PSA: I keep my kombucha mother on the windowsill year-round

Everyone says it needs a cool, dark place, but mine gets direct sun and it's fine. Last summer it grew so big it looked like a jellyfish and my cat tried to eat it, but the batch was still totally drinkable.

2 comments

2 Comments

bethl955d ago

Sunlight on the SCOBY might be doing more than we think. UV light could be killing off bad germs on the surface, helping keep mold away. But doesn't the heat make the ferment go too fast? That might turn your kombucha into vinegar quicker. Your cat going after it is a whole other issue, like what if pet stuff gets in there? Maybe the light just makes the mother grow crazy big, like you saw. But hey, if it's still drinkable, why fix what isn't broken?

the_seth5d ago

Honestly, the UV light killing germs is one thing, but sunlight might break down the tea itself. It can change the parts that give tea its flavor, making the kombucha taste bitter or flat. I once left a batch in the sun and it lost all its bubbles, just got sweet and dull. That could throw off the acid balance that makes kombucha tangy. So even if it's drinkable, the taste might be messed up in subtle ways.