SCOBY
Encyclopedia
SCOBY is an acronym standing for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast and refers exclusively to the mat formed by living Kombucha
cultures during the fermentation process. The word 'Colony' is sometimes incorrectly inserted for 'Culture.'
While many fermented foods form a culture, the term SCOBY refers only to the Kombucha
culture and was invented by Len Porzio during the mid-1990's while a member of the Kombucha Listserv.
Len Porzio, author of the world famous Kombucha: The Balancing Act, , on how the term SCOBY came into being: "At the time, we (the KT listserv group) had been discussing the symbiotic relationship between the yeast and bacteria while in parallel conversations we were having difficulty distinguishing between the fermented tea and the white, pancake culture as they were both being referred to as 'Kombucha.' During one such confused discussion I began toying with some acronyms and suggested to the group we come up with some kind of name like SCOBY (short for 'Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast'.) I assumed someone would come up with a better name, but it stuck. Colleen Allen, the list administrator list back then, did me the favor of registering it online as an official acronym. Obviously, it’s still used today!"
Other terms sometimes used to describe a SCOBY include Culture, Mother, Baby or Mushroom.
Kombucha
Kombucha is an effervescent tea-based beverage that is often drunk for its anecdotal health benefits or medicinal purposes. Kombucha is available commercially and can be made at home by fermenting tea using a visible, solid mass of yeast and bacteria which forms the kombucha culture, often referred...
cultures during the fermentation process. The word 'Colony' is sometimes incorrectly inserted for 'Culture.'
While many fermented foods form a culture, the term SCOBY refers only to the Kombucha
Kombucha
Kombucha is an effervescent tea-based beverage that is often drunk for its anecdotal health benefits or medicinal purposes. Kombucha is available commercially and can be made at home by fermenting tea using a visible, solid mass of yeast and bacteria which forms the kombucha culture, often referred...
culture and was invented by Len Porzio during the mid-1990's while a member of the Kombucha Listserv.
Len Porzio, author of the world famous Kombucha: The Balancing Act, , on how the term SCOBY came into being: "At the time, we (the KT listserv group) had been discussing the symbiotic relationship between the yeast and bacteria while in parallel conversations we were having difficulty distinguishing between the fermented tea and the white, pancake culture as they were both being referred to as 'Kombucha.' During one such confused discussion I began toying with some acronyms and suggested to the group we come up with some kind of name like SCOBY (short for 'Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast'.) I assumed someone would come up with a better name, but it stuck. Colleen Allen, the list administrator list back then, did me the favor of registering it online as an official acronym. Obviously, it’s still used today!"
Other terms sometimes used to describe a SCOBY include Culture, Mother, Baby or Mushroom.