Mold on the surface of kombucha (moldy): what to do, causes, how to cure

Kombucha gets moldy very rarely, but if it does, then something has gone wrong. Perhaps sanitation is violated, the rules of care, infection was brought in by insects, or simply dirty air indoors. In any case, you need to find the cause and eliminate it.

Why does kombucha grow moldy in a jar

A sign of kombucha 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 first. It grows on the surface of the jellyfish, which is still in a floating state in contact with air. There are many reasons for the appearance of the disease, but most often this is due to dirty air with cigarette smoke or cooling the drink below the permissible temperature. ^оC.

The appearance of mold on the surface of the drink indicates the depravity of the tea jellyfish.

When kombucha becomes moldy, you can resuscitate it. The area with mold is removed, the jellyfish is washed with warm water, the night is kept in apple cider vinegar. In the morning, the jellyfish is placed in a sterilized jar, poured with prepared tea syrup with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. vinegar.

What mold appears in a jar of kombucha

Mold is insidious, it can even be dangerous to health. White plaque is considered the safest. However, most often, when the tea jellyfish disappears, two types of mold settle on it:

1. Green plaque sometimes acquires shades of blue. A dangerous type of moldy fungus is called “penicillum notatum”.

   

2. A black coating is formed by no less dangerous fungi “aspergillus niger”.

   

If a black or green mold with blue tints has formed on a kombucha, it is best to throw it away and grow a new jellyfish.

What is the danger of mold on kombucha

Moldy mushrooms survive under the worst conditions. You can’t just get rid of them. It is not reasonable to reanimate a tea medusomycete on which formations of blue, green or black flowers have appeared. It is not a fact that after washing the kombucha in a new jar, the jellyfish will grow without mold. Fungal spores are difficult to remove, and the remaining ones multiply rapidly.

However, if kombucha has become moldy when grown with a white coating, it is worth saving. You can try to reanimate kombucha affected by green or black mold, but at the initial stage, when the first signs have just appeared.

List of Reasons Why Kombucha Molds

The main reason for the appearance of mold is not following the technology for growing tea jellyfish. If we consider each nuance separately, then there are quite a lot 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 that kombucha has become 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, hands must be clean. Wash the table, jar, cutlery with hot water.

Violation of the rules of care

It is optimal to take care of the medusomycete in medical rubber gloves. Only they are able to ensure sanitary cleanliness. This is especially true for women with long manicures. Under the nails, a lot of pathogenic bacteria accumulate, 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

Kombucha drink is prepared according to a simple recipe. If it is not followed, green or black mold will grow inside the jar instead of kombucha. When buying tea for dressing, you should not take old expired products, goods in damaged or dirty packages. Inside there will definitely be spores of moldy fungi. It is important to use clean cutlery when preparing a drink.

Contaminated air

Mold always reproduces in a favorable environment: humid and polluted air, temperature below + 18 ^оC. If such an atmosphere is observed in the room, the fungus will definitely grow moldy. It is forbidden to smoke inside the room with tea jellyfish. When the room is damp, there is mold 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 quality welding

Tea jellyfish are sensitive to low-quality brewing. Do not use old teas, especially those flavored with various essences. Aroma oils contribute to the formation of mold, as they weaken the immune system of kombucha. In addition, such teas also contain a dye that has a negative effect on the fungus.

Unwanted neighbors

Kombucha does not like close proximity to animals, birds, aquariums, pet food and utensils. Near a jar with a tea jellyfish, you can not put flowers, both cut bouquets and cultures growing in a flower pot.

What to do if mold appears on kombucha

Kombuchevody came up with several ways to save the fungus from mold:

1. If mold has appeared 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.
2. 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 thoroughly rinsed with clean water. All loose parts of the body are similarly removed during washing. The rest of the healthy mushroom is placed in a sterilized jar, poured with tea leaves.
3. When kombucha has become moldy, you can resuscitate it with apple cider vinegar. First, traditionally, the jellyfish is washed with clean water. Damaged areas are removed. The mushroom is placed in a bowl of pure apple cider vinegar, washed 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.

A healthy tea jellyfish always floats on the surface

When the degree of mold damage is large, resuscitation of the fungus should not be dealt with. Better to grow new kombucha.

Is it possible to drink a drink if mold has appeared on the surface of kombucha

Mold fungi are insidious and dangerous. It is strictly forbidden to drink a moldy drink. At best, you can get rid of 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 into the sewer.

The appearance of a moldy film indicates the unsuitability of the drink.

Sometimes the surface of the fungus is covered with a weak coating of white. It is often confused with mold. In fact, the problem manifests itself with frequent washing of the jellyfish. In summer, the procedure should be carried out once a week, and in winter – once every two weeks.

Preventive measures

Kombucha growers adhere to seven basic rules to prevent jellyfish disease:

1. The fungus needs a constant favorable microclimate. Jellyfish are kept in a liquid with a temperature of 18 to 25 ^оC. You can not pour hot gas station into the jar. The neck is always tied with a breathable fabric.
2. The place in the room for the jar is chosen warm, away from the window, dirty dishes, plants and pets. Direct sunlight is not allowed.
3. The air temperature in the room should not fall below 17 ^оC. Under such conditions, the fungus does not grow.
4. Maintaining sanitation is a sure way to success. Do not serve tea jellyfish with dirty hands. For washing use warm boiled water.
5. It is unacceptable to pour undissolved sugar into the jar. Grains form burns on the body of kombucha.
6. A glass of liquid for the starter is always left from the drained drink. It is poured into a new gas station.
7. You can not increase the fermentation process. The finished drink must be drained in a timely manner.

All seven rules are simple. It is easier to observe them than to reanimate the fungus later.

Compliance with preventive measures will prevent the mold of a tasty and healthy drink

From the video you can learn about growing kombucha:

Conclusion

Kombucha is covered with mold more often through the fault of the owners themselves. With the observance of the technology of growing kombucha, troubles can be avoided.