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My first batch of kombucha got moldy last Tuesday
I had it going for about 8 days in a big glass jar on the counter. The SCOBY looked fine, but I saw a fuzzy blue spot on the surface when I checked it. I was so bummed. I poured the whole thing out, cleaned the jar with hot soapy water, and started over with a fresh starter from a friend. Has anyone else had mold show up that fast, and what do you think causes it?
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leem343d ago
Read somewhere that mold that fast usually means the starter liquid wasn't acidic enough to protect it.
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the_sam3d ago
That tracks with what I saw on a kombucha forum last week. The pH needs to be under 4.5 from the start, or you're basically just leaving sweet tea out. A lot of recipes skip the vinegar step, which is a huge risk. If your starter isn't strong enough, mold shows up in days.
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