How to Grow Tea Mushroom at Home: Detailed Instructions

Tea mushroom is a drink that is formed by the symbiosis of yeast and bacteria. It is believed to have originated in China. Tea mushroom was quite popular as a refreshing drink.

What is the tea mushroom and why is it useful?

As we have already said, the tea mushroom is a symbiosis of yeast and bacteria, on its basis “tea kvass” is prepared. Such a drink is especially loved by supporters of folk medicine – it is believed that it has a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, relatively recently the tea mushroom has become a fashionable drink “Kombucha”. Fruits, berries, and vegetables are added to it, and it is made on the basis of green or red tea.

In general, tea mushroom is considered almost a “magic pill” for many diseases and a good tonic, but doctors still do not recommend using it regularly as a medicine.

How to grow tea mushrooms at home

  • brew strong tea – in 0.5 water, pour 5-6 tsp of brew and 5-7 tbsp of sugar;
  • insist on it for 15-20 minutes;
  • strain and cool the drink;
  • Pour it into a large container, and cover it with a piece of gauze or cotton cloth;
  • Store in a warm place at a temperature of 20-23 ° C.

You can also make tea mushrooms with additives – after straining the drink you need to pour berries or fruit, and spread it in jars. Be careful – leave 5-7 from the edge for the free fermentation process. Next, you need to close the drink tightly and leave it at room temperature for 2-3 days.

How long does the tea mushroom grow and how to take care of it

Tea mushroom grows for about two weeks before the vinegar smell starts to come from the jar. If you notice it, it means fermentation is going well. After another week, you will see a film on the surface of the mushroom – when it reaches a thickness of 1-2 cm, all the liquid in the jar should be replaced with cold tea. In this case, it is important to be careful – any damage to the mushroom will lead to its death.

Taking care of the mushroom, follow a few simple rules:

  • Keep only in a container of not less than 2 liters;
  • Do not keep in a draft, cold and sunlight;
  • Do not sprinkle sugar and tea on the body of the mushroom;
  • Regularly wash the mushroom in clean water;
  • Change the water regularly.

Sometimes it happens that the procedure for growing the mushroom does not go according to plan, then the question arises, “How to save a tea mushroom if it has drowned?” In that case, you should pay attention to whether the tea mushroom has risen after you have changed the liquid. It has three days to rise, if after that time it has not risen – then it is bad. There could be three reasons for this:

  • You rinsed the mushroom with tap water, ice water, or boiling water;
  • too long without changing the infusion or taking a dirty jar;
  • You did not follow the temperature regime.

Experienced owners of tea mushrooms say that they can drown because of improper separation.
What part should be separated from the tea mushroom – the rules of separation
In the process of growing a tea mushroom, it is important to choose the right moment when the “jellyfish” can be separated. This should be done when the mushroom has grown to 8-9 cm and will occupy most of the jar, and a film appears on top of the “jellyfish” and begins to flake off.

This is when the tea mushroom is ready for separation. It’s not hard to do – you need to take the extreme top of the mushroom and start separating the layers. Once you’ve done this, leave the bottom layer (from which you separated) in the jar, and place the second (top) layer in the jar with the tea-sugar solution.

Cutting, tearing, or forcibly stratifying the tea mushroom is not allowed, as such interference in the growth of the “jellyfish” can lead to the death of the fungus.

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Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

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