SCOBY-like growth on CWKefir?

[Pamela Reilly, Naturopathic Nutritionist]

Hi, all. I’ve had a great batch of coconut water kefir brewing and noticed today that it has grown a thin, flat disc across the top that looks very similar to a SCOBY. Any idea what this might be? Taste and odor are unchaged, and the grains continue growing normally underneath. Thanks in advance for your help! Blessings!

 

Pamela Reilly, Naturopathic Nutritionist, CNHP, CNC, CPH

Blog: http://goodworkswellness.blogspot.com

Twitter: @IndyHealer

[Elizabeth Evans]

It might be either a yeast or mold.

Or it could even be something scoby-like! A scoby is a natural
formation of collagen created by a symbiotic colony of yeast and
bacteria. If you grow kombucha nearby, it could be some beasties from
that have cross-contaminated your kefir. They WILL continue growing
in substances other than pure sweetened tea.

Natural vinegars also produce a "mother," a floating cloud-like gel.

Most lacto-ferments will eventually grow a thin layer of either mold
or yeast on the top that can be skimmed off with a spoon or even
lifted out whole, if it thick enough to the little clumps to adhere to
each other. Although it goes against everything you learned about
kitchen safety growing up, as long as it looks/tastes normal, the
ferment underneath is safe to eat.

If is is cross-contamination from some culture with acetic acid
forming bacteria, though, your kefir grains may eventually start
tasting vinegary. Kombucha, apple cider vinegar, and fruit flies all
are potential sources of acetobacteria.

Elizabeth

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[Jamie]

My water kefir has always done this also. I do have Kombucha brewing in my kitchen as well. I try to keep them separate, but they are about 5 feet away from each other. I just pull the cloudy mass off the top and chuck it in the compost before straining the kefir. The drink still tastes fine, I think it's just a protective film that develops because of the exposure to air. I notice that this happens to all my ferments, there is always a layer that develops on top. I just do like Elizabeth says, and skim it off and drink the juice beneath.