How do I know when my kombucha is ready to drink? You can taste your kombucha after the initial fermentation period and stop when it reaches your desired level of tartness. It's a matter of personal preference.

Kombucha is believed to have various health benefits, including probiotic support for gut health and antioxidants. Here's a short list of some of the health benefits associated with kombucha:Probiotics: Kombucha is rich in beneficial bacteria and yeast, which can promote a healthy gut microbiome and aid in digestion.Antioxidants: It contains antioxidants like polyphenols and vitamin C, which may help reduce oxidative stress and combat inflammation.Improved Digestion: The probiotics in kombucha can support digestive health and may alleviate issues like bloating and indigestion.Detoxification: Some studies suggest that kombucha may help the liver in detoxifying the body by improving its ability to process and eliminate toxins.Immune Support: The antioxidants and probiotics in kombucha may contribute to a stronger immune system, helping the body fight off infections and illnesses.Joint Health: Some anecdotal evidence suggests that kombucha may help with joint pain and arthritis, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory properties.Weight Management: Kombucha is a low-calorie beverage that may aid in weight management by promoting feelings of fullness and supporting metabolism.Mental Well-being: The gut-brain connection suggests that a healthy gut may contribute to improved mood and mental health, and kombucha's probiotics might play a role in this.It's important to note that while kombucha offers these potential health benefits, more research is needed to confirm many of these claims. Additionally, individual reactions to kombucha can vary, so it's essential to consume it in moderation and be aware of any adverse reactions. If you have specific health concerns or conditions, it's a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before adding kombucha to your diet. Kombucha is believed to have various health benefits, including probiotic support for gut health and antioxidants. Here's a short list of some of the health benefits associated with kombucha: Probiotics: Kombucha is rich in beneficial bacteria and yeast, which can promote a healthy gut microbiome and aid in digestion. Antioxidants: It contains antioxidants like polyphenols and vitamin C, which may help reduce oxidative stress and combat inflammation. Improved Digestion: The probiotics in kombucha can support digestive health and may alleviate issues like bloating and indigestion. Detoxification: Some studies suggest that kombucha may help the liver in detoxifying the body by improving its ability to process and eliminate toxins. Immune Support: The antioxidants and probiotics in kombucha may contribute to a stronger immune system, helping the body fight off infections and illnesses. Joint Health: Some anecdotal evidence suggests that kombucha may help with joint pain and arthritis, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Weight Management: Kombucha is a low-calorie beverage that may aid in weight management by promoting feelings of fullness and supporting metabolism. Mental Well-being: The gut-brain connection suggests that a healthy gut may contribute to improved mood and mental health, and kombucha's probiotics might play a role in this. It's important to note that while kombucha offers these potential health benefits, more research is needed to confirm many of these claims. Additionally, individual reactions to kombucha can vary, so it's essential to consume it in moderation and be aware of any adverse reactions. If you have specific health concerns or conditions, it's a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before adding kombucha to your diet.

What do I do if mold forms on my SCOBY? If mold develops on your SCOBY, it's best to discard the entire batch including the SCOBY and start over. Mold contamination is not safe to consume.

Is it safe to consume homemade kombucha? When brewed and stored properly, homemade kombucha is generally safe to consume. Following hygiene and brewing guidelines is crucial to avoid contamination. Note: It's generally recommended that pregnant women and young children avoid kombucha due to its alcohol (albeit low) and caffeine content. Consult a healthcare professional for specific advice in these cases.

Can I customize the flavor of my homemade kombucha? Absolutely! You can add various fruits, herbs, and spices during the second fermentation process to create unique flavors. In the instructions, there are several flavor suggestions that you can try but the sky is the limit with the flavors that you can create.

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage made from sweetened tea that has been fermented with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). It's known for its probiotic and other health benefits as well as its pleasant taste.

How should I store my homemade kombucha? Store your finished kombucha in the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation process and keep it fresh. Use an airtight container if possible.

Can I reuse the SCOBY from my first batch? Yes, you can reuse the SCOBY from your previous batch to make new batches of kombucha. It will continue to grow and form a new SCOBY layer with each batch.

What is a SCOBY? A SCOBY, or Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast, is the essential living culture used to ferment kombucha. It resembles a rubbery disc and is responsible for the fermentation process.

How long does it take to brew kombucha? Kombucha typically takes 7-21 days to ferment, depending on factors like temperature and taste preference. It can be brewed longer for a stronger flavor.

How do I maintain my SCOBY between batches? Store your SCOBY in a SCOBY hotel (a jar with kombucha) in the refrigerator between batches to keep it healthy and ready for brewing. Refresh the liquid every few weeks.

Can children and pregnant women drink kombucha? It's generally recommended that pregnant women and young children avoid kombucha due to its alcohol and caffeine content. Consult a healthcare professional for specific advice.

Is it difficult to make kombucha at home? Brewing kombucha at home is relatively easy with the right starter kit and instructions. It requires some patience and attention to detail but is not complicated.

Healthy SCOBY Unhealthy SCOBY with Mold - Discard Liquid and SCOBY

Please Don’t! Unless you have inoculated an area of your garden with a mushroom species that is known and confirmed to be safe and edible, then you shouldn’t eat strange mushrooms. They can be poisonous or make you ill.

In general, you should wash all fresh produce before use. All the fresh mushrooms grown by Farm at Cloud 39 are grown in climate controlled, in-door environments. Also, mushrooms that you grow yourself at home using a grow kit may be fairly clean depending on the environment that you grow them in. Mushrooms can absorb water when washed changing the way that they cook so you may choose to limit the amount of time that you submerge mushrooms in water or use a damp paper towel to clean them off.

Mushrooms are low in calories and high in fiber, making them a nutritious addition to any diet. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, B vitamins, copper, and potassium. Additionally, mushrooms contain antioxidants that can help boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Some research suggests that eating mushrooms may even have anti-cancer properties and boost cognitive performance. They are also a good source of protein, making them a great option for vegetarians and vegans. Finally, mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which are known to support heart health by lowering cholesterol levels. Overall, incorporating mushrooms into your diet can provide a variety of health benefits.

You should cook mushrooms thoroughly before consumptions. Not just our mushrooms, but all mushrooms. Mushrooms contain a compound called chitin which is difficult to digest but readily breaks down with heat. Cooking mushrooms makes them easier to digest and makes the nutrients available for absorption in our bodies.

In general, your mushroom block should be moist or damp at all times but not excessively wet. On average, you should spray the block about 3 times per day. However, the amount of water that your block needs depends on the environment that it is placed in. Factors such as open or closed windows, AC, indirect sunlight coming in from a nearby window, temperature etc. can affect the rate at which moisture evaporates from the surface of the block. See What’s the best place to place the Grow Kit? for more info. If your environment has a lot of airflow such as an open window or AC, then you may need to spray your block more times per day. In general, start spraying your mushrooms 3 times a day. If you notice that the block is very dry, increase the spraying to 4 or 5 times a day. Shitake mushrooms usually need more spraying throughout the day as the entire surface is exposed to the air. Spray Shitakes 6 times or more per day. If you forget to spray your block or you are not at home, don’t worry, just spray them when you remember and the grow block will bounce back.

No! Unless it’s Shitake. The bag helps the block to maintain its moisture levels which is essential to producing mushrooms. You also do not need to remove the block from the box. The block is already in position to fruit on the most optimal side of the block. Just follow the directions by removing the perforated section at the back of the box and cut an “X” in the plastic bag. The exception is shitake. Shitakes still need moisture to produce mushrooms, but shitakes also require a greater amount of oxygen to trigger mushroom fruit development. So, remove the entire block from the bag, place the block on a plate and be sure to spray the block more often so that it does not dry out.

This is not mold, it is mushroom mycelium. Mushroom mycelium is the vegetative part of the mushroom fungus. It consists of a network of thread-like structures called hyphae, which spread out and form a web-like mass. Mycelium plays a critical role in the life cycle of mushrooms as it absorbs nutrients from the environment and converts them into the energy and building blocks needed for the mushroom to grow.

Remove the perforated section at the back of the box and use a sharp blade such as a box cutter to cut a large “X” into the plastic bag in which your grow block is housed

Ideally, you want to place your kit in: 1. An area with some light but not direct sunlight 2. An open area to allow airflow but not in the direct path of a fan or AC 3. A cool area of your home ideally 18°C - 26°C The living room, kitchen or any open shelf with no doors will probably work. Just choose the best area of your home that meets the above criteria as closely as possible. If you choose to grow the kit outside, be sure that it is a cool, shady area that is protected from the wind and sunlight. Even short periods of exposure to direct sunlight can permanently damage the mycelium. Some outdoor areas that might work are under a mango tree of other equally shady tree or in a covered porch among plants to protect the kit from excessive wind. You still have to mist your kit with water at least 3 times a day.

The Mushroom Grow Kit is geared towards home users and contains everything that you need to grow mushrooms including a box to house the block while the mushrooms grow, instructions and a spray bottle. This is perfect for hobby, at home growers. The Ready to Fruit Block is great for persons who may want to grow mushrooms commercially but do not have the facility or equipment to produce mushroom grow blocks. The ready to fruit block comes in a grow bag only and without instructions. It is larger, usually a minimum of 5.5 lbs., so it will produce more mushrooms.

That’s a good sign! The yellowish liquid or exudate, is a byproduct of mycelium metabolism and it means that your grow block is alive, consuming nutrients and is capable of producing mushrooms.

In our grow room we can get 4 to 5 harvests per block. But hold up! Don’t get so excited because you are growing your block in your home where the growth parameters are likely variable. You can definitely get more than one harvest but you have to be really, really nice to your block. Keep up your spraying schedule on time, make sure the block is never in the direct path of sunlight or an AC and that there is adequate airflow around your block. You’ll get mushrooms. Each block can yield anywhere from ½ lb. to 1.5 lbs. of mushrooms depending on the species, the growing environment and how you take care of them. The size of the yield get smaller with each successive harvest as the nutrients and energy in your block is used up.

The ‘Best By’ date will be on the box of your grow kit. If you are not going to use your kit immediately, store it in the fridge EXCEPT FOR PINK OYSTER MUSHROOMS which you should store in a cool dry place, but never in the fridge. If you forget about your kit and it has past it’s expiry date, no worries, still give it a go. Mushroom mycelium can lay dormant for long periods of time. Be patient though as it may take a little longer for it to spring back to life. Keep spraying it.

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Mushrooms release spores as they mature. Spores may cause respiratory irritation in persons with allergies or compromised immune systems. Some options are to place your grow kit in a well-ventilated area of your home, put your mushroom kit in a cool shady area outside before they mature or harvest the mushrooms when they are young and before they release spores.

Your mushroom block will turn a yellowish-brown color as it ages. After your first harvest, the area where the mushrooms were removed from will also turn brown. Don’t worry, keep spraying for a 2nd harvest. However, if you see brown spots prior to the 1st harvest it can indicate not enough moisture. Increase the spraying frequency. Shitake blocks turn a darker shade of brown after the 1st harvest and form a crust over the block. This is the mycelium hibernating and preparing for a 2nd harvest.

Misting your block several times a day should keep the block moist enough to produce a healthy mushroom crop. However, if your block is perpetually dry and not producing mushrooms, you can try to move the block to an area of your home with less airflow or create a humidity tent to increase the moisture around the block. To create a humidity tent, use a plastic bag, like the one you would get at the grocery store and punch several holes all over it. Place the bag over your block and keep up your spraying schedule. When you notice small mushrooms emerging from the block, remove the bag and keep spraying until your mushrooms are mature.

Looks like you are a vigorous kit on your hands! This is very common and can happen with oysters and lion’s mane varieties. When you open the kit, you can ignore them and keep spraying or, if you can reach them, you can pull them off, compost them and use the kit as normal.

Baby mushrooms, or pin sets as we call them, can look very different to full grown mushrooms. Keep spraying your block and enjoy the changes in your mushrooms. In general, mushrooms double in size every day. Other reasons the caps may seem weird or bizarre are varying oxygen and moisture levels. If the mushroom get long and leggy, they need more air flow around them but it is highly unlikely to happen if you are growing on a counter or open air shelf. If dry spots, brown spots or yellowing, appear on the mushrooms or the grow blocks then the block may need more spritzing. Remember you want to spray mostly the grow block and spray the mushrooms lightly. If the colored mushrooms, the pink, golden and black pearl oyster mushrooms, have a pale or light color, it means that your kit should be moved to an area with more light.

Green mold forms when there are warm, moist conditions with stagnant air. This means that the block was too wet and there was not enough airflow in the area. If you notice green mold on your grow block or mushrooms you should discard them and DO NOT EAT MUSHROOMS WITH GREEN MOLD OR FROM GROW BLOCK WITH MOLD. Try again with a new block.

The most likely reason is not enough moisture. Don’t worry mushroom mycelium is hard to kill, it usually goes dormant. (Although I can proudly say that I have killed mushroom mycelium, Thank You very much and Excuse me while I go ahead and brush my shoulder off). Simply remove the dried-up mushrooms and start spraying again. It may take a little more time for the block to re-awaken but stick with the spraying.

We are a very small team with only a few part-time employees, and we are unable to provide dedicated and detailed consulting in mushroom farming at this time. This may be subject to change in the future. If you have purchased our products such as the Ready to Fruit Blocks and Spawn and have questions about them, we will try our best to facilitate.

We offer several products that can be ordered in bulk to make it easy for you to start a gourmet mushroom farm. The various steps required in mushroom farming are costly, require a lot of space, specialized knowledge and expensive equipment. It is a very complex process for start to finish with may critical areas that can cause catastrophic crop failure. Both options below can save you time and money in setting up a mushroom farm and getting your mushroom business running very quickly and with few resources. Option 1 – Buy Ready to Fruit Blocks This is the quickest, easiest way to get into mushroom farming. Our ready to fruits blocks are sterilized and inoculated with mushroom mycelium of a pure, commercial strain of an edible species. These blocks are ready to produce mushroom fruits bodies. Simply place the blocks into your growing area, monitor, reap mushrooms and you’re ready for sales. Option 2 – Buy Spawn Spawn is a grain that is inoculated with a pure, commercial strain of an edible mushroom species, in order to multiply the quantity of mushroom mycelium. In this scenario, you will have to select and obtain your own growing media and use our spawn to inoculate your growing media with mushroom spawn. Once your growing media is colonized by the spawn, you will be able to then grow mushrooms for sale. Check out the Ready to Fruit Blocks and Spawn in the Store