Category: Companies

Meet Our Members – Kombucha Vallesana (Mexico)

Alejandro Himmelbauer, Kombucha Vallesana, Mexico Q: When did you first discover kombucha? 5 years ago. I had been having digestive problems for more than a year, tried allopathic treatments, homeopathy, acupuncture, nothing worked. My wife discovered kombucha in a ferments course, she brought home some of this vinegary drink and it changed my life forever. […]

Thursday, 2nd December 2021

Alejandro Himmelbauer, Kombucha Vallesana, Mexico

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

5 years ago.

I had been having digestive problems for more than a year, tried allopathic treatments, homeopathy, acupuncture, nothing worked. My wife discovered kombucha in a ferments course, she brought home some of this vinegary drink and it changed my life forever. My digestive issues improved within the first week of drinking it. Who would have imagined five years later I would be making kombucha for a living? 🙂

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

When I started brewing kombucha, I never thought about making a company. I just wanted to have my own fresh kombucha. At the time, I was working in Mexico City, driving home to my wife and 2 kids in Valle de Bravo (a small town near Mexico City) for the weekends. I guess making kombucha just made a lot of sense. I could move to Valle de Bravo with my family, I could share this wonderful elixir with more people and hopefully it will leave a good impression to my kids of how a company can be started with a glass jar in your own kitchen.

 

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Hola Kombucha (A small brand in Merida near Cancun) has a wonderful blend: Lime, ginger and aloe vera.

 

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

Audio Engineer

 

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

No hay mal que por bien no venga. Similar to: Every cloud has a silver lining.

Meet Our Members – Kulture Kombucha Martha’s Vineyard (MA)

Nina Gordon, Kulture Kombucha Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven, MA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? The first time I tried kombucha I hated it. Now I know it was possibly stored unrefrigerated, because it was bitter and over-carbonated, tasted awful, so I avoided it for about 7 years. Then in 2011, a friend was […]

Monday, 29th November 2021

Nina Gordon, Kulture Kombucha Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Haven, MA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

The first time I tried kombucha I hated it. Now I know it was possibly stored unrefrigerated, because it was bitter and over-carbonated, tasted awful, so I avoided it for about 7 years. Then in 2011, a friend was staying in my house for a little over a month before moving to Brazil and starting a kombucha company there. I watched his scoby growing on my kitchen counter and reaching out with tentacles in horror and fascination, but because I trusted him I gave kombucha another taste and it was delicious! The next year another friend forced me to take a scoby, and I’ve been brewing kombucha nonstop since then.

 

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Kulture Club MV was originally formed as an informal tasting gathering in 2016. I was excited about kombucha and wanted to spread the word, gave away scobys with the hope that my friends would make fun flavors so we could all get back together and taste, like a kombucha potluck. However, I was the only one who ever brought kombucha, and everyone kept asking to buy some from me. Even when I said I wasn’t selling but sometimes shared with friends who came over, money would just appear on the counter when they left, so I decided I better get proper. I first got licensed for retail in 2017 to brew out of a shared commercial kitchen, and quickly realized I needed my own bigger space to include wholesale in 2018. Fortunately, I was temporarily working private duty caregiving as a nurse for one 48h shift per week, which gave me 5 days/week and the money to develop my kombucha business before the summer season.

 

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

I really enjoyed a specialty flavor that included moringa by Pilot kombucha that I bought at a fermentation festival in Brooklyn. I didn’t know what moringa was at the time and I’m still not sure if that was the dominant flavor, but I like to try new combinations. My favorite regular flavor produced by another brand is the one with lemongrass by NessAlla. I’ve got to admit it’s because the flavor profile is most like one of my own. Favorite flavors of my own kombucha is anything paired with rosa rugosa when it’s blooming on island. I really should try more flavors by other brands.

 

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

I am/have been a fine artist, mother, house painting contractor, gardener, personal assistant, nurse, art gallery director, in that order and often concurrently, with repeats, and recently added professional beekeeper by chance. This spring I helped vaccinate in the community for Covid-19, but have to stop taking shifts now that kombucha season is in full swing here. Kombucha has become my main focus, since my kids are grown and it pays the bills while maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle, but have loved everything I do, even the hard parts.

 

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Because you’ve got guts!

Meet Our Members – The Good Reverend Kombucha Co (VA)

Brent Henderson, The Good Reverend Kombucha Co, Warrenton, VA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? 2010. My wife used to have lots of pain associated with digestive issues and a friend shared a jar with us believing it might help. It did. From the very first time that she drank it, it completely relieved […]

Thursday, 11th November 2021

Brent Henderson, The Good Reverend Kombucha Co, Warrenton, VA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

2010. My wife used to have lots of pain associated with digestive issues and a friend shared a jar with us believing it might help. It did. From the very first time that she drank it, it completely relieved all her pain. I’ve been making it ever since.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I believe that kombucha is good for humanity. I wanted to be a part of something that gives people something that tastes amazing yet has countless benefits to their overall health, immunity, and energy.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Coconut Lime by Humm

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

I was a reverend in what seems like another life! Strangely enough I feel like I am benefiting humanity more in my current capacity than I was before.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Question everything.

Meet Our Members – Loudmouth Beverages (PA)

Strickland Warfel, Loudmouth Beverages, Denver, PA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Living in the great state of Arizona!  A great hipster friend of mine who wore beanies in the summer, rode fixie, and liked smoking a pipe in the eve, shared a scoby with me. With that, I made Kombucha for about 4-5 […]

Thursday, 4th November 2021

Strickland Warfel, Loudmouth Beverages, Denver, PA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Living in the great state of Arizona!  A great hipster friend of mine who wore beanies in the summer, rode fixie, and liked smoking a pipe in the eve, shared a scoby with me. With that, I made Kombucha for about 4-5 months and just about couldn’t stand the stuff.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I want to be a part of the cultural shift of people choosing better health. I also love the craft along with good food.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

So this is tough to answer for me because I don’t drink buch from other brands very often.  If I reach for something I didn’t brew, it’s probably butterfly lime by Hex Ferments out of Baltimore.

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

Shed Hauler/Installer and Draftsman

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Life is to short for fear and too long for regret

Meet Our Members – Unity Vibration Living Kombucha Tea (MI)

Tarek & Rachel Kanaan, Unity Vibration Living Kombucha Tea, Ypsilanti, MI   Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Tarek:  I first tried it in 2006, in San Francisco on Haight street.  It was at a market and I was a raw-foodist at the time.  I saw a GTs Trilogy with the word ‘RAW’ on […]

Thursday, 28th October 2021

Tarek & Rachel Kanaan, Unity Vibration Living Kombucha Tea, Ypsilanti, MI

 

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Tarek:  I first tried it in 2006, in San Francisco on Haight street.  It was at a market and I was a raw-foodist at the time.  I saw a GTs Trilogy with the word ‘RAW’ on it and I HAD to try it.  I wasn’t drinking alcohol at the time, and I remember I feeling a little buzzed when I drank it.  My life hasn’t been the same since!

Rachel:  That question has two answers!  I received a SCOBY in 2005 from a friend who is a Weston Price Head.  It sat in my kitchen for almost a year before Tarek and I actually used it.  I tasted very strong homebrew through the same friend but really fell in love with it when I met Tarek and he introduced me to GT’s in 2006.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Tarek:  Because Rachel suggested it after we had been consuming too much GT Dave’s (which we love! – we were buying it by the case).  I also had experience brewing wine and beer with wild edible plants and LOVED it!  I immediately thought she was crazy for suggesting the idea and said no way.  Then I reconsidered and we started thinking about it and brewing kombucha on our own.  We noticed we had a knack for making the stuff, so we kept on going!

Rachel:  Because I knew intuitively we needed to do it.  It was so joyful and fun – such a creative endeavor!  Tarek and I where endlessly creating in our early days. And… with a recession in 2008 there was little work in either of our fields so it helped push us over the edge.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Tarek:  GTs Trilogy (gotta go with the OG, baby) and Bhudda’s Brew Pineapple Super Greens.

Rachel:  Always love GT’s Synergy <.5% Divine Grape and Raspberry.  Simple but so beautiful!

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

Tarek:  Automotive Engineer, Health Food store Cashier, Clinical Social Worker/Therapist/Program Coordinator.

Rachel:  I was a massage therapist/shamanic practitioner and an early childhood educator in Waldorf Schools.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Tarek:  Expect the Best!

Rachel:  “It’s a very good day”- Esther Hicks and
“The mind is everything, what you think you become.” Buddha

Meet Our Members – Star Kombucha (Vietnam)

Paul Nguyen, Star Kombucha, Vietnam Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I’ve discover kombucha 8 years ago. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? I believed kombucha is a great beverage with lots of health benefits but few people in Asia know about it so it would something for us to take […]

Thursday, 28th October 2021

Paul Nguyen, Star Kombucha, Vietnam

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I’ve discover kombucha 8 years ago.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I believed kombucha is a great beverage with lots of health benefits but few people in Asia know about it so it would something for us to take up this challenge to introduce and boost the popularity of kombucha in Asia.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Mango

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

Technology

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Live in a present moment!

Meet Our Members – KeVita Master Brew Kombucha (IL)

 Chakra Earthsong, KeVita Master Brew Kombucha, Chicago, IL Q: When did you first discover kombucha? In the early 90’s Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? As a long time home fermenter, I was always creating delicious, unique fruit and herbal combinations, some were so good I wanted to share them with the […]

Thursday, 7th October 2021

 Chakra Earthsong, KeVita Master Brew Kombucha, Chicago, IL

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

In the early 90’s

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

As a long time home fermenter, I was always creating delicious, unique fruit and herbal combinations, some were so good I wanted to share them with the world. I knew in my gut that innovating new ferments and flavors would never grow old for me, I was captivated – to this day this remains true!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

My favorite flavor changes depending on the season. Currently I’m loving Grapefruit Thyme Kombucha, from Flying Embers.

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

Current life career: Founder, Chief Formulator, KeVita Drinks. Formerly, I had a private practice as Holistic Nutritional Consultant. 

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“Trust the process”

Meet Our Members – Collingwood Kombucha (Canada)

 Christy Deere, Collingwood Kombucha, Canada Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I’m pretty sure my grandmother made me drink her homemade kombucha as a kid, it was terrible! It wasn’t until 2015 that I found GT’s on store shelves and fell in love with the soury goodness! Q: Why did you start your own […]

Thursday, 30th September 2021

 Christy Deere, Collingwood Kombucha, Canada

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I’m pretty sure my grandmother made me drink her homemade kombucha as a kid, it was terrible! It wasn’t until 2015 that I found GT’s on store shelves and fell in love with the soury goodness!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

In 2017 while volunteering at an organic farm, I was gifted with a SCOBY and have been nurturing that same culture ever since. I especially loved crafting unique flavours from fruits, wild medicinal plants and cultivated herbs that grow in our region. I started first to teach people how to make it because I couldn’t throw away my mothers, which then lead to commercially producing it and selling it at the Farm to Table Market in Collingwood (the community I live in). It became clear once I moved into oak barrels that I had something special to share, so I incorporated the business in 2019 and have made wild fermentation my full-time focus.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Booch Organics – Blueberry Holy Basil

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

For 20 years I have been a learning and development facilitator, working with leadership teams, in the public and private sectors. My focus is on human behaviour and relationship dynamics ie. The joy of conflict, navigating polarities, building strong teams, and teaching people in general how to be in more productive and effective relationships with themselves and others.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

You face your fears, because you can’t go around them; don’t worry – keep going! 

Meet Our Members – Han’s Kombucha (UT)

Kate Lubing and Hannah Hendrickson, Han’s Kombucha, Salt Lake City, UT Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Hannah first discovered kombucha back in 2015 and after reading Hannah Crum’s book on kombucha, she took a keen interest in the process. Kate first discovered kombucha about 10 years ago, when a co-worker brought a bottle […]

Thursday, 23rd September 2021

Kate Lubing and Hannah Hendrickson, Han’s Kombucha, Salt Lake City, UT

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Hannah first discovered kombucha back in 2015 and after reading Hannah Crum’s book on kombucha, she took a keen interest in the process. Kate first discovered kombucha about 10 years ago, when a co-worker brought a bottle of GT’s Synergy Trilogy to share one day on the job. 

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Hannah decided to start Han’s Kombucha because she was home brewing and consistently having friends request her booch. She realized she might have a business opportunity and that’s when Han’s began.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Hannah’s favorite is Health-Ade’s Cayenne Cleanse and Kate is partial to Jiant’s Hard Booch The Original. 

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

Kate spent nearly two decades in Hospitality and Restaurant Management and Hannah formerly worked full time as a pharmacy tech after graduating college. 

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Kate “In life, it seems it’s one step forward and two small steps back. Let it be and carry on” & Hannah “Never give up on your dreams or your SCOBY” 

Meet Our Members – Komunity Kombucha (IL)

Jack Joseph, Komunity Kombucha, Chicago, IL Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I first discovered kombucha back in high school circa 2013 when I was competing at a pretty high level as varsity football and baseball player. I was on a mission to achieve a higher physical and mental performance, so I immediately changed […]

Thursday, 16th September 2021

Jack Joseph, Komunity Kombucha, Chicago, IL

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I first discovered kombucha back in high school circa 2013 when I was competing at a pretty high level as varsity football and baseball player. I was on a mission to achieve a higher physical and mental performance, so I immediately changed my consumption habits when it came to food and beverage. It started with making beet juice for my football team before our football games and then kombucha naturally fell into my lap. I remember trying it for the first time and it had chia seeds in it.. tasted like mucus and I didn’t like it all lol. Then I tried a synergy from Mr. GT and I was hooked.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Well, my health journey all started after witnessing my brother overcome his drug dependency of 7 years through the power of herbal medicine, kundalini yoga, juice, and sound. This was one of the most difficult times for our family, but it taught us about the healing power of food, yoga, and sound. After this experience, there was no doubt in my mind that this was a lifestyle I wanted to adopt. As I mentioned earlier, it started with beet juice and evolved into so much more – kundalini yoga/breathwork, cold water exposure, probiotics, kombucha, and herbalism. My passion to spread healing through these practices was contagious and continued to grow.

After college, I began having a deep frustration with the lack of functional beverage options when I would go out to eat, go to the bar, or to the club to dance. As a non-alcoholic drinker, I wanted something that was light, crisp, and delivered a similar feel to a fine wine and/or beer. Now, I’m on the mission to evolve consumption in social settings by working with high end restaurants, bars, and clubs to offer more functional beverage options that serve the community of NA drinkers.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Watermelon Wonder by GT Dave

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

I’m all in on Komunity Kombucha but have a background in supply chain management & entrepreneurship.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Everything that I need, I already have. Everything that I have, is all that I need. Everything I desire, I will receive because my reality is created by me.

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