Source
r/Kombucha•
DoubleDVa

Do you guys wash your pellicle?

question

I'm kind of a noob when it comes to booch... It was something I grew up with so all I know is the bits I've learned from this sub and how my grandma kept hers.

I drink mine straight from the starter, and let it go wild. I feed it once every 2-4 months. As it's getting older, my pellicle is forming long strands of yeast. My mom told me I'm supposed to wash that off the pellicle. I'm so crazy about introducing something into the brew that I refuse to take them out.

Do you guys wash your pellicles?! Should I just leave it be with the yeast hairs?

Posted Mar 22, 2021, 11:01 PM UTC

35
Agafue•

Once I was reading about SCOBY hotel maintenance, and it said that over a long time period (~several months) the yeast will grow faster than the bacteria and knock off the balance between the two. They recommended filtering the liquid through a filter like a cheesecloth to remove some of the biggest yeast strands before placing the liquid and pellicle back in the hotel.

I know this isn't exactly what you're asking but... it sounds like it might be beneficial to remove some yeast if you have a continuous batch going for a long time? Whether filtering the liquid or washing the pellicle is the best way to go about it, I'm not sure! I've just started brewing recently so I haven't run into this yet.

4
DoubleDVaOP•

This is helpful, thank you! I'll rinse it off.

3
wingmasterjon•

I just throw away any bad looking pellicles. They'll grow back nicer and you really don't need much if any at all. And they take up a bunch of room in your vessel if you let it grow forever. Many brewers just get rid of it all together as it accumulates. But you should probably wring it out first and not throw away some good booch.

3
DoubleDVaOP•

Mine look great, they just have yeast strings growing from the bottom.

1
vitusventure•

I throw mine in the garbage every time I bottle.

1