Rob Whyte, Hippie Kombucha, Australia

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I tried my first Kombucha in 2013 at a local Fremantle Restaurant, and was unlike anything I’d ever tried. I came back specifically a few times just for this, it was unlabeled and served sparkling from a 1L bottle with our meal.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

It’s such a fulfilling industry, both from a personal & health perspective.  I wanted to take my skills of managing & growing business, into an industry that I was actually passionate about, and enjoyed being a part of daily.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

I guess you always crave what you can’t have, and I really loved GT’s Original when I was over in the US. It was my go to for a couple of weeks, and has no doubt had some impact on our own brewing style.

Q: What is your former/current other life or career?

Financial Consulting for 25 years, until Kombucha found me, and dragged me away from an unfulfilling industry.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

I borrowed this one from the late Wayne Dyer a number of years ago, and to this day it still resonates strongly, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”.

 

Kristin Zerbin, Hoochy Booch Kombucha, Canada

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I discovered Kombucha back in 2013 while I was working as a meditation teacher at Chopra Yoga. I saw a bottle on the shelf and gave it a shake (classic kombucha mistake) and it exploded on me at the store. It didn’t deter me from drinking it though.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I started drinking Kombucha out of a need to heal my gut. After a long trip abroad I came home and my gut was just off. I went to the doctor and they found “nothing wrong with me” and offered me anti-depressants. I then took it upon myself to heal myself. I changed my diet and lifestyle but it wasn’t until I found & started drinking Kombucha that I truly started to feel better.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Wow, tough one for sure. I love unique flavours or something that is not too sweet. I’d say either lavender or hibiscus profiles would be my favourite. Or turmeric. I like my ‘booch more on the drier side.

Q: What is your former/current other life or career?

I’m a Jill of all trades, so to speak. I am trained as a doula and makeup artist, I’ve also dabbled in meditation and selling raw treats. I love anything that allows my creativity to shine through so now I do some product creation for other companies and more recently dabbling into herbs and women’s health.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Everything is figure-out-able – Marie Forleo. It’s true right? You eventually can figure it all out if you allow for enough patience + creativity.