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Kombucha rarely gets moldy, but if it does, something has gone wrong. Perhaps the sanitation, the rules of care, the infection was brought in by insects, or just dirty air inside the room. In any case, you need to find the cause and eliminate it.
Why does kombucha grow moldy in a jar
A sign of kombucha's health is the jellyfish floating on the surface of the liquid inside the jar. If the mushroom gets sick or begins to disappear, it sinks to the bottom, but not always immediately. Mold may appear at first. It grows on the surface of the medusomycete, which, while still floating, is in contact with air. There are many reasons for the onset of the disease, but most often this is due to dirty air with cigarette smoke or cooling of the drink below the permissible temperature 18 aboutFROM.
The appearance of mold on the surface of the drink indicates the spoilage of the tea jellyfish
When the kombucha grows moldy, you can do it with resuscitation. The area with mold is removed, the jellyfish is washed with warm water, and kept in apple cider vinegar overnight. In the morning, the jellyfish is placed in a sterilized jar, filled with prepared tea syrup with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. vinegar.
What kind of mold appears in a jar of kombucha
Mold is insidious, it can even be dangerous to health. White bloom is considered the safest. However, more often than not, when tea jellyfish disappears, two types of mold settle on it:
- Green bloom sometimes takes on shades of blue. A dangerous type of mold is called "penicillum notatum".
- Plaque black is formed by no less dangerous fungi "aspergillus niger".
If black or green mold with blue tints has formed on the kombucha, it is better to discard it and grow a new jellyfish.
Why is the appearance of mold on kombucha dangerous?
Moldy fungi survive in the worst conditions. You can't just get rid of them. It is not reasonable to revive the tea jellyfish, on which formations of blue, green or black flowers have appeared. It is not a fact that after rinsing the kombucha in a new can, the jellyfish will grow mold-free. Fungal spores are difficult to remove, and the remaining ones multiply quickly.
However, if the kombucha has become moldy when grown with a white bloom, it is worth saving. You can try to revive kombucha affected by green or black mold, but at the initial stage, when the first signs appeared.
Checklist of reasons why kombucha grows moldy
The main reason for the appearance of mold is not adherence to the technology of growing tea jellyfish. If we consider each nuance separately, then there are quite a few of them.
Mold first appears on the surface of the drink in small circles, and then grows over the entire mirror of the liquid
Violation of sanitary rules
Often the main reason why kombucha grows moldy is unsanitary conditions. The drink should not be placed near dirty dishes, vegetables, fruits, open preservation, in places of contact with pets. When pouring a drink or serving a tea jellyfish, keep your hands clean. The table, jar, cutlery are washed with hot water.
Violation of the rules of care
It is optimal to take care of the medusomycete with medical rubber gloves. Only they are able to provide sanitary cleanliness. This is especially true for women with long manicure. Many pathogenic bacteria collect under the nails, which lead to the appearance of mold. In the absence of a long manicure, gloves can be dispensed with, but hands should be washed with antibacterial soap. Even short-cut nails are cleaned with a brush.
Violation of cooking rules
A kombucha drink is prepared according to a simple recipe. If you do not follow it, green or black mold will grow inside the jar instead of kombucha. When buying tea for refueling, you must not take old expired products, goods in damaged or dirty packages. Spores of moldy fungi will certainly be present inside. It is important to use clean cutlery when preparing your drink.
Contaminated air
Mold always grows in a favorable environment: humid and polluted air, temperatures below + 18 aboutC. If such an atmosphere is observed in the room, the mushroom will necessarily grow moldy. No smoking inside the tea jellyfish room. When the room is damp, mold stains are present on the walls, the neck of the jar must be covered with a cloth, several layers of gauze or a napkin. It is important to wash the fabric cover more often, as mold spores accumulate on its surface.
Poor brewing
Tea jellyfish is susceptible to poor-quality brewing. You cannot use old teas, especially those flavored with different essences. Scented oils contribute to the formation of mold by weakening the kombucha's immune system. In addition, these teas also contain a dye that has a negative effect on the mushroom.
Unwanted neighbors
Kombucha does not like close proximity to animals, birds, aquariums, food and utensils of pets. You cannot put flowers near the jar with tea jellyfish, both cut bouquets and cultures growing in a flower pot.
What to do if mold appears on kombucha
Kombuchevodov have come up with several ways to save a fungus from mold:
- If mold appears on the surface of the kombucha, the entire drink from the can is poured into the sewer. The jellyfish is removed from the container, thoroughly wiped with freshly squeezed lemon juice or 10% wine vinegar. Kombucha is placed in a sterilized jar, poured with fresh tea dressing, add 1-2 tbsp. l. vinegar.
- When the body of the fungus was struck by green or black mold, blue, red, purple spots appeared, these areas are removed from the jellyfish. Kombucha is washed thoroughly with clean water. All loose areas of the body are removed in the same way during flushing. The rest of the healthy mushroom is placed in a sterilized jar, filled with tea leaves.
- When the kombucha has become moldy, apple cider vinegar can be used to resuscitate it. Traditionally, the jellyfish is first washed with clean water. The damaged areas are removed. The mushroom is placed in a bowl of pure apple cider vinegar, rinsed thoroughly, and the acid is rubbed over the body of the kombucha with your hands. The reanimated tea jellyfish is sent to a sterilized jar, filled with new tea leaves.
Healthy tea jellyfish always floats on the surface
When the degree of mold infestation is large, resuscitation of the fungus should not be done. Better to grow a new kombucha.
Can I drink a drink if mold appears on the surface of the kombucha
Mold fungi are insidious and dangerous. It is categorically impossible to drink a moldy drink. At best, you can get off with a gastrointestinal upset. In the worst case, allergic reactions, complex forms of diseases of the digestive system will appear. At the first manifestations of mold, the entire drink must be poured down the drain.
The appearance of a moldy film indicates the unsuitability of the drink
Sometimes the surface of the mushroom is covered with a faint bloom of white. It is often confused with mold. In fact, the problem manifests itself with frequent flushing of the jellyfish. In summer, the procedure should be carried out once a week, and in winter - once every two weeks.
Prevention measures
Kombuchevodists adhere to seven basic rules to prevent jellyfish disease:
- The mushroom needs a constant favorable microclimate. Jellyfish are kept in a liquid with a temperature of 18 to 25 aboutC. Do not pour hot filling into the jar. The neck is always tied with a breathable fabric.
- The place in the canning room is chosen warm, away from the window, dirty dishes, plants and pets. Direct sunlight is inadmissible.
- The room temperature should not fall below 17 aboutC. Under these conditions, the fungus does not grow.
- Maintaining sanitation is a surefire way to success. You cannot serve tea jellyfish with dirty hands. Warm boiled water is used for washing.
- It is unacceptable to pour undissolved sugar into the jar. The grains form burns on the body of the kombucha.
- Always leave a glass of sourdough liquid from the drained drink. It is poured into a new gas station.
- The fermentation process must not be increased. The finished drink must be drained in a timely manner.
All seven rules are simple. It is easier to follow them than to reanimate the mushroom later.
Compliance with preventive measures will prevent mold from a tasty and healthy drink
From the video you can learn about growing kombuchi:
Conclusion
Kombucha becomes moldy more often due to the fault of the owners themselves. If you follow the technology of growing kombucha, troubles can be avoided.
