said the little bit of indirect light from her window helps her SCOBY grow stronger, and her brew is ready in just 5 days. I tried it with my last batch and the flavor was way more consistent. Has anyone else moved away from the total darkness rule?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix19819d ago

Oh wow, that tracks. I kept mine in a closet forever and it was always hit or miss. Started putting it on a shelf that gets some morning light, not direct sun, and it's way more reliable now. The SCOBY looks healthier too, like thicker and cream colored. Total darkness isn't the rule, it's more about keeping it out of harsh direct light.

lindamartin19d agoTop Commenter

Wait, so we've been treating kombucha like vampires this whole time? My first batch got weird in a dark cabinet, but moving it to the counter away from the window fixed everything. It's like they need a little ambient light to know what they're doing. Total darkness just makes them lazy or something.

karen_perry3813d ago

Yeah, moving mine from a dark pantry to the counter like phoenix198 said totally fixed my weak SCOBY problem.