Kombucha Fail
First fermentation was done with black tea, and it developed mold. Mold was seen on day 7-8 of the fermentation both times. I don't know what I am doing wrong?!
I’m fermenting it in a kitchen cupboard/dark space. I sterilized the jars by placing them in hot water before starting.
The first time, I used a metal cap and burped the jar almost every day. I also sanitized my hands before burping it. The second time, I covered the jar with a muslin cloth instead.
What’s confusing me is that I used the same jar and the same process in Pokhara, and it worked fine. I’m now doing it in Kathmandu, and I’ve gotten mold twice. Could this be due to differences in temperature, humidity, water quality, or something else about the environment in Kathmandu? Or is there something in my process that I’m overlooking?
What would you check or change first?