If you’re new to brewing kombucha, you might assume that the jelly-like layer floating on top — known as the pellicle — is the SCOBY. In fact, the SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) refers to the living starter culture that transforms sweet tea into tangy, fermented kombucha.
Matt, our Head Brewer, is here to give you a rundown on what the SCOBY really is, and help you to make better kombucha at home.
Watch: Head Brewer Matt's guide to the SCOBY
SCOBY vs pellicle
The cellulose discs that float on top, called pellicles, aren’t actually what ferments your kombucha.
What ferments kombucha is in the liquid itself.
We love pellicles and think they're beautiful to look at, but they’re just by-products of the fermentation. The bacteria produce them as they convert alcohols into acids.
What matters is the liquid. That’s what you want to make sure you’re using plenty of if you're brewing at home.
How to brew at home
Because our kombucha is unfiltered and alive, you can use a bottle of MOMO as your starter.
We recommend using around 20% starter liquid for your total brew. That helps remove any pathogens, keeps things nice and acidic from the start, and sets up a healthy fermentation.
If you're starting from a MOMO bottle, make a small first batch, and increase batch size as your culture grows.
Once you're up and running, it’s important to set aside some starter liquid — as well as your SCOBY — just in case something goes wrong. That way, you’ve always got a backup.
Do keep the cellulose discs as they’re full of good bacteria and yeast, but remember, the really important stuff is the liquid they sit in.
A continuous cycle
Fermentation is a continuous process – each batch feeds the next. That’s why it’s important to care for your starter culture.
At MOMO, the SCOBY we use today can trace its origins back to the one Josh and Lisa used when they first started brewing. It’s been carried forward and maintained ever since – a living connection to our beginnings.
When you drink raw, unfiltered kombucha, you get the full probiotic gut health benefits associated with fermented products. It's the only way to enjoy proper kombucha.
