How to Move Kombucha and Bacteria Cultures

Posted on: 25 June 2017

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If you like to make your own kombucha, you may be wondering what to do with your supply during your move. With the right preparation, your cultures and possibly even your kombucha can easily survive the move. Here's what you need to know

1. Drink Prepared Kombucha

If you have kombucha that is prepared and ready to drink, that needs to stay refrigerated. If left out, the liquid can get vinegary in taste. It can also release carbon dioxide, which has the same effect as shaking up a closed can of beer or any other carbonated beverage.

If you are just moving across town or to another nearby location, you can put the kombucha in a cooler, transport it to your new location in your car and put it back in the refrigerator. Don't pack it in the removals truck, or it may take too long to find and unpack. However, for long moves, you should just drink all of your kombucha.

2. Make a Scoby Hotel

Although you've figured out how to keep your kombucha refrigerated, you still need to deal with the scoby. Scoby stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria, and as you know, it's the starter you need to make your kombucha.

So your cultures can survive the move, you should make a scoby hotel. Find a large jar. Buy one at a craft store, or just get an extra large container of pickles at the market, eat the pickles, clean the jar and use that. Start by cleaning the jar thoroughly. Then, place your scobies inside of it. Add a cupful of tea to the mixture to keep it moist.

The scobies need to breathe so don't put the lid on top of the jar. Instead, make a porous lid using a thin piece of cotton fabric or a couple of coffee filters. Secure the filter with a rubber band.

3. Pack the Hotel Carefully

To thrive, the scoby needs to stay in a cool dark place. If you are moving in the winter, the removals truck will likely be cooler than your car. To pack your scoby for transit in a removals truck, put the jar in an insulated box.

Pack the extra space with packing peanuts or ripped up newspaper to cradle the jar. Then, place the entire package inside another box. This box should be cardboard to allow for breathing. Place several layers of bubble wrap over the top of the insulated box, and then close the cardboard flaps. Label the box, "this side up" and draw an arrow on it. Do this on every side of the box, so it isn't likely to get tipped over.

In the summer, your car is likely cooler than the back of the removals truck. In your car, you can watch the package more carefully so you don't have to package it as well. Just put the jar in a cardboard box to keep the sun off. Then, put it in a spot where it won't get jostled about.

Contact a packing supplies company for more information and assistance.