Anyone here brew kombucha?

I'm going to start soon. I was wondering how harmalas would react to the fungus? Think they could coexist or not?
A light caapi kombucha was just an idea (with green tea).

I had be growing Kombucha with a friend ,usually on a blend of herbs such as mixtures of black,white and green teas with added ginko biloba,ginger and hibiscus.Some of them had so many herbs in that it would be easier to ask what was NOT in the rather what was.

Now, on the harmala issue: Harmala alkaloids might have antibacterial action so this could -theoreticaly- harm the bacterial section of your SCOBY. Under this light, try keeping two batches, one "normal" with just green tea to revert back to it if things go south and the experimental one. I wonder if transformation of alkaloids to analogues will happen by the SCOBY of the Kombucha as part of its substrate metabolism.Interesting...

Also an idea could be to have a look at the brews fluoresence from time to time while brewing with a blacklight.Who knows...The fluoresence intensity/coloration might change? Will the scoby ,while growing, be infused with harmala alkaloids and glow under blacklight? Remains to be seen.

/me assumes "Generic Overly Manly Voice of Action Film trailers" :

By the makers of thriller "My Son got Kombuchered" and "Close encounters of the SCOBY type" the new film!
Lots ooooof ACTION!

"Did it...move? OH - MY - GOD! Its ALIVE!!!"

Stunning visual effects!

"Whoooooooah! It glows SO bright!"

Lots of suspence!

"House...Did you hear that? I think the sounds came from that jar..."

Intrigue,plot twists and conspiracy!

*in secret location,shady figures under the veil of darkness ,a voice is heard "We must intercept the sample...Someone found our secret, it seems to be evolving.Acquire it, burn or evidence and give me a chemical analysis ASAP.It might be the...Grand Elixir"

Soon,coming at a Home near you! "Kombucharma: It came from the ...tea"


(On a rather more serious note ,Don Amfiteatro's site on Kombucha is a classic gem : http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kombucha.htm .Lots of info and experimentation! Be sure to pay a visit)

I've brewed Kombucha many times!

I love the taste!



MAOI + fermented brew... I think that is a horrible idea!

Hmmm not too sure if its actually a horrible idea...The tyramine interaction is mostly about non selective , non reversible MAOIs ,here speaking taking as a starting point that Kombucha would be rich in tyramine (is it?).


So ,House, any news on that?

kombucha is not good for the liver. I wouldn't combine it with ayahuasca, since this could put too much pressure on the liver:
People who have liver or kidney problems are always disreccomended to use ayahuasca.

Tough to say without first trying. Just bear in mind that many of the fungal/bacterial species found in the Kombucha may see harmalas as a food source. I wouldn't be surprised if the Kombucha actually eats the caapi's goodies!

Awesome guys....I think it's worth an experiment. My first batch is done normally. When I get another mother I will try it with caapi...observing it under black light daily for changes ;]

I would keep something to drink at hand in case you don't feel right and it does put more strain on your liver.

Kombucha contains a substance that is toxic to the liver and the liver has to work harder than normal when you take ayahuasca.

Really? Sorry I didn't see your post up there...I'm curious to know more about this. I haven't heard anything about liver toxicity from either of these concoctions.

Whats liver toxic about unreduced light caapi ?

Are you sure Polytrip?

I've never heard that about Kombucha.... in fact I always heard Kombucha is really good for you and I've drank over three 16oz bottles and felt nothing but full and GOOD.

Caapi isn't toxic to the liver. But liver and kidney patients are disrecomended to use ayahuasca, because the liver just has to work harder to get these substances out of the body.

Kombucha is known to be toxic to the liver, although the toxicity varies with each kumbucha-culture.

There is also a risk of accidentally growing dangerous fungusses like aspergillus, with the culture, that feed on the kombucha.

The legal status of kombucha varies in each country. In many countries it is forbidden to sell it for medicinal purposses and in belgium it's an illegal substance.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely do some more research!

I think Kombucha is only dangerous if prepared wrong.

If I was going to make it I'd make it EXACTLY how it is traditionally made and NOT try any other ingredients or anything (like adding Caapi).

I think Kombucha is only dangerous if prepared wrong.

If I was going to make it I'd make it EXACTLY how it is traditionally made and NOT try any other ingredients or anything (like adding Caapi).



Make sure it's prepared correctly and drink it about 5 times a month and you will be fine.

Using my Necromancy skills i bring this thread back from the dead because of an interesting twist...

There is some evidence that microbes can biotransform harmala alkaloids to other related alkaloids.Now, i dont know if this will happen with microorganisms present in kombucha but an analysis would certainly be interesting. Check this out Link

I am a Kombucha brewer.

I use these from Fungi Perfecti:

Synthetic Filter Discs
These filters fit neatly within the rim of spawn jars underneath the lid, allowing air exchange but preventing the passage of contaminants. Sterilizable and reusable for life (not for food canning) 99.97% efficient filtration down to .3 microns.

They are made to keep contaminants out of jars when colonizing grains with mycelium. This beats the hell out of most peoples "cheese cloth over the top" approach.

I had this Caapi Kombucha idea then researched it and found this thread!

Very interesting on the possible conversion of Harmalas!

Did anyone actually try this yet? I may give it a go.

Haven't tried it, but still want to. (at least to just watch the uv colors change as a test)
Just been drinkin' green tea jasmine kombucha...mmmmmmm....


I'm not really a fan of sterile environments. My kombuchas fine with just a cloth.

I've been drinking Green Tea Acai Berry. EVERYONE loves it, including myself.

The Peach White Tea is good too. I've been sticking to fruits. I recently got some Mango Tea and Papaya Tea from Hawaii and will be brewing Kombucha in that.

I love Jasmine tea, I never thought to brew it in Kombucha! I will definitely be buying some jasmine green tea and giving it a shot on my next batch.

I had my first contamination, even in a jar with the filter disc. I have brewed many many gallons without issue. The contaminant was easy to spot.

What other kinds of teas is everyone using?

It's ALL about the genmaibucha !

Genmaicha green tea + kombucha

Bliss

My roommate has been brewing kombucha, and for the first time today, I got to have a good and long look and what the creature actually looks like.

Every 1 in 5 DMT-related journeys, I'm pretty sure the same creature lands on my head.

The stuff is awesome, I've been drinking it like crazy. It was good I came back to this thread, though, and perhaps I should stop: I don't want to damage my liver. What with the regular Aya-drinking and all.

There are still two mason jars of kombucha in my fridge...

Whenever I buy the bottles at the health food store, I always run the kombucha through a tea pillow before drinking, because there's nothing worse than an accidental hunk of slime. BLEUGH!