We all know and love our SCOBY cultures, right? The traditional, delicious, probiotic and enzyme rich beverage they create known as kombucha has been consumed for centuries in Russia although its origins are based in China.
Those of you who have been making this healthful drink for any length of time know that after awhile, you have quite a few extra cultures each time you ferment a batch. You can either give these away to friends who want to start brewing their own kombucha or you can use them to make the best compost.
BUT!
Warning. The following is from the Real Food X-Files.
Did you ever think that your leftover kombucha cultures could be used to make organic clothing?
Grow not only your own food, but your own clothing as well?
Fashion designer Suzanne Lee is doing just that by harvesting kombucha cultures to make organic, sustainable clothing from shoes to jackets and vests.
The kombucha fibers are made of pure cellulose spun by the beneficial bacteria and yeasts that comprise the culture, in essence a microbial version of silkworms spinning silk!
Check out this short TED video where Suzanne Lee demonstrates this intriguing process she has developed for growing rather than manufacturing clothing.
More Information
Want to know more about kombucha? Â These articles provide more detail for your research.
Fluoride in Kombucha: Should You Be Concerned?
Can Candida Sufferers Drink Kombucha?
Does Kombucha Prevent Grey Hair?
Batch vs Continuous Brew Kombucha
Have You Tried Kombucha?
Safe Traveling with Kombucha
Kombucha: Drink It and …. Wear It? – The Healthy Home Economist: http://t.co/bDl96oU
THAT is amazing!!! Wow!
Does anyone know where I can obtain komboucha cultures? I live in Peru, South America.
Thanks.
Hi Melanie, try laurelfarms.com I believe they ship cultures all over the world.
I live in Lima and I know of at least one man who sales it, and other cultures. Look for me on facebook “joe anstett”, and send me a message. (I’m the gringo with a Peruvian wife in my photo. )
you can sometimes grow your own if you have some kombucha.
Who would have thought that all those extra “babies” in my fridge could be a “denim” jacket – haha!!
I hear it can also be used as skin replacement…
That is amazing.
Oh, and I do plan on making soap out of kombucha, too, for my natural soap business!
Wow, did not expect that! When you said wear it, I thought as a facial mask or something! Wonder how it would do for cloth diaper fabrics?
I was thinking face masks too!
I have read that it is good for a mask treatment- lay the scoby on your face…
Kombucha: Drink It and …. Wear It? – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/Pg5JW82
I laughed when I saw this because my daughter has been trying to figure out how the extra kombucha cultures could be used! It’s such a sturdy, almost indestructable material. Thanks for sharing!