Author: KBI Admin

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.

Meet Our Members – Bada Booch (CO)

Sarah Nicole Wood, Bada Booch, Grand Junction, CO   Q: When did you first discover kombucha? I’ve dealt with digestive issues most of my life. Fermented foods weren’t exactly part of the Midwest diet I grew up with. A few years ago after trying an “Invigorated Immune” by Shanti Elixirs while at Bim Beri Bon […]

Thursday, 2nd September 2021

Sarah Nicole Wood, Bada Booch, Grand Junction, CO

 

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

I’ve dealt with digestive issues most of my life. Fermented foods weren’t exactly part of the Midwest diet I grew up with. A few years ago after trying an “Invigorated Immune” by Shanti Elixirs while at Bim Beri Bon in NC, I left wanting an IV that ran into my mouth on demand. The positive effects on my system seemed immediate. More, please!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

I started brewing at home like most of us do. Well, 1 batch, turned into 5 batches, turned into a business loan and a small facility here in Grand Junction, CO. Sometimes we say the batches have a mind of their own…and well I think mine were quite ambitious. So I went with it, researched the market here, connected with brewers through KBI, and got to work. It is important to me to contribute to the community in which I live and operate a positive, values-based business model. I wasn’t interested in compromising anything for profit. Simple as that. Make a great product that helps cultivate a healthy community one gut at a time.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

I reach most often for Island Hopper by Better Booch at the store, I mountain bike and love to toss a can in my pack to have trailside on long mountain rides. An extremely close second is anything on tap by Wild Bloom in Moab, UT. And of course, when Shanti starts to distribute out here, her Tulsi Rose is simply the best.

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

Weeeellllll, I’m on Chapter 6. I have worked in many industries throughout my career across the US. From former business owner and talent manager in the music industry in Nashville, TN, to Executive Director of a Mountaineering Museum and Adventure Film Festival here in Colorado, to VP of Operations at a cycling component manufacturer in Asheville, NC, and a couple of things in between. This is my third business. I go hard, am endlessly curious, and want multiple lives to live. So I’m just doing my thing and trying to fit in as many experiences between now and the end.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

“Full throttle or don’t bother.” – Marti in Paradox Valley, “A steady knock breaks the rock.” – Grandpa Wood

Meet Our Members – The Kombucha Lady (MD)

Liz Dodson, The Kombucha Lady, Rocky Ridge, MD Q: When did you first discover kombucha? In researching natural alternatives to Big Pharma drugs for IBS I read about the gut benefits of kombucha online and immediately was curious as to how this crazy sounding beverage tasted and how it would benefit my gut health. Tasted […]

Thursday, 26th August 2021

Liz Dodson, The Kombucha Lady, Rocky Ridge, MD

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

In researching natural alternatives to Big Pharma drugs for IBS I read about the gut benefits of kombucha online and immediately was curious as to how this crazy sounding beverage tasted and how it would benefit my gut health. Tasted and loved and it has been part of my life since.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

To spread the love and tasty benefits of kombucha and teach others about the importance of gut health! And I had desired to have my own unique and artisan business for many years. So after filling up the counters with all my experimental batches for friends and family, I really wanted to branch out to the farmers markets in my town, so I made that terrifying call to the local health department, and boom! it wasn’t as hard as I thought!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

GTs Classic multi-green was love at first sip.

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

Educated at the University of MD in Horticulture. Worked as a Floral designer for many years, raised some awesome boys while my husband and I built up this amazing homestead mini farm where I grow most of the herbs and some of the fruits we use in our booch.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

Deeds of kindness and love are never ever wasted.

Meet Our Members – Happy Leaf Kombucha (CO)

Jennifer Lyons, Happy Leaf Kombucha, Lakewood, CO Q: When did you first discover kombucha? It popped up in my local natural foods market when I was living in Minnesota over 15 years ago. I loved it right away, and was glad for another beverage that made me feel great other than the daily apple cider […]

Thursday, 12th August 2021

Jennifer Lyons, Happy Leaf Kombucha, Lakewood, CO

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

It popped up in my local natural foods market when I was living in Minnesota over 15 years ago. I loved it right away, and was glad for another beverage that made me feel great other than the daily apple cider vinegar shots.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Starting a kombucha company was born from a friend gifting a SCOBY and reigniting how much I love this ancient drink. We started with the grand plan to sell enough at farmers markets all summer in Colorado and travel all winter. Little did we know our community wanted much more than a local summer kombucha fill!

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

The OG, G.T.’s Synergy is always my go to when I am traveling without Happy Leaf.

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

I had been finding my place as an entrepreneur with a health and lifestyle coaching practice. I had so much fun working with people from all walks of life, from all over the world. Before that I decided to forgo college and travel, I was able to live in beautiful places and learn from life experiences I never imagined I would have.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

There is a quote I read years ago that always stuck to the front of my mind;
“The Universe is my way. LOVE is my law. PEACE is my shelter. EXPERIENCE is my school. OBSTACLE is my stimulant. PAIN is my warning. WORK is my blessing. BALANCE is my attitude. PERFECTION is my destiny.” ~ Guillermo Toloentino

Meet Our Members – Mom’s Bucha (NV)

Kelly Boyett, Mom’s Bucha, Las Vegas, NV   Q: When did you first discover kombucha? About 8 years ago Margie discovered kombucha and started drinking it and learning about it. She decided she wanted to make it as it was pretty expensive; thanks to Hannah Crum and my friend who gave me a piece of […]

Thursday, 5th August 2021

Kelly Boyett, Mom’s Bucha, Las Vegas, NV

 

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

About 8 years ago Margie discovered kombucha and started drinking it and learning about it. She decided she wanted to make it as it was pretty expensive; thanks to Hannah Crum and my friend who gave me a piece of his grandmother’s 70 year old culture, I was able to get started and gratefully improving ever since! Kelly tasted it soon after her mom and partner, Margie started making it and started making her own immediately!

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

It has truly been a dream in Margie’s heart since she began making it in her home. She didn’t believe it could happen, as we are pretty unconventional, and did not have much capital or even a place to brew. Miraculous blessings allowed Kelly to join her and brought us to where we are, and we have faith that will keep moving us in the right direction.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

GT’s Kombucha Synergy Trilogy has always been a fave!

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

Margie has always been a mom, and is now a very happy Grandma. Kelly has worked in a multitude of diverse industries including environmental science, the restaurant industry, retail, and sales.

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

I hope to be grateful, always 🙂

 

Meet Our Members – Buchi Kombucha (Australia)

Jason Callender, Buchi Kombucha, Australia Q: When did you first discover kombucha? It was 2010 in Brooklyn NY where this wide eyed Kiwi discovered this fermented, non-alcohol, detoxifying bottle of fizzy goodness for the first time. It was a bottle of GT”s Multi Greens. I’ll never forget it. Q: Why did you start your own […]

Friday, 30th July 2021

Jason Callender, Buchi Kombucha, Australia

Q: When did you first discover kombucha?

It was 2010 in Brooklyn NY where this wide eyed Kiwi discovered this fermented, non-alcohol, detoxifying bottle of fizzy goodness for the first time. It was a bottle of GT”s Multi Greens. I’ll never forget it.

Q: Why did you start your own kombucha company?

Kombucha was just the replacement for alcohol I was looking for and upon returning to Australia I hunted high and low for this wondrous concoction which led me underground where I found and inherited my first SCOBY from a chap by the name of “Grubby”.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of kombucha? 

Heavenly Hops and New Age Noir by GT. How he does it I don’t know.

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

Lumberjack, Picture framer/Gallery Owner, IT Professional, Kombucha Brewer. Logical right??

Q: What is a saying that you live by?

If not now, When?!