I'm attempting to brew kombucha for the very first time after watching a couple videos on Youtube. I got a SCOBY plus half a cup of starter tea from a neighbor and put it into a jar with tea made from 12 cups water, 9 tea bags, and 1 1/8 cups white sugar. I got some pH test strips about 10 days into the fermentation and it read about 4.5 to 5 in my estimation. Now at day 18, it is still around 4.5. Isn't this too high? Is 4.5 pH low enough that I don't need to worry about bad things growing in it? Is the lack of change an indication that fermentation has stalled?
On the other hand, the pellicle seems to be growing nicely; it has formed a thick new mat with a uniform color on the top. It tastes and smells like kombucha, but only mildly so. It is also sweeter than I would have expected. Am I doing something wrong? Did I have too little starter tea for 12 cups of tea? How long can I safely let the first fermentation go on for?
One additional detail: where I live, the temperatures have been fluctuating quite a bit, but I would say it has generally been in the 68-75F range in the house.
Thanks!
On the other hand, the pellicle seems to be growing nicely; it has formed a thick new mat with a uniform color on the top. It tastes and smells like kombucha, but only mildly so. It is also sweeter than I would have expected. Am I doing something wrong? Did I have too little starter tea for 12 cups of tea? How long can I safely let the first fermentation go on for?
One additional detail: where I live, the temperatures have been fluctuating quite a bit, but I would say it has generally been in the 68-75F range in the house.
Thanks!