Meet Our Members – Labas Kombucha (Lithuania)

Janina Bazeviciene, Labaskombucha, Kaunas, Lithuania Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I used to drink Kombucha at my grandmothers. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? I like challenging myself so I decided to open the first Kombucha brewery in Lithuania. Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? I didn’t […]

Wednesday, 1st August 2018

Janina Bazeviciene, Labaskombucha, Kaunas, Lithuania

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I used to drink Kombucha at my grandmothers.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I like challenging myself so I decided to open the first Kombucha brewery in Lithuania.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

I didn’t have a chance to taste different company’s Kombucha.

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

I own a restaurant, Nordic Walking centre (training and equipment), I organize health camps.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Being happy is more important than being right.

Meet Our Members – Cross Culture Kombucha (CT)

Liz And Ian Ceppos, Cross Culture Kombucha, Danbury, CT, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? A friend introduced me to it years ago. He was very much into health and nutrition, and swore by it. Once I tried it, I couldn’t wait to try more. After giving up alcohol, I had spent a […]

Wednesday, 1st August 2018

Liz And Ian Ceppos, Cross Culture Kombucha, Danbury, CT, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

A friend introduced me to it years ago. He was very much into health and nutrition, and swore by it. Once I tried it, I couldn’t wait to try more. After giving up alcohol, I had spent a few years looking for a great non-alcoholic drink. I immediately knew kombucha was what I was looking for.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I started homebrewing and before long Liz jumped onboard, as well. She actually made our first delicious batch. I don’t do things in moderation, and the batch sizes grew quickly from 1 gallon to 20 gallons. Almost immediately, we ran out of fridge space, as you could expect. That led to us giving it away to friends and family members. We repeatedly heard that we had produced something special and different. We saw that it made people happy, and we decided that we wanted to share it with more of the community.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

Hawaiian Fire by Coastal Craft Kombucha. It’s dope.

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

I am a commercial real estate broker by day. Liz had been a project manager in both the commercial real estate industry and in the solar industry. She works our kombucha business full time. We have two young kids.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

You vote with your ass. Meaning – you show what’s important to you by what you actually go do. (You are where your behind is)

Meet Our Members – Bare Bucha (TX)

Toby Tull, Bare Bucha, Waco, TX, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I was introduced to kombucha back in 2009 by some friends that had just discovered it. I fell in love with it from first sip. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? I started my own kombucha because I […]

Monday, 30th July 2018

Toby Tull, Bare Bucha, Waco, TX, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I was introduced to kombucha back in 2009 by some friends that had just discovered it. I fell in love with it from first sip.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I started my own kombucha because I love locally-brewed kombucha and I didn’t really like the flavors offered at the grocery store. I began by just brewing kombucha for myself and my friends loved it so much they said I should start selling it.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

I love Holy Kombucha’s blood orange kombucha. It’s a great flavor.

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

I used to be an executive level IT guy but now I own a few different businesses all food centric.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Work Hard and Be Nice to People

Meet Our Members – R2 Positive Culture (LA)

Rosanna Czarnecki, R2 Positive Culture, Lafayette, LA, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? In 2006 I had read about kombucha and was intrigued. Soon afterwards I was given a scoby by someone. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? We had a following going back 10 years, 2008. I was fermenting […]

Monday, 30th July 2018

Rosanna Czarnecki, R2 Positive Culture, Lafayette, LA, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

In 2006 I had read about kombucha and was intrigued. Soon afterwards I was given a scoby by someone.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

We had a following going back 10 years, 2008. I was fermenting many foods and beverages for myself and was asked to be a vendor at the local farmer’s market. This was never planned. It just happened.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

There are so many. Jasmine, then Tulsi. Nothing beats a good Puerh Kombucha

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

With a college business degree I worked in accounting and office jobs many years. After the kids left home and the dog died, I became a professional fiber artist.

A medical accident changed all that. Fermented foods and beverages were a huge part of my recovery to better health.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Have Confidence and Be Kind

Meet Our Members – Shanti Elixirs (NC)

Shanti Volpe, Shanti Elixirs, Weaverville, NC, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Living in Asheville, NC I had heard about kombucha years ago but was never quite brave enough to try it. While attending a sacred beekeeping workshop I was introduced to Jun. When I was offered my very first glass of […]

Wednesday, 25th July 2018

Shanti Volpe, Shanti Elixirs, Weaverville, NC, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Living in Asheville, NC I had heard about kombucha years ago but was never quite brave enough to try it. While attending a sacred beekeeping workshop I was introduced to Jun. When I was offered my very first glass of jun, I declined at first, due to the anti-candida diet I was on, but was convinced that it would help my health so I tried it. I fell in love and started brewing it myself so I could have more for my family and friends. It wasn’t until I attended the International Kombucha Conference in February of 2017 that I tried my first kombucha and of course with the fabulous kombucha bar I had the opportunity to try kombucha from all around the world!!!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I have been blessed with growing up in a yoga home where emphasis was placed on holistic health, yoga, and service. Naturally, I became interested in the health field. I became a nurse and perinatal educator right out of school and over the past 10 years have focused on my work as a lactation consultant. Working as a lactation consultant peaked my interest in gut health. My husband and I have 3 boys with whom I gave birth to naturally. My love of all things holistic and a desire to raise my children naturally led me to becoming a beekeeper and most recently drew me towards sacred beekeeping. At the workshop I attended I was taught the ancient art of jun brewing and was given my first jun scoby. I started brewing for family, friends, and co-workers and found that I needed to put a framework around what I was doing to cover my costs and my time. Before I knew it Shanti Elixirs was born.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

I like Synergy’s Mystic Mango.

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

Nurse and Lactation Consultant

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

You are never alone or helpless, the force that guides the stars guides you too.

Meet Our Members – Batchwell (New Zealand)

Richard Old, Batchwell, Auckland, New Zealand Q: When did you first discover kombucha? When I moved to Los Angeles in 2014. Like so many people, Whole Foods introduced me. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? Firstly because we all love kombucha! Low sugar, probiotic soda alternative – what’s not to love? […]

Wednesday, 25th July 2018

Richard Old, Batchwell, Auckland, New Zealand

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

When I moved to Los Angeles in 2014. Like so many people, Whole Foods introduced me.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Firstly because we all love kombucha! Low sugar, probiotic soda alternative – what’s not to love? I had visa ‘issues’ in the US and so needed to move back to my homeland of New Zealand. We had watched the market grow in California, and could see the market in New Zealand going a similar way, only a few years behind, so we decided to jump on. In a way we could see the future, and everything we expected to happen is now happening down here.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

When last in LA I had GT’s Trilogy on tap, which I yearn for.

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

I have gone back and forth between food and entertainment. I have a Masters degree in Sound Recording design and perform music whenever I can. I started a popular free-range chicken restaurant in New Zealand called Bird on a Wire, and worked for tech startup Kombie, a mixed media entertainment app, in the US.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Go for gold!

Meet Our Members – Noli South (FL)

Summer and Stephen Kole, Noli South, Panama City Beach, FL, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? Summer, my wife, first discovered Kombucha in 2012 when she was at a local health food store. She introduced it to me in 2014. Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company? After […]

Monday, 23rd July 2018

Summer and Stephen Kole, Noli South, Panama City Beach, FL, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

Summer, my wife, first discovered Kombucha in 2012 when she was at a local health food store. She introduced it to me in 2014.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

After giving our home brewed booch to our breastfed daughter, Magnolia, and seeing her food sensitives deplete. She opened up our eyes to the raw power of Kombucha and our love for it skyrocketed.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

We have both found that we favor booch to have a nice zing to it. Buddha’s brew ginger is awesome and well balanced.

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

We run a small coffee shop.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

With your mind, heart, and gut connected you can and will conquer anything!

Meet Our Members – SUM Bucha (NC)

Alex and Sarah North, SUM BUCHA, Charlotte, NC, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? We first discovered kombucha while living in Austin, TX. The year was 2010 and the brand was G.T.’s Synergy. We found the drink refreshing and revitalizing. Our favorite brew in Austin was Buddha’s Brew. Q: Why did you […]

Monday, 23rd July 2018

Alex and Sarah North, SUM BUCHA, Charlotte, NC, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

We first discovered kombucha while living in Austin, TX. The year was 2010 and the brand was G.T.’s Synergy. We found the drink refreshing and revitalizing. Our favorite brew in Austin was Buddha’s Brew.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

After moving to Charlotte, NC, in 2012 we began drinking kombucha more regularly, and began reading and learning more about the art of fermentation. As our curiosity and fascination with the biological process grew, we began brewing our own bucha. It wasn’t long before friends, family and co-workers began asking for more of our special brews. Together, we developed a following for our uniquely full-bodied kombucha around the Charlotte region. Right now, we are in the process of moving into a commercial kitchen space and launching our business.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

Alex’s favorite is Buddha’s Brew Pineapple. Sarah’s favorite is Buchi’s Earth.

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

We both currently work in restaurants in Charlotte.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“Be a go-giver as well as a go-getter.” We have this in our living room, and it is incorporated into our lives and the way we do business. We believe hard work and discipline are important in business, but we also believe that giving – of yourself, your time, your resources, your knowledge, your energy, your love – is the number one priority in life.

Meet Our Members – Agri-Cultured Foods (IA)

Sarah Underberg, Agri-Cultured Foods, Waukee, IA, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? My husband was the first of us to discover kombucha. He began brewing it over 6 years ago. He played with flavor profiles and found one that I loved. I was hooked ever since then! Q: Why did you start your […]

Wednesday, 18th July 2018

Sarah Underberg, Agri-Cultured Foods, Waukee, IA, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

My husband was the first of us to discover kombucha. He began brewing it over 6 years ago. He played with flavor profiles and found one that I loved. I was hooked ever since then!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

We actually started with fermented foods, but we quickly discovered how important kombucha is to overall health and knew immediately we needed to add this to our product line.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

My personal favorite is Reeds…I love, love, love Cabernet!

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

I spent 13 years as a preschool teacher and then I was a stay at home mom. My husband was a Master Carpenter before we started Agri-Cultured Foods.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Be on guard. Stand firm in faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything in love.

Meet Our Members – Tantric Tea (CA)

Davo Fish, Tantric Tea, Arrowbear Lake, CA, USA Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I discovered Kombucha in the blazing heat of Lightening in a Bottle Festival 2016. It was my first festival since the millennium and my first taste of booch. The whole weekend my body and mind were powered alcohol free (almost) by […]

Wednesday, 18th July 2018

Davo Fish, Tantric Tea, Arrowbear Lake, CA, USA

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I discovered Kombucha in the blazing heat of Lightening in a Bottle Festival 2016. It was my first festival since the millennium and my first taste of booch. The whole weekend my body and mind were powered alcohol free (almost) by GT’s on tap. I ended up not consuming any craft beer or other elixirs, and felt awesome! While there, I took a brew class hosted by GT’s, and quickly knew this madland science was for me. Concurrently by coincidence, perhaps, I also was introduced to yoga. The two seem to be excellent partners to accompany me on my next life phases.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I was ripe for a change. I continually experiment with food and brew creations, and after discovering the young science of booch, and realizing the positive benefits of booch, I knew I wanted to participate in building the industry. I am having so much fun, and am amazed by the folks I am meeting who share a passion for Booch Life.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha?

I will always have place in my heart for GT’s for helping me get it. I do like to push the edge of sour to help reduce residual sugar. Currently my favorite brand is CommuniTEA from Seattle. It has a drink local model, and a strong smooth flavor profile. Likewise, its attention to quality aligns well with the unfolding model of TantricTEA.

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

I am 25 years into my environmental science career and am working on a transition to the beyond. Science is my background, and Kombucha and Yoga Science are my new passion.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Shared Lives, Woven Destiny!