What Is a SCOBY?
SCOBY stands for “symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast”. It is this slimy looking “jellyfish” that I agree looks gross but it makes the most wonderful fermented tea – kombucha. So you need it and I’m here to show you how to make kombucha SCOBY from scratch.
What Is Kombucha SCOBY Used For?
Kombucha mother is used for making kombucha. Once you grow a SCOBY, just follow my kombucha recipe and make your own kombucha at home 30 times cheaper than store-bought. You can also flavor kombucha which makes it just like a store bought plus more chances your kids will like it.
Kombucha Starter Ingredients
- Store bought Kombucha: You need to buy a bottle of plain (not flavored) GT’s original kombucha. Why GT’s? Because after “something happened in kombucha resale industry back in 2010” most store-bought kombuchas are too “clear” and “sterile”. You need to pick a bottle with brown and/or clear strands, and possibly even a mini baby “jelly fish” at the bottom of the bottle. Those brownish strands will become your SCOBY.
- Black Tea: To grow a SCOBY, you need to use black tea only! To brew further batches of kombucha, any caffeinated tea works. Cost and taste wise I recommend to buy loose leaf tea. It is much cheaper than tea bags plus I am not a fan of “the paper” taste. Of course, organic is better.
- Sugar: You need white sugar. Coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave etc. DO NOT work. I bought a 10 lb bag of organic cane sugar at Costco for $8. Nothing beats this price and if you are going to make kombucha on a regular basis, you gotta buy a huge bag. Now, do not freak out about sugar – we are just feeding the SCOBY to grow and at the end there will be barely any sugar left in your homemade kombucha.
- Water: I use tap water. I know many other sources recommend filtered water but boiled tap water has worked no problem for me so far.
FAQs About Kombucha Mother
Q: Where to buy GT’s kombucha?
A: Look in a refrigerator in the produce section or natural foods aisle at your local large chain store or health food store. US: Safeway, Fred Meyer, Kroger. Canada: Save on Foods, health food stores, the Real Canadian Superstore.
Q: I live in Germany and have not seen GT’s kombucha in stores. Can I use different brand?
A: Yes, as long as you see brown and/or clear strands and possibly even a mini baby “jelly fish” at the bottom of the bottle. Many kombuchas will be clear without anything at the bottom, like a bottle of water. Don’t pick that one, won’t work.
Q: Can I use plastic or metal container for making kombucha SCOBY?
A: No, gotta be glass.
Q: What is the best tea for making kombucha SCOBY?
A: Only black.
Q: Can I let sweetened tea cool overnight?
A: Yes. I just left mine covered with lid on the stove.
Q: Can I cut SCOBY?
A: Yes, SCOBY is easy to cut with a pair of clean kitchen scissors.
Q: Can I eat SCOBY?
A: Yes, technically. I have seen “candy” recipes and have heard some folks feeding SCOBY to their dog. Also a reader suggested to cut it into appropriate size and offer it to your chickens.:)
Q: What should be the shape and size of my SCOBY?
A: SCOBY will take the shape of the mouth of the jar and then grow in thickness.
Q: I have been trying to grow a SCOBY for a week now and there are no visible changes. What should I do?
A: Hard to say but more likely it is the temperature issue. Ideal SCOBY growing temperature should be at least 21C or 70F. DO NOT place kombucha in a corner pantry that is by the external wall of the house. I have this pantry (newer homes) and it is cooler and not warm enough for bacteria to grow.
Q: Is the SCOBY reusable or do I need a new one every batch?
A: SCOBY is reusable. You transfer SCOBY from batch to batch. New SCOBY grows on top of old one every batch. Peel top one (new) off and use it for next batch. Compost bottom one (old) or give away with some kombucha in a sandwich bag to spread kombucha love.
How to Make Kombucha SCOBY
- In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to boil. Turn off heat and add 1 tsp tea and 3 tbsp sugar, stir and let cool completely (place in a sink filled with cold water to speed things up).
- In a quart glass jar, pour previously made tea discarding the leaves (use a mesh strainer) and 1 cup of store bought kombucha along with any brownish strands from the bottle.
- Cover with paper towel secured with a rubber band and set away from direct sunlight spot (counter or pantry) with temperature above 21C or 70F. It takes 2-4 weeks to grow a SCOBY. You can look but try not to disturb the jar as SCOBY disk is forming on top.
Watch Olena Grow a SCOBY
SCOBY Disk Growth Progress
Day 1: Looks like this with bubbles from store bought kombucha.
Day 3: No visible change. 
Day 8: Brown strands start “eating” the sugars in tea, white strands pulling to the top and forming thin whit-ish film, more likely with bubbles. 
Day 12: White film thickens into “a jellyfish” at the top of the jar. 
Day 15: That’s your SCOBY aka kombucha starter. Easy peasy. That’s it. 
SCOBY is ready when it is at least 1/4″ thick and white in colour – a jellyfish like mushroom you can take out of the jar and hold in your hands. 
Now Make Your Own Kombucha
Now you can follow my kombucha recipe and brew some kombucha as soon as today.
More Healthy Drinks to Boost Your Immune System
- Lemon water – another way to boost your immune system, detoxify and improve gut health.
- Green smoothie with 4 simple ingredients your kids will actually drink.
- Flavored kombucha – try with raspberries and your kids will call it “pop”.
- Turmeric tea – so healing and good for colds!
Kombucha Scoby
How to make Kombucha SCOBY from scratch using simple ingredients. Then brew kombucha at home 30 times cheaper.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 kombucha scoby 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Fermentation
- Cuisine: North American
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp loose leaf black tea (preferably organic)
- 3 tbsp organic cane sugar (not honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar)
- 1 cup store-bought plain kombucha like GT’s
Instructions
- In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to boil. Turn off heat and add 1 tsp tea and 3 tbsp sugar, stir and let cool completely (place in a sink filled with cold water to speed things up).
- In a quart glass jar, pour previously made tea discarding the leaves (use a mesh strainer) and 1 cup of store-bought kombucha along with any brownish strands from the bottle.
- Cover with paper towel secured with a rubber band and set away from direct sunlight spot(counter or pantry) with temperature above 21C or 70F. It takes 2-4 weeks to grow a SCOBY. You can look but try not to disturb the jar as SCOBY is forming on top. See my post for video and pictures what SCOBY should look like and troubleshooting.
- SCOBY is ready when it is at least 1/4″ thick and white in colour – a jellyfish like mushroom you can take out of the jar and hold in your hands.
- Now you can brew some kombucha.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
I used a Scoby that I kept in the refrigerator for 2 months to make a batch of kombucha but checked it this morning. I now see little white flecks floating on the top w/ the scoby. I wonder if I should discard it because it is too old. Thank you Gail
Does it look like mold? I would rinse scoby and if you have fresh kombucha use it as a starter. usually scoby doesn’t go bad unless it stops brewing.
Nice clear instructions. I have been making kombucha for close to 10 yrs. I was wondering if the scoby is the gelatinous disc with or without the liver like blob below it.What is each? I always pop both in a new brew. Do I just need one to start a new batch? Thanks, Keith
On top of scoby grows new scoby. You peel off the bottom and keep the fresh one. That thin layer is just more scoby growth. Just need one. Bigger or more scoby, faster brewing.
Once you have made your Scoby, how do you rebottle it and make flavoured Kombucha? Thanks, Robyn
I hope I understood your question. So once you make a scoby you make a batch of kombucha. Then you bottle that kombucha. To flavour you just simply add desired fruit, berries or ginger right to bottles with kombucha and wait a day or two. Here is the detailed explanation https://ifoodreal.com/flavoring-kombucha-how-to-make-kombucha-fizzy/
Saw the question from AC in South Africa – I made my scoby with black tea, then when brewing the kombucha, added an extra tablespoon rooibos to the black tea. Worked like a charm. Thank you Olena for sharing your success!
Oh good. So when kombucha was ready could you taste rooibos?
There was a ‘backnote’ of rooibos. Very nice indeed.
I am still confused about the size of your Scoby. It looks bigger than the mouth of the jar you have in the video. Is it so? If yes, what kind of glass container did you use to get big Scoby? Is it possible to make “bad” Scoby by mistake? Thank you.
So. I originally grew scoby in a mason jar. Then I transferred it to a gallon size glass container with a tap to make kombucha. It’s big, right?! New scoby grows on top of existing scoby with every new batch of kombucha you brew. And new scoby will take shape of a container new batch of kombucha is brewed in. Then I discard the very bottom scoby after a few batches and keep new scobies. Scoby is always multiplying. Like making babies. Got it?:)
Hi
I live in South Africa. Home of Rooibos tea. It is a very healthy tea with no caffeine. Can I use this tea to make my own Scoby?
“Rooibos tea does not contain caffeine and has low tannin levels compared to black tea or green tea. Rooibos contains polyphenols, including flavanols, flavones, flavanones, dihydrochalcones, aspalathin and nothofagin. The processed leaves and stems contain benzoic and cinnamic acids.”
Hello. Unfortunately not. You need tea with caffeine. I know that tea and it is very healthy. Sorry!
This looks like you used apple cider vinegar with the mother
The kombucha liquid to buy looks like apple cider with the mother, does that work to make the kombucha scob
It is not apple cider vinegar but rather kombucha. Although it might look like it.
Followed instructions exactly as stated. We live in a town house, so I left it on the counter side on the top floor (the warmest place in the house. Went away for a few days, and when I came back, boom, there was the scoby. Thank you so much for helping feed my kombucha habit and my wallet 🙂
★★★★★
You are welcome!:)
I forgot to save 1 cup of previous liquid to add to the new batch! I have the scobie and about 1/2 cup of the previous liquid. Can I still make it by adding the six cups of cooled water with the sugar and tea in it!
Yes!
My house is 78F setting in summer and is it possible to make scobies? Is it too warm?
The warmer the better. Yup.
Is the SCOBY reusable or do you need a new one every batch?
Reusable. You transfer SCOBY from batch to batch, kombucha grows new one every new batch. You will have so many of them, you won’t know what to do with them. Just compost or give away.:)
You have no idea how much I appreciate this kombucha scoby video! Just made it, now let the waiting games begin.
★★★★★