Lari Laurikkala, Nokkos Company, Finland

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

A: It was in 2009 at a lecture about chaga mushroom, where this Grand Old Herbal Lady first talked about the greatness of chaga and then about how it gets even better when fermented into kombucha. She gave me my first scoby which I’ve kept alive since then and all the Nokkos Kombuchas are made with!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

A: To make fun and tasty things out of what the Finnish nature has to offer. I wanted to put my hands into making a drink as pure and good as possible and to see how people enjoy drinking it!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

A: Sea-buckthorn kombucha by a Finnish ”The Brand 9” is super! They have done a great job in harnessing this powerful berry into kombucha that is very delightful to drink.

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

A: I’ve worked as a product developer in the health food industry all my life. My previous career was at Four Sigmatic spreading the goodness of medicinal mushrooms.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

A: “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” – Aristotle