This posting is probably more relevant in the middle of Canada's winter, but I only discovered this trick last night.  The majority of Kombucha books and some online experts agree that you should brew in a glass Bowl.  I always brew in a glass container, not a bowl.  My container is taller and has a smaller opening and the glass bowl is shorter and has a much wider opening.

When I first learned about kombucha from a friend of mine, I remember being taught that the bigger the opening the better.  So last night I re-bottled 8 litres of kombucha, one from a container, the other from a glass bowl.  I had decided to use a bowl since I wanted to try it as an experiment.  They had both fermented for 6 days and just from using a bowl there was a big difference.  It was sour, so sour, in fact I probably won't be able to drink it.  It was a good learning experience though!

Moral of story is: 

• if you want kombucha in a really short period use a bowl (try for 3-4 days, not 6 like me).  The larger the opening the more air circulation the more fermentation! 
• Or if it's winter time try a bowl, it's cold so fermentation takes longer and a bowl speeds it up.
• If you need a lot of babies use a bowl.  More surface area, one large culture you can cut up for many babies!
• Don't try pouring with a bowl to re-bottle, it's a disaster!  Use a ladle and a funnel.