Updated Jan 18, 2024
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How long does a SCOBY last?
Can I re-use my SCOBY and if so, how many times? How long does a SCOBY last? This article answers those questions and more!
Recall that the SCOBY is a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast that loves to digest sweet tea and leave us with delicious Kombucha. It can be found throughout the starter liquid and fermenting kombucha and is also highly concentrated in the pellicle which typically floats on top the the kombucha. Read
This pellicle is often called the SCOBY and is comprised of many compounds and several living organisms. It is mainly composed of cellulose, a by product of the kombucha fermentation process. Cellulose is the main component of cell walls and vegetable fibers. Cotton is 90% cellulose and wood is ~40%.
Can I reuse my kombucha SCOBY?
Yes! With some simple care, kombucha cultures can be reused many times.
You are encouraged to use SCOBY from one batch to the next along with ~10% liquid culture (unflavored kombucha from your last batch). This creates an ideal environment to give a strong start to the kombucha fermentation.
Can a kombucha SCOBY go bad?
There are a two main causes for a SCOBY to go bad:
- Your SCOBY has mold (see my guide to identifying SCOBY mold) in this case is must be discarded and replaced.
- The SCOBY has dried out. Sometimes SCOBYs in a a SCOBY Hotel are forgotten about and the liquid evaporates allowing them to dry out and no longer be able to stave off mold growth.
How long does a SCOBY last?
Any individual SCOBY can typically brew for 6-9 months but in reality you generally use the newest one from your latest batch so it’s likely you will have switched to a new baby SCOBY before then. The pellicle (or mother) will multiply, typically as a thin layer on the top of your fermenting Kombucha. You may choose to store the original SCOBY in a SCOBY Hotel, compost it, or even use it in cooking.
When to replace your SCOBY
The most common reason to need to replace your SCOBY is if it has developed mold (see Is my kombucha moldy?.)
The other main cause is if you notice that it is continuously struggling to ferment and taking longer than normal. After troubleshooting your fermentation if there is no improvement your best bet is to start over with a new, strong culture.
If you find yourself with an underperforming or weak SCOBY you can obtain a new one, take one from your SCOBY hotel if you have one, or grow your own. Here are instructions on how to grow a SCOBY from scratch.
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