Urban Kitchen Kombucha Starter Kit with Organic SCOBY, Starter Liquid, 1 Gallon Glass Jar and Temp Gauge Review (2026)

What is in the kit

The kit includes a USDA-certified organic SCOBY and starter liquid, a 1 gallon wide-mouth glass jar, a breathable jar cover, an adhesive temperature gauge, organic loose-leaf tea, organic cane sugar and a reusable tea bag, along with instructions. That is a fuller bundle than a SCOBY-only listing, since the jar, tea and sugar for the first batch are all included rather than left for the buyer to source before brewing can even begin. The SCOBYs are grown from a blend of organic tea, organic cane sugar and triple-filtered water and are lab tested before shipping, according to the seller, which is worth knowing since SCOBY quality varies a lot between sellers.

The glass jar and cover

The included jar is a 1 gallon size with a wide mouth and thick glass walls, the standard scale for a home kombucha batch. A breathable cover ships with it to let the active ferment exchange gas while keeping fruit flies and dust out, the traditional low-cost way to cover an open kombucha jar. Thick-walled glass is worth noting for anyone new to brewing, since kombucha jars sometimes see hot tea poured in before it has fully cooled, and a sturdier jar wall handles that temperature swing more comfortably than thin glass, reducing the chance of a cracked jar during the first batch.

How the temp gauge works

The adhesive temperature gauge is a thin strip applied to the outside of the jar that changes to show the current temperature range, similar to an aquarium or reptile tank strip thermometer. It only reports the temperature; it does not add or remove any heat itself, so if a kitchen or pantry runs cold, kombucha fermentation will slow down regardless of what the gauge reads, and a separate heat source like a warming mat is needed to actually raise the temperature. The gauge's job is purely diagnostic, telling a brewer whether the spot they picked is warm enough.

Care of the adhesive gauge

Because the temperature strip is an adhesive sticker on the outside of the jar, repeated washing of the jar around it, especially in a dishwasher or with a scrubbing brush, can cause the edges to lift or the strip to peel off entirely over time. Hand washing carefully around the strip, or replacing it once it stops reading clearly, keeps this feature useful for longer. This is a minor, expected wear point for adhesive gauges generally rather than something specific to this kit, and it does not affect the fermentation itself once it has peeled.

Who should buy it

This kit suits a first-time kombucha brewer who wants the culture, jar, tea and sugar for a first batch bundled together rather than sourced piece by piece, and who appreciates having a rough temperature check built in from day one. It is a good option for someone who does not already own a gallon jar and would otherwise need to buy tea and sugar separately before brewing at all. Anyone brewing in a consistently cold room should plan to add a separate heat source, such as a wrap or mat, since the included gauge only tells you the temperature rather than changing it, and cold kombucha ferments slowly no matter how accurately it is measured.

Frequently asked questions