Strength in Numbers Member Drive

VOLUNTEER FOR THE KBI ANNUAL MEMBER DRIVE JAN 25 – FEB 15, 2021 Many hands make light work.Teamwork makes the dream work.We grow together. Here at KBI, we are a grassroots organization with a small, yet dedicated staff and passionate volunteers who donate their time, energy and brainpower to stabilize and grow our beloved Kombucha […]

Wednesday, 20th January 2021

VOLUNTEER FOR THE KBI ANNUAL MEMBER DRIVE JAN 25 - FEB 15, 2021

Many hands make light work.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
We grow together.

Here at KBI, we are a grassroots organization with a small, yet dedicated staff and passionate volunteers who donate their time, energy and brainpower to stabilize and grow our beloved Kombucha industry.

The pandemic of 2020 which is continuing into 2021 has thrown sharp focus onto our collective societal and individual weaknesses.

Health and Immunity are the top words on everyone’s mind and KOMBUCHA can be a valuable tool to achieve good health and strong immune systems.

And it has also illuminated the many ways in which we can continue to grow as an industry and evolve to meet the changing needs of our consumers, supply chain and distribution outlets. To that end, we’ve introduced monthly recurring memberships to help our BIPs/T1s/T2s & ADJ (water kefir!) members gain access to vital resources while retaining flexibility.

Many brands, even in the face of seeming insurmountable challenges, remained resilient and have established even deeper roots with their community.

Let us help you grow your business as we “change the world, one gut at a time.”

Be like Corey & Volunteer Today!

Volunteer Requirements

Able to make phone calls 1-3 hours per week
Access to a computer to take notes
Passion to share about your experience with KBI

How It Works

Sign up today
Make calls (script & training provided)
Take notes
Report feedback

Share a Testimonial

Schedule too busy but still want to help? Then send us an email and we’ll share them here and on our YouTube channel!

The KBI Admin team will be send out follow up emails based on your notes. Thank you for your support & participation!

Any video submissions become the property of KBI.

Meet Our Members -Meduzyna Kombucha (Poland)

Magda Wolska, Meduzyna Kombucha, Warsaw, Poland Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Several years ago I saw that one of the food trucks in Hawaii was selling homemade kombucha. I didn’t try it back then, but read about it and really liked the idea that everyone can make it at home. Some time later […]

Wednesday, 20th January 2021

Magda Wolska, Meduzyna Kombucha, Warsaw, Poland

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Several years ago I saw that one of the food trucks in Hawaii was selling homemade kombucha. I didn’t try it back then, but read about it and really liked the idea that everyone can make it at home. Some time later I discovered bottled kombucha in Barcelona, tried several local brands, and was hooked. I liked that there is such a variety of flavours and profiles of this drink. After that I looked for local brands every time I travelled abroad.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

After working at a big corporation for seven years I decided to change my career and start my own business. I was always very passionate about food and at that time experimented with kombucha a lot. I think that in Poland, where there is a big tradition of fermenting food (people used to make kombucha here in 1914), there is a place for a tea-centered kombucha brand. I started this business with my boyfriend, who works as a software engineer, and enjoys designing and constructing the brewery process in his free time. My sister helps us with sales and production.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

Osmanthus kombucha made with green tea and dried osmanthus flowers produced by Bärbucha Kombucha from Berlin.

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

I had a career in finance.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Think for yourself, question authority.

Meet Our Members -Jacks Kombucha (United Kingdom)

Tim Orr, Jacks Kombucha, Constantine, United Kingdom Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Riding a motorcycle across America. By the end of the ride my biggest issue was where to get my next bottle. My route looked like a tour of Wholefoods locations! Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? I love […]

Friday, 15th January 2021

Tim Orr, Jacks Kombucha, Constantine, United Kingdom

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Riding a motorcycle across America. By the end of the ride my biggest issue was where to get my next bottle. My route looked like a tour of Wholefoods locations!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I love the art of brewing and to be able to create a sustainable business that has as little environmental impact as possible. Love Local!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

Whalebird dry hopped pamplemousse. It rocks!!!

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

Motorcycle Tour Guide

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Be kind and do the right thing

Meet Our Members – Babes Boocha! (Canada)

Mel Tremblay, Babes Boocha!, Hanover, Canada Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I was first introduced to kombucha in 2018. A former employer had brought some scobys to work as she had too many to keep up with. I was instantly fascinated by this culture and the benefits she informed me of. At the […]

Thursday, 10th December 2020

Mel Tremblay, Babes Boocha!, Hanover, Canada

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I was first introduced to kombucha in 2018. A former employer had brought some scobys to work as she had too many to keep up with. I was instantly fascinated by this culture and the benefits she informed me of. At the time I was diving deep into nutrition and its effects on the body. An effort to ease my husband’s psoriasis.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

2018 was the first time I’d ever heard of kombucha. In our small rural area of Southern Ontario, there were only a handful of people that had heard of it at that time. I saw a healthy product, and a gap that needed to be filled and anyone I’d shared my brew with loved it. Win win! I run a very small brewery, roughly 288 square feet. Small but mighty, with lots of love poured into every bottle.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

Apple of my Chai by Laurentian Brew Kombucha in Ottawa Valley.

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

I was a server for many years, switched into automotive for a while, tried the factory life, but landed at Canada Post. I love being outside and interacting with the community. I’m a part time letter carrier which gives me time to pursue my kombucha brewery dreams as well.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meet Our Members – Apple Blossom Kombucha Co (MI)

Caley Gunthorpe, Apple Blossom Kombucha Co, East Lansing, MI, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I actually discovered kombucha while training for bodybuilding shows in 2010, trying to get my gut health in check. My first experience was GTs Synergy Trilogy, and it was love at first sip as we all say! Q: […]

Friday, 27th November 2020

Caley Gunthorpe, Apple Blossom Kombucha Co, East Lansing, MI, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?
I actually discovered kombucha while training for bodybuilding shows in 2010, trying to get my gut health in check. My first experience was GTs Synergy Trilogy, and it was love at first sip as we all say!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?
I think like most of us, the cost of kombucha became quite a lot (as then a young college student) so I began brewing on my own. Little by little I found myself sharing my kombucha with others. Then decided I should go all in!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?
Sacred Springs, any flavor! They make such cool flavor combinations, and also Michigan Made! 🙂

Q: What is your former/current other life or career?
Just recently I gave up my full time career as a Health and Physical Education teacher to pursue kombucha full time! It was the perfect transition time for me, I just had a baby (now 6 months!) and am expanding to a new brewery. Although I still personal train and teach group fitness on the side 🙂

Q: What is a saying that you live by?
Those who think they have no time for health and wellness now, will have to find time for illness later.

Comparison of Rare Combinations LLC’s Kombucha Alcohol Detector to GC-FID

108 Coronado Ct. Suite B Fort Collins, CO 80525 info@beyersanalytical.com (970) 226-8649 Introduction Rare Combinations LLC contracted Beyers Analytical Brewing Sciences (BABS) to provide an impartial and critical review of their Kombucha Alcohol Detector. BABS is an analytical laboratory based in Fort Collins, Colorado that is dedicated to developing and performing chemical and microbiological measurements […]

Monday, 15th June 2020

108 Coronado Ct.
Suite B
Fort Collins, CO 80525

info@beyersanalytical.com

(970) 226-8649

Introduction

Rare Combinations LLC contracted Beyers Analytical Brewing Sciences (BABS) to provide an impartial and critical review of their Kombucha Alcohol Detector. BABS is an analytical laboratory based in Fort Collins, Colorado that is dedicated to developing and performing chemical and microbiological measurements for kombucha and beer producers. The analysts at BABS are certified beer chemists with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and are qualified to provide accurate measurements of components within beverage products. BABS provides education for kombucha producers regarding analytical techniques that can be used to monitor their products. The low level of ethanol required for non-alcoholic kombucha necessitates quick, affordable, and reliable testing that can be used to measure levels at or below 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Methodology

BABS compared the Rare Combinations LLC Kombucha Alcohol Detector (KAD) to gas chromatography paired with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) utilizing AOAC 2016.12. Standards were purchased from Cerilliant when applicable. Quality controls were made from grain alcohol and analytically proofed using a calibrated Anton-Paar DMA4500 densitometer that provides accurate density readings to five decimal places (± 0.00001). Five kombucha samples were purchased from a local grocery store and tested by GC-FID and KAD in duplicate to allow comparison. The KAD was operated according to instructions provided by Rare Combinations LLC. The ABV read-out and the raw value read‑out were recorded for each sample measured by the KAD. All sample measurements were performed in duplicate and occurred at room temperature (22-23~C).

Results

The KAD instrument interface provides sample measurement results reported as ABV from a factory-installed calibration curve as well as the ability to make a custom calibration curve using raw data from the detector’s response. We decided to evaluate the accuracy of the instrument using the factory-installed calibration curve as well as using its capability to generate a custom calibration curve for alcohol. The table below compares the results from GC-FID, the KAD factory-installed calibration curve, and the KAD custom calibration curve.

Table 1: Comparison of alcohol values determined by GC-FID and KAD

Sample	Measured ABV (%) (GC-FID)	Measured ABV (%) (KAD – Factory Curve)	Measured ABV (%) (KAD – Custom Curve)
Kombucha 1	0.35 ± 0.01	0.44 ± 0.05	0.32 ± 0.05
Kombucha 2	0.82 ± 0.01	0.79 ± 0.05	0.76 ± 0.05
Kombucha 3	0.60 ± 0.01	0.63 ± 0.05	0.54 ± 0.05
Kombucha 4	0.86 ± 0.01	0.78 ± 0.05	0.76 ± 0.05
Kombucha 5	0.16 ± 0.01	0.25 ± 0.05	0.14 ± 0.05
QC 0.75%	0.74 ± 0.01	0.68 ± 0.05	0.77 ± 0.05

Discussion

The KAD version that we used can provide comparable results to the GC-FID using either the factory-installed calibration curve or the custom calibration curve. However, we would recommend that each customer who purchases the KAD take the time to build their own calibration curve on site and determine what curve fit works best for them.

Final Recommendations

The KAD can be a powerful tool for spot-checking alcohol concentrations in day-to-day operations. Taking the time to develop an on-site, instrument-specific calibration curve for each KAD can potentially increase accuracy. Any instrument is only as good as the operator running it. Training, accurate standards, and quality control are required to achieve reliable measurements. Proximity to the threshold concentration of 0.5% is also an important consideration. Testing of final product with GC-FID using method AOAC 2016.12 is still recommended to ensure legal compliance.

Disclosure and Disclaimer

BABS received payment from Rare Combinations LLC to perform this instrument review and validation. Rare Combinations LLC wanted a completely impartial review and did not make payment contingent upon any specific or desired outcomes. BABS does not make any guarantees or promises to the efficacy of the KAD for individual users or the reproducibility or robustness of the instrument over time. The writing in this document is the result of a small‑scale study performed by BABS and is the opinion of BABS only. The data, opinions, observations, and anything of the like should not be used as legal guidance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The KAD cannot replace GC-FID as an absolute analytical method.

Meet Our Members – Booch (Kenya)

Alison Root, Megan Root, and Eoin Flinn, Booch, Kikuyu, Kenya Q: When did you first discover kombucha? November 2016. Late to the party. Started a kombucha company 2 months later in January 2017. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? I fell in love with kombucha, the taste and the increased energy, […]

Friday, 24th April 2020

Alison Root, Megan Root, and Eoin Flinn, Booch, Kikuyu, Kenya

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

November 2016. Late to the party. Started a kombucha company 2 months later in January 2017.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I fell in love with kombucha, the taste and the increased energy, it wasn’t available on the market here in Kenya, and I knew I would drop off making it at home after a few months – time to employ people!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

Mama Kombucha (another Kenyan brand)

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

Engineer to Salesman to Entrepreneur. These days making beer and soap in addition to kombucha.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Never give up!

Meet Our Members – AYATANA (Slovenia)

Aleksandra Tomažin, AYATANA, Lesce, Slovenia Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I first came across kombucha in the summer of 2016 when I was studying at Matthew Kenney Culinary Academy in Venice Beach, California. As soon as I got home, kombucha was my first news to my husband. I later discovered that kombucha […]

Friday, 10th April 2020

Aleksandra Tomažin, AYATANA, Lesce, Slovenia

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I first came across kombucha in the summer of 2016 when I was studying at Matthew Kenney Culinary Academy in Venice Beach, California. As soon as I got home, kombucha was my first news to my husband. I later discovered that kombucha SCOBY was used to prepare kombucha by my ancestors but seemed to fail being transferred through generations.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

It was kind of a love at first taste 😊 I was always well aware of fermentation benefits to our body, so that was just another reason to begin with our own production.

Back in 2018 me and my husband met a fermentation specialist, who now is our partner. We started the whole process from scratch – research, development, and building a production site – it took us more than a year, and we introduced our AYATANA kombucha to the market at the beginning of the summer of 2019.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

My first and favorite kombucha flavor is from Health-Ade Pomegranate and Cayenne cleanse. Karma’s Grenade boost is also one of my favorite. But my husband goes for Jarr Kombucha’s ginger and GT’S Lemonade.

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

Well, fermented products (we also sell kombucha shots and water kefir products) are one part of the business. We also have a culinary store and are about to launch our innovative and in-house built family plant-based meal planner shortly. I am also a mother to two daughters, both under three years old, so that is another “career” I hold.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

To put it shortly – #cleanguthappybutt.

Meet Our Members – Fix8 (United Kingdom)

Freya Twigden, Fix8, London, United Kingdom Q: When did you first discover kombucha? 2014, I was living in Shanghai for a year abroad of study. I had some time on my hands so decided to enroll in a Traditional Chinese Medicine course at a local health food shop. It was the first week I attended […]

Friday, 3rd April 2020

Freya Twigden, Fix8, London, United Kingdom

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

2014, I was living in Shanghai for a year abroad of study. I had some time on my hands so decided to enroll in a Traditional Chinese Medicine course at a local health food shop. It was the first week I attended and discovered a home brewed kombucha in the fridge. I learnt how it was used in Chinese medicine to support liver and stomach Qi (energy). Immediately I grabbed a bottle… and it was love at first sip.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Well, firstly (like most of us) I launched Fix8 because I was completely obsessed with kombucha myself! Second, I had this feeling that kombucha in the UK could be much more than a niche health drink sold just to ‘health food shops’… but a drink enjoyed for its nuanced complex taste that could be consumed as a non-alcoholic craft drink (or mixer) across bars, restaurants and British pubs. The flavour of kombucha is so exciting and unique, something you just don’t find in sugary soft drinks.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

I spent some time in the USA researching before launching Fix8, two amazing breweries I visited left me still thinking about their flavour today! First – the Lavender White by Happy Mountain Kombucha – I LOVE the crisp white tea base to all their booch. I also loved the dry hopped pamplemousse by Whalebird Kombucha down in San Luis Obispo.

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

I was previously studying at university, so technically this is my first job! I studied politics at the University of Edinburgh and after graduation, trained as a yoga teacher in India thinking that might be the path I pursued. Little did I know… the booch was calling!

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meet Our Members – Rich Elixirs (CA)

Brooke and Jesse Rich, Rich Elixirs, Costa Mesa, CA, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? (Jesse) I first discovered Kombucha, when I stumbled upon it at the store. I loved it so much that I started buying a ton of it! I began researching everything on Kombucha and then started making my […]

Friday, 21st February 2020

Brooke and Jesse Rich, Rich Elixirs, Costa Mesa, CA, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?
(Jesse) I first discovered Kombucha, when I stumbled upon it at the store. I loved it so much that I started buying a ton of it! I began researching everything on Kombucha and then started making my own!

(Brooke) I went through some major stomach issues when I was 21, and began taking probiotics. I researched all the things that had probiotics in them, and discovered kombucha did! Ever since then, I’ve been drinking & loving it!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?
We started our kombucha business because we were so passionate about the product & how beneficial it has been for both of us. Our friends loved our kombucha as well, and we decided that we wanted the ability to share with everyone in our community!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?
Our top flavors are Gt’s Ginger Hibiscus & Guava Goodness!

Q: What is your former/current other life or career?
(Jesse) I work as an IT Manager. (Brooke): I freelance Graphic Design!

Q: What is a saying that you live by?
We love this quote and saying, “Doubt kills more dreams then failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem