I first learned about KT from the classic SOAD song, "Sugar".
They
have a rather short music-video clip on their website,
SystemOfADown.com. Highly recommended. Click on Media,
then turn off
the intro music before scrolling down to the "Sugar" song.
I have Kombucha available year-round. Previously, I could send
out KT
via USPS for $5.00, but the local post office is erratic and sometimes
holds the KT for inspection. I do not prefer to mail USPS at
this
time.
I have zero hassles thru UPS and I am currently preferring to send via
The UPS Store. Mail costs have increased to $11.00 ground, to
most US
locations. That is for a 1 lb. bottle of KT. UPS Store
have specific
hours which means, time permiting I can usually only ship out on weekdays after 5 p.m. or mornings Saturdays. Usually Saturdays are best for me.
Residence only, no PO Boxes. Online tracking numbers are emailed same
day as shipment.
I prefer to oxyenate KT solution with a few drops of industrial-
strength 10% hydrogen peroxide (available in health food stores), this
keeps the micro-organisms mininumly aereated while it is completely
sealed in a viable state during shipment. I use 0.5 ltr. purified
water bottles for KT shipment. This helps to guage weight,as
500cc
of water = 500 grms or <= 1 lb.
Note: hydrogen peroxide is non-toxic and harmless and dissipates out
of KT solution in a few days.
As for the so-called "baby", somewhat akin to a mushroom "spawn" or
mycelium strands, it contains the SCOBY - Symbiotic Colony Of Yeast
and Bacteria, and I typically slice it into sections to ship
it out
under 1 lb. of weight or 500 cc. of volume.
BTW there is no fundamental difference
With the biologically-active liquid medium and the "mushroom cap" or "baby",
just as mycelium is no different than the actual mushroom itself.
It's just your basic Microbiology 101 here. Inoculum is inoculum, and the micro-organisms are still there.
If you can send minimum shipping costs of $11, I will pack and send
out KT ASAP. If you live in local area of Central Florida, I
can
deliver for free or almost free, depending on location.
I can include limited paper-copy instructions for steps to begin the process, i.e., innoculating your tea-sugar solution and brewing of the KT, however you can
search for this info yourself or go directly to these news groups:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Microbial_Nutrition/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/original_kombucha/
On Usenet, try:
rec.food.drink.tea
for occasional Kombucha info.
Nathan M. Gant
P.O. Box 621912
Oviedo, FL 32762-1912
I'm listed on Gunter Frank's Kombucha
Exchange. If you want to find others in your area who will share
KT with you, go to this link:
http://www.kombu.de/suche2.htm#uk