How Do Fruit Flies Ruin Kombucha?
WouterFruit flies are not necessarily harmful for kombucha. They provide essential nutrients and carbonation to the bacteria in the tea. The yeast hangs from the SCOBY and can form a thick layer on the bottom of the fermentation vessel. Nevertheless, removing the yeast from your kombucha is important to prevent it from destroying the SCOBY. When cleaning your kombucha fermentation vessel, make sure to wash it with vinegar to avoid fruit fly contamination. During this process, you should make sure that the cultures are separated from each other and covered in a separate vessel.
If you notice that the fruit flies have been coming into your kombucha, you can make a simple trap for them. You can use plastic wrap and place a rubber band or toothpick through it to trap them. While it may seem like an unnecessary step, this simple trick is incredibly effective.
A coffee filter or a tightly-woven dish towel is an excellent lid for kombucha. You can also use fabric or kitchen paper, but make sure it is tight-woven. You can also use canning jar rings to secure the fabric over the top of the jar. The lid must be tight enough to keep fruit flies and other pests out.
Fortunately, it is not difficult to make kombucha at home. The process takes a little time and produces a safe fermented tea. Regardless of your level of expertise, you should familiarize yourself with proper food handling procedures to avoid potential problems.
