Claire Irie, Lupa’s Kitchen, Doraville, GA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I was introduced to kombucha through my mom & founder of Lupa’s Kombucha. She is one of the originals and started brewing back in the late 90’s when we lived in Jamaica, WI. Our current flavor profiles are heavily influenced by our Caribbean background. Passion Fruit, Hibiscus and Ginger Turmeric. Super smooth and refreshing!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Lupa’s Kombucha is made up by first and second generation brewers. My mom Lupa had a passion to produce a product line based off of her life motto of THERAPY THROUGH FOOD and my drive came from the desire to turn my mom’s passion into a reality. There is something very special about her and I have always sensed that I was put on this earth to get her message out which is what I have been doing for almost 10 years now.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Jazz Juice by Big Easy. Sooooo good.

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

My background is a mixture of holistic modalities from massage therapy to property management. My life and careers have been about connecting with people which booch has been doing for over  2000 years!

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Growing your business is similar to training for a huge event such as the Olympics . It will take and push you to levels unimaginable. It will break you. You will cry. You will wonder why in the world you are doing this however, you will  also find a great amount of joy & fulfillment in it so your mindset has to be on point! My favorite saying on the days I’m asking myself ‘How are we going to do this’? The answer  is simple: One foot in front of the other.

Kimberly Welch, Creature Craft Soda, Joplin, MO

 

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Just a few years ago, my husband came home one day and said, “Hey, have you heard of this kombucha stuff? I’m gonna grow a SCOBY so we can make it at home.” I busted up laughing because I had told him about kombucha years before that! And then we started home brewing and fell even deeper into the world of fermentation.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I just fell in love with the process and had already been planning on starting a local small business and it just fit! Through playing with fermentation at home and making new discoveries, I knew I was onto something special. We aren’t even selling yet and are starting to gain a following as we complete renovations on our commercial kitchen.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

I really love Buchi! My favorite by far but they do not sell in my area yet so when I do purchase locally, it is usually GT’s.

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

I do still have a day job to support my family – I am a Software Engineer focused on e-commerce and user interface development in the Theme park and Attraction industry. I look forward to the day when this business can support our family and I can do our brewing business full time!

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Do more of what you love. –
It’s really as simple as that. No explanation needed.

Anne Savignard, Bulles d’Opale, France

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

In 2019, after a training in the beer industry, I turned to traditional fermented plant-based drinks, and one thing leading to another, I discovered Kombucha. Enjoying tea and its health benefits, fascinated by the symbiotic blend of yeast and bacteria, I started to learn making Kombucha in my kitchen and blending different ingredients – as most of us do – before deciding to make it an exciting adventure.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Trained as a process engineer, at the dawn of my 50th birthday, I decided to change my life and create my own craft business. Indeed, after working in the food industry for several years, I strongly felt the need to manufacture and market healthy products, in accordance with my desires and values. My aim was to come up with a pleasant and healthy drink : do good to the body and taste buds . After much research and experimentations at home, I was fascinated by the concepts of fermentation and the use of tea / herbs in a wellness perspective.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Mint & Ginger – strongly refreshing or simply a green tea with a hint of oolong – Brands that are not mine and that I appreciate: Lökki or Jubiles for the values that these two brands defend and the taste quality of their products.

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

After studying process engineering, I worked in the industrial sector for 10 years, with a spell in the United States; then I learned to be a winegrower in the south of France. Back in my native region, the Hauts de France, I became a Quality & CSR manager for Food industries. When the company I had been working for 11 years was sold, I started to question myself. In my fifties, a new challenge emerged: entrepreneurship. I then launched the creation of my Kombucha microbrewery – Bulles d’Opale, echoing the Opal Coast where I live with my family. I have also maintained – for the moment – a consulting business to bring my experience to small businesses.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Follies are the only things you never regret – Oscar Wilde

 

 

 

 

Damian Foo, Scull, Australia

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Back in 2014 when I was immersing myself in the art of tea. Part of this process was building a mini library of tea books where I first stumbled on kombucha in several of these books. Hopped online and found a lady that lived a few streets away from me. Swapped a jar of homemade strawberry jam for my first SCOBY and away I went!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

It was always a goal of mine since 2014 to do it. As soon as I completed my first brew and had a sip and was blown away with the taste, I knew I had to be able to share it with more people. Back then kombucha was next to non-existent in Australia which I thought was a shame. Life and my previous job kept me busy back then. So it wasn’t until early 2018 that I started brewing kombucha commercially.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

GT’s Trilogy. Every time I am popping over to the US, I make sure I grab a bottle. I think its the perfect synergy of spice, tang and fruitiness.

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

Something not too far removed from brewing kombucha actually. I used to brew vinegar commercially. My experience in this has helped immensely setting up our taproom and commercial brewery.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“Today you, Tomorrow Me.” It epitomizes my approach to all things. Reminds me to stay humble and things can change in an instant. But there is also a certain optimism there.

 

Shelley Sauter, Sunshine Blends Kombucha, Canada

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Our business partners Corey & Kim first tried it in 2016 at a local farmer’s market. They gave us a bottle and we loved it!


Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

We found our families really enjoyed kombucha and we loved the idea of providing a healthy choice for all people.


Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Corey and Kim love Happy Belly’s grapefruit Kombucha – Clay and Shelley love Rise Blueberry Maple


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

Kim owns a fitness studio – Corey is an estimator for a utility company – Clay is an electrician by trade with his own LED lighting business and Shelley works part time as a Social Worker. Of course we all are actively growing Sunshine Blends Kombucha.


Q: What is a saying that you live by?

The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is. (Kim & Corey)
In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity (Shelley & Clay)

Julie Morrell, Urbanmama505 Kombucha, Albuquerque, NM

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

About six years ago, my neighbor introduced me to it for health reasons.  I have a brain tumor, fibromyalgia (due to the craniotomy), and an autoimmune disorder. She also had several health issues and kombucha had helped her.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

It tastes delicious and people asked me to, the kombucha stands out because I brew it with Kangen Alkaline Water.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Raspberry lemonade from Remedy

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

Chef by trade.  Domestic Engineer, specializing in transportation and people development.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Remember to Breathe.

 

Maria Lima, Aquela Kombucha, Portugal

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I discovered kombucha in Bali, in 2017, on a month-long trip in the island of gods, by recommendation of a friend. It was love at first sip!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Like most of my fellow brewers, I started to brew at home and the organic demand I had made me take it seriously and think of it as a possible business venture. My goal has always been to produce and sell kombucha that I love – raw, alive and delicious!

 

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

I love the Health-Ade Power Greens!

 

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

I am an academically trained architect, but I worked in fashion production most of my career.

 

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Everything has a solution.

Kellie Moffatt, Luna Booch, Long Beach, Ca

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I first discovered kombucha about 3 years ago when I was looking for probiotics to improve my digestion. I went to Whole Foods and purchased a few brands. I liked everything I tried, and I knew kombucha was something I was going to continue to drink.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

On my birthday, which also happens to be National Kombucha day, my mom suggested that we make kombucha together. She gave me one of her scobys to begin the brewing process. After making and trying it for the first time, I realized how homemade kombucha can be far more flavorful than store-bought. Also, since kombucha has physical health benefits, I felt that I could also add a unique spiritual health element to it with my interest in the moon and astrology.

 

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

I love GT’s Rose Berry. I love anything with Rose!

 

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

My current career is working as an Associate Product Line Manager for a licensee for a well-known sporting equipment company. I specifically work with Run, Train, and Yoga products. To sum up, I do all the behind the scenes product stuff before it launches at retail. My goal is to make Luna booch my full-time career within the next several years.

 

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“The only thing constant in life is change.” This saying is a constant reminder for me to be adaptable to the constant change in life. This saying has also become a crucial element of my business as I base my flavors around the changing energy of the phases of the moon throughout the lunar cycle.

 

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.