Filtering Kombucha Before Drinking
If you notice a new SCOBY in your bottle, you can easily filter it out of your kombucha before drinking. When you are ready to serve, pour the kombucha into a glass through a fine mesh strainer. That’s it; your SCOBY is gone, and your kombucha is ready to drink.
Consuming the New SCOBY
The new SCOBY layer in your bottle is entirely edible and packed with beneficial microorganisms. If you don’t mind the texture, you can eat it. You’d not be alone if eating it straight up doesn’t sound appetizing. There are quite a few ways to cook with or process the SCOBY. Check out our recipe forkombucha fruit leathers; if you’re unfamiliar with fruit leathers, think Fruit Roll Ups™ made with SCOBY and fruit.
Saving the Second Fermentation Scoby
Yes, you can keep this SCOBY or add it to aSCOBY hotel, but trying to brew with it alone isn’t very practical.
First of all, the size of this SCOBY will probably be minimal. On its own, it won’t be able to provide much for starting a new batch.
Secondly, it has probably come from a flavored batch. While this is fine to use, it is against the best kombucha brewing practice to keep kombucha flavorings out of the scoby hotels and to start new batches with unflavored ones, saving the flavor for bottling.
