When making a batch of kombucha…say a 50 gallon batch….Is the starter tea liquid included in the 50 gallons of liquid? Or on top of it? I’m asking because the sugar and tea amounts I use to make the tea concentrate are for 50 gallons, not 44 gallons (50 minus the 6 gallons of starter tea). Should this be adjusted? Does this make sense? Having a hard time forming the question!
Unfortunately, people say it both ways, so we always have to ask what the brewer means when they are talking to us about a “50 gallon batch.”
WE THINK OF IT AS 50 gallons of sweet tea PLUS the starter and SCOBY.
However, some people say “50 gallon batch” meaning that they have a 50 gallon vessel and need to back out the space for the starter liquid and SCOBY. In terms of your recipe, the answer is really just based on flavor.
If you want to reduce the amount of tea and sugar you are using to match the exact number of gallons of water, or if you LIKE the taste you have based on the current recipe, you can leave it as is.
These kinds of variations are exactly the small changes that can help you dial in the perfect flavor/recipe for your brew/environment/conditions.
