That's unfortunate :[ I was told to think of it more like a pet than a beverage. I kept mine in a cupboard next to the fridge. After the 10 day ferment, I added crushed lemons and ginger root, let them steep for an additional day, then filtered it. I'd like to try with green tea next time.
It made it slightly sweeter but added carbonation for sure. It's an important factor for me because I feel I've slowly been cultivating a soft drink addiction after Asia (you get sick of water when you drink about 3 litres every day) and I feel it would be a great/healthier alternative. I've heard of simply mixing it with carbonated water after, but I don't want to dilute the taste too much. I think we'll be firing up our 2nd batch today. We'll add a bit more sugar and taste it after 5 days this time. It's strange that my friend told me about a 6-10 days ferment not 10-14... What ratio sugar/tea do you put?