How To Grow Kombucha Mushroom

You can grow a kombucha mushroom, also known as a SCOBY, right at home with a few simple steps.

Growing a kombucha mushroom isn’t complicated, but it does require patience, a clean setup, and the right ingredients.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow kombucha mushroom from scratch or from a store-bought bottle, you’re in the right place.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the entire process of growing a kombucha mushroom, the conditions it needs, and how to keep it healthy for future batches.

Let’s dive right in.

How to Grow Kombucha Mushroom: The Basics

The best way to grow a kombucha mushroom is to start with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, which is exactly what the SCOBY is.

When you grow kombucha mushroom, you’re essentially creating the perfect environment for this living culture to thrive.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a lab or fancy equipment to grow a kombucha mushroom successfully.

You just need sweet tea, a starter liquid, and the right temperature.

1. Gather Your Supplies to Grow Kombucha Mushroom

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need to grow kombucha mushroom without any hiccups.

You’ll need a large glass jar, organic black or green tea, white sugar, filtered water, and a starter SCOBY.

You can also buy a raw, unflavored kombucha from the store to use as a starter if you don’t have a SCOBY yet.

Make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned, because any bacteria or mold can ruin your kombucha mushroom as it grows.

2. Brew Sweet Tea for Your Kombucha Mushroom

To grow a kombucha mushroom, you need to create the sweet tea that feeds the culture.

Boil about four cups of filtered water and steep four to six tea bags for about ten minutes.

Remove the tea bags, then stir in one cup of white sugar until it’s completely dissolved.

Add another four cups of cold filtered water to cool the mixture down quickly.

It’s essential that the tea is at room temperature before you add your starter, because hot liquid will kill the kombucha mushroom you’re trying to grow.

3. Combine the Starter and the Tea

Once your sweet tea is cool, pour it into your glass jar.

Add about one cup of raw kombucha or the starter liquid that came with your SCOBY.

This starter is what helps the kombucha mushroom grow and lowers the pH of the tea, which protects it from unwanted bacteria.

If you’re starting from a store-bought bottle, just pour the whole thing in and let it ferment longer.

4. Let Your Kombucha Mushroom Grow in a Warm Spot

Cover the jar with a breathable cloth, like a coffee filter or a clean kitchen towel, and secure it with a rubber band.

Place the jar in a warm, dark place where the temperature stays between 75°F and 85°F.

This is the sweet spot for how to grow kombucha mushroom fast and reliably.

In about seven to ten days, you’ll notice a new gel-like layer forming on the surface.

That thin layer is your new kombucha mushroom, and it will thicken over time as it grows.

How to Grow a Kombucha Mushroom from Scratch

If you don’t have a SCOBY yet, you can still grow a kombucha mushroom from scratch using just a bottle of raw kombucha.

This method takes a bit longer, but it’s a great way to get started.

1. Use Raw, Unflavored Kombucha

The key to growing a kombucha mushroom from scratch is using raw, unflavored kombucha.

Flavored kombucha often contains oils and additives that can prevent the culture from forming.

Look for a bottle that says “raw” and “unflavored” on the label, as these still contain the live bacteria and yeast you need.

2. Combine the Bottle with Sweet Tea

Just like the method above, brew a batch of sweet tea and let it cool completely.

Pour your entire bottle of raw kombucha into the sweet tea.

Cover the jar with a cloth and let it sit undisturbed in a warm spot.

It can take up to two to four weeks to grow a kombucha mushroom from scratch this way, because you’re starting with a lot less yeast and bacteria.

3. Be Patient and Let the Culture Form

During this time, the tiny organisms multiply and eventually form a new kombucha mushroom on the surface.

You’ll know it’s working when you see a thin, cloudy film developing at the top.

It might look a little strange at first, but that’s completely normal.

Once that layer is about a quarter-inch thick, you’ve successfully grown a kombucha mushroom from scratch.

Conditions That Help a Kombucha Mushroom Grow

Growing a kombucha mushroom successfully depends heavily on the environment you provide.

Here are a few things that will help your kombucha mushroom grow thick and healthy.

1. Consistent Warmth

A steady temperature is one of the most important factors when you grow kombucha mushroom.

If your home is cooler than 70°F, the fermentation will slow down significantly.

Consider using a seedling mat or wrapping the jar in a towel to keep it warm.

Avoid temperature swings, as these can stress the culture and make it harder for the kombucha mushroom to grow.

2. Good Airflow

Your kombucha mushroom needs oxygen to grow, so make sure your cloth cover isn’t too tight.

Use a breathable fabric that allows air to flow while keeping dust and insects out.

This airflow is essential for the aerobic fermentation that helps the kombucha mushroom thrive.

3. Patience and Observation

Don’t poke or move the jar while your kombucha mushroom is forming.

Each time you disturb it, you slow down the growth process.

Check on it every couple of days to make sure no mold is forming on the surface.

As long as it smells pleasantly vinegary and looks smooth, your kombucha mushroom is growing just fine.

So, How Do You Grow a Kombucha Mushroom?

You can grow a kombucha mushroom by combining sweet tea with a starter culture and letting it ferment in a warm place.

Whether you grow a kombucha mushroom from another SCOBY or from a store-bought bottle, the process is the same.

Please remember that growing a kombucha mushroom is all about patience and consistency.

Once your first kombucha mushroom is ready, keep it in a covered jar with some kombucha liquid and store it in the fridge.

Then, you can use that kombucha mushroom to brew endless batches of delicious, fizzy kombucha.

Now that you know how to grow a kombucha mushroom, you can start your own brewing journey today.