See Where You Can Buy the Best Kombucha SCOBY

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If you love drinking Kombucha regularly, I am sure you have thought about brewing your own Kombucha at home. 

However, most kombucha drinkers get stuck at the point of finding a good SCOBY for sale. And without this, your quest to brew your own Kombucha may just remain on your to-do list permanently. 

If you want to ferment a perfect Kombucha, and are stuck at where to find the best SCOBY, read further to find answers to all your questions.

Where to buy Kombucha SCOBY?

You need to be thoughtful about where you buy kombucha SCOBY because it can make or break the flavors, texture, and taste of your Kombucha tea. 

If kombucha you buy is pasteurized, no SCOBY would grow out of it for future use. 

Hence, you must buy the high-quality mother SCOBY that has the correct balance of microbes and good vitality to begin with your kombucha fermenting adventure. 

Let us continue with finding out the features, and pros and cons of various SCOBYs available in the market. 

Best SCOBY to Buy for brewing Kombucha tea at home  

1. Kombucha Tea SCOBY 

Kombucha Tea SCOBY by Brew Your Bucha is one of the best. You can use it to ferment a nicely flavored kombucha at home. We found this to be one of the healthiest SCOBY cultures as it is grown with the manufacturer’s hand-selected, black, premium quality Yunnan Gold Tea. 

And what makes it even better is it is provided with strong starter fluid. This means it is a complete package with which you could get started with brewing your own Kombucha. 

This SCOBY is cultured to preserve its probiotic properties.

You can use this high-quality SCOBY to brew Kombucha continuously. It would continue to multiply and grow as you brew. You can also share the excess SCOBY with your family and friends. 

However, we must admit we were kind of taken by surprise when we realized the package does not include the cloth. It has been included in the picture for the purpose of display only. 

Yet, we feel it is one of the best quality SCOBY you can get at a reasonable price; that too with some starter fluid. 

Pros

• Well cultured SCOBY
• Prebiotic properties preserved
• Comes with culture fluid    

Cons

• Cloth not provided as displayed in the picture

Customer reviews

Some customers have mentioned the SCOBY looked crumpled and was darker in color than pictured which may indicate lower quality. However, most brewers have appreciated the flavors and taste they could get by using this SCOBY for brewing Kombucha. 

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Genuine Kombucha Cultures by Kombucha Kamp offers the much-needed combo package for brewing your own Kombucha at home. 

It contains 2 large SCOBY Cultures, 2 cups of strong starter liquid and yeast strands. We feel these ingredients would be adequate for you to brew 2 gallons of Kombucha. 

Each of these SCOBYs is grown from Fair Trade, Organic Ingredients in their own jars and later, packed fresh before being delivered to you. 

You can use this SCOBY to brew a continuous supply of delicious Kombucha, if taken care of properly. 

According to manufacturers, this SCOBY for sale has been prepared from the highest quality starter to help you brew fresh Kombucha at home. It has been carefully fermented to help you brew Kombucha with superior flavors and health benefits. 

However, the cost of this SCOBY is on a much higher side making it a costly investment for beginners. However, if you preserve your SCOBY properly, the initial higher investment could be worth it. 

Pros

• 2 large SCOBY Cultures
• Grown from Fair Trade, Organic Ingredients
• Comes with 2 cups of strong starter liquid and yeast strands

Cons

• Slightly expensive 

Customer reviews

This SCOBY package has helped users start with their brewing experience instantly, thanks to the complete package offered by it.

3. Jun Kombucha Starter Pack

Jun Kombucha Starter Pack from Fermentaholics offers USDA Certified Organic SCOBY. 

This package can make brewing your own kombucha an easy process, thanks to the step-by-step instructions included and the complete customer support that can guide you to successful brew.

Fermentaholics Lab has been licensed with FDA as well as the Florida Department of Agriculture. This means you can trust the brand and expect a high-quality SCOBY to brew a perfectly flavored Kombucha. 

This package includes One Jun SCOBY Pellicle obtained from the symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria along with Jun Kombucha Starter Tea. Each SCOBY have about 3 inches in diameter and 1/8 to 1/4 inch of thickness. 

The manufacturers have stated that each starter culture is propagated in their lab under a controlled environment. The process is monitored closely and documented as the cultures mature. The well-controlled process ensures a perfect balance, strength, and pH of SCOBY.

It can provide you with a lifetime supply of SCOBY and allow you to brew Jun tea as well from this culture at a very reasonable price.

Pros 

• Contains One Jun SCOBY Pellicle 
• Obtained from a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria 
• Comes with Jun Kombucha Starter Tea 
• Allows you to brew fresh, crisp flavors of Kombucha tea
• Step by step instructions for Kombucha brewing included
• Complete customer support provided by the manufacturers 
• Organic, USDA Certified SCOBY

Cons 

It seems to be a perfect package to brew a highly flavored Kombucha tea with all the benefits you are looking for.

Customer reviews

Most users have loved the fresh, crisp flavors of Kombucha tea they brewed using this SCOBY. They have also recommended it for the effervescent punch it can provide the tea with.

4. Poseymom Kombucha Tea Culture

If you are looking for a cost-effective option to brew your Kombucha tea, you can opt for Poseymom Kombucha Tea Culture manufactured by Poseymom. It offers a well-cultured SCOBY for sale at a much lower price. 

The package contains one SCOBY that would be adequate for you to brew one gallon of Kombucha. It also comes with one cup of starter tea. It is a highly active SCOBY that could speed up the brewing process and ensure your Kombucha takes a shorter duration to ferment. 

This package by Poseymom also come with detailed instructions on how to begin and re-brew kombucha tea. Another positive attribute of is it is double bagged before being shipped to you in a box to ensure smooth delivery.

Pros

• Lower price 
• Culture tea provided 
• Detailed instructions to brew Kombucha provided

Cons

• Provides only one piece of SCOBY
• Higher chances of forming mold 

Customer reviews 

Customer reviews of this package have been encouraging. They have expressed satisfaction over the flavors of Kombucha tea they brewed using this SCOBY. However, some users have complained of mold formation in spite of taking good care.

5. Organic SCOBY - Live Culture

This Organic SCOBY manufactured by Scoby Kombucha offers a Live Culture. You will receive 1 healthy SCOBY obtained from the symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. The SCOBY is large enough for you to brew Kombucha and share the rest with your friends or family. It is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter and 1/8 to 1/4 inch of thickness. 

The heat-sealed pouch almost guarantees you will receive a fresh and healthy SCOBY. It is also packed with 1/4 cup of starter liquid that would help you brew an extra strong Kombucha. 

You would see “chunks” of bacteria and yeast growing on the SCOBY when it arrives. This would be enough for you to ferment at least two quarts of tea. 

As new baby SCOBY would grow with each batch of tea, you would be able to increase the quantity of Kombucha. Priced in a lower range, we feel it is one of the best cost-effective SCOBYs you can try. 

Pros

• Organically prepared SCOBY
• A quarter cup of starter liquid provided 
• Freshness is guaranteed 
• Packaged well to preserve freshness 
• Lower price 

Cons 

• Starter liquid may not be adequate 

Customer reviews

Customer review of Organic Scoby – Live Culture have been mixed with some users appreciating its high quality and some complaining of mold formation. 

6. Fermentaholics Kombucha SCOBY

Fermentaholics Kombucha SCOBY comes with 12 ounces of strong starter tea. It is an organic SCOBY that provides a live starter culture with which you can make a one-gallon batch of Kombucha. 

Fermentaholics lab is licensed with the FDA and the Florida Department of Agriculture making it one of the reputed brands you can trust.  

This reasonably priced package comes with a detailed and easy to follow instructions that would make brewing Kombucha easy for you. 

Pros

• Comes with twelve ounces of starter tea
• Makes delicious and perfectly flavored Kombucha 
• Lab licensed with FDA
• Detailed brewing instructions provided 

Cons

• The SCOBY size and appearance are different than what is displayed 

Customer reviews

Customers have liked the flavors of Kombucha tea. However, they have mentioned the SCOBY they received was thin at the center with multiple tears. 

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Kombucha Kitchen Genuine KOMBUCHA CULTURE by Scoby Kombucha is what you might be looking for. It is a huge SCOBY that is provided with a strong starter tea to help you brew one-gallon Kombucha. 

It is one of the best SCOBYs for sale if you are particularly looking for an organic product. 

The heat-sealed packaging of this SCOBY ensures it remains fresh. 

The lower price tag of this SCOBY would allow you to begin your brewing experience without investing much. 

Pros

• Large SCOBY
• Stronger starter tea provided 
• Organic SCOBY
• Lower price 

Cons

• Quantity of starter tea may not be adequate 

Customer reviews

Customers have expressed dissatisfaction over the small quantity of starter tea provide.

8. Kombucha Brewing Kit

Kombucha Brewing Kit by The Kombucha Shop can provide you the all you would need to get started with brewing Kombucha. It comes with 1-gallon brewing jar made of glass, one SCOBY, and a starter pouch. 

That’s not all. It also comes with a temperature gauge, loose leaf tea as well as pH Strips. 

However, all these accessories come at a higher cost. So, if you already have the jars, temperature gauge, and other basic things, you don’t need to invest in this kit just for getting one SCOBY. 

Pros

• Offers compete Kombucha brewing package
• Comes with 1-gallon brewing jar made of glass, and starter pouch. 
• Temperature gauge, loose leaf tea, and pH Strips included

Cons

• Expensive package 

Customer reviews 

While this complete kit has been a relief for most beginners, some users have complained about the poor quality of jars. However, the quality of the SCOBY itself has been appreciated by most customers.

Other ways to obtain SCOBY

If you don’t want to buy a SCOBY, there are other ways to obtain a starter culture.

From an acquaintance

Anyone brewing kombucha at home would have enough to share. If you learned about the benefits of drinking Kombucha from your friend or a relative, I am sure they would be willing to share some SCOBY with you so that you can get started with brewing your own Kombucha at home. 

You can also check for the availability of SCOBY from the fermenting groups in your neighbourhood. You can visit one of their gatherings and ask them for a SCOBY and about half a cup of starter tea. These would be enough for you to prepare your first quarter batch of Kombucha.

After your initial successful experience, you would always have some SCOBY ready with you for the next batches. And this time, do lend a helping hand to others who are interested in brewing Kombucha by sharing a SCOBY with them!

Grow your own

You can check the grocery stores in your area to find if any of them carry bottled kombucha. If you are ready to experiment and have patience, you can grow your own SCOBY at home from the raw kombucha. However, it is still advisable to buy a SCOBY from a reliable brand so that you are assured of good quality ingredients for brewing a perfectly flavored Kombucha at home.

FAQs

How much SCOBY do I need?

For your first quarter batch of Kombucha, all you would need is one SCOBY. The SCOBY or the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast is considered the mother of kombucha as it provides yeast and bacteria to ferment it. It would also protect your Kombucha tea from contaminants and provide a seal to keep the carbonation within. 

Hence, more than the quantity, it is the quality of SCOBY that matters. If you buy a good quality SCOBY the first time, you would be able to brew a highly flavored Kombucha tea at home. 

In case you have more SCOBY, you can always store it for future use or share it with your friends and relatives. 

See my post 10 Other Ways to Use Your Kombucha SCOBY for more ideas.

Can SCOBY go bad?

Yes, your SCOBY can go bad if it is not prepared from a good-quality mother SCOBY or is not looked after. 

You can tell you SCOBY has gone bad if mold appears on its surface. A moldy SCOBY would have a greenish black color. It may also turn bluish. 

Also, if you find your SCOBY is growing in a circular pattern with its edges having a vein-like look, you can say it’s gone bad. Remember the mold will always appear on the surface of the SCOBY and not beneath the layers.

Another sign that tells your SCOBY has gone bad includes a strange smell. You can guess about the health of the SCOBY as well as Kombucha by their smell. 

The freshly prepared mixture should smell sweetish with a slight hint of vinegar. As it turns older, it would smell more vinegary and sour. These are the signs your SCOBY is healthy. 

However, if the brew stinks or smells foul, do not drink it. These signs show it has gone bad and so, you would have no other option but to throw it. 

Mold is more likely to appear and spoil your SCOBY and kombucha in humid weather. SCOBY sitting near vinegary garbage, moldy food, or plants is also more likely to turn moldy as mold spores from these sources can easily migrate over to your SCOBY and spoil it. 

In case your SCOBY has gone bad, you will have to prepare it all over again and this would force you to postpone brewing Kombucha. This is when buying a high-quality SCOBY would be a safer and convenient approach. It will allow you to start brewing Kombucha at home right away

Can SCOBY be reused? 

Yes, you can reuse the SCOBY. In fact, most regular brewers prefer to prepare more than one SCOBY and store some for further use. They also reuse the SCOBY for multiple brewing so that they can save the longer time needed to prepare it. 

Keep in mind that it is a living thing that provides life to the brewing kombucha tea. It contains a network of bacteria and yeast within a cellulose matrix. If you take good care of the SCOBY, it may outlive you. 

With time, your SCOBY would develop further to form new layers. You can reuse the same SCOBY repeatedly as long as it is healthy or separate the older layers. The older layers can be discarded and the newer layers can be used for brewing Kombucha. 

Either way, if you take proper care for your SCOBY and protect it against a moist environment to prevent mold formation, you can reuse it several times for brewing Kombucha. 

Can SCOBY be frozen? 

Yes, you can always store the excess SCOBY for future use. Store it in a small jar, preferably made of glass. You can also store it in a clean plastic bag. 

If you prefer to take a long break between brews, you may refrigerate the SCOBY in an air-tight container. You can store 1 or more SCOBY per container. 

To keep it healthy between batches, simply pour a mixture of Kombucha tea and sugar in the jar over the SCOBY. You can also add the remaining kombucha such that it submerges the SCOBY. 

You can place the container in the freezer until you are ready to start brewing again. The lower temperature would stop the fermentation process thus preventing further growth of your starter culture. 

If you are using a plastic bag to store SCOBY, make sure it stays away from excess moisture. 

How long does it last?

You can store SCOBY in the fridge for several months. The process of fermentation would slow down once it is exposed to the colder temperature and halt further growth of your SCOBY. 

Conclusion 

After assessing the quality of several SCOBYs, we found Jun Kombucha Starter Pack to be the best one. 

Jun Kombucha Starter Pack from Fermentaholics would help you brew flavored Kombucha tea at home. The step-by-step instructions included and the complete customer support would surely make the brewing experience easy and enjoyable.