'Booch News

Curro Polo is currently pursuing an industrial PhD in the Basque Culinary Center program, with the academic guidance of Harvard University. His research project is taking place at Ama Brewery, where he is on the R&D team with Chef Ramón... The post Modeling Fermentation Through Open Science, with Curro Polo appeared first on 'Booch News.

Ama Brewery produces a pét-nat tea brewed using local spring water from the Izarraitz Massif in the Basque Country, and high-quality tea and herbs. Pét-nat, an ancient method of making sparkling wine, is short for pétillant naturel, where the wine... The post Profile: AMA Brewery, Irun, Spain appeared first on 'Booch News.

Origins Nirraj Satish Manek and his wife, Kajall, teamed with his friend and partner, Chef Niyati Rao of Ekaa, a Mumbai fine-dining restaurant, who introduced him to kombucha. His 18-year career at financial behemoths Citibank, H&R Block, and elsewhere gave... The post Profile: SBOOCH, Mumbai, India appeared first on 'Booch News.

Robin Singh had everything he wanted and more—well-settled in the US, financial freedom, married to the love of his life—except he was not happy. It was in his pursuit of happiness that he stumbled across his purpose. He found what... The post Profile: Peepal Farm, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India appeared first on 'Booch News.

Suyra Prakash was introduced to kombucha while living in Denver, Colorado, in 2017, and he brought back a taste for it to India. However, he was unable to find good kombucha, so he started brewing it at home, working for... The post Profile: Heaven's Elix, Chennai, India appeared first on 'Booch News.

Honey Islam authored the recent 3-part Guest Post on Booch News How the New Indian Government Tax Reform Punishes Beverage Startups, which raised concerns about a 40% tax the Indian Government plans to impose on kombucha. This Profile and podcast... The post Profile: Mountain Bee Kombucha, Bangalore, India appeared first on 'Booch News.

The founder of Dramilia's Kombucha, Chennai, India, shares her story. The post Profile: Dramila Kombucha, Chennai, India appeared first on 'Booch News.

MAVI's Pantry is a homegrown artisanal fermented food and beverage brand which makes gut-friendly functional products like kombucha, kimchi, kvas, ginger ale, kanji, and sauerkraut using local, seasonal and organic ingredients. They started with kombucha and it still is their... The post Profile: MAVI's Pantry, Mumbai, India appeared first on 'Booch News.

An attendee at the Stanford Fermented Food Conference I wanted to meet was Aga Pokrywka the host of Ferment Radio, a fascinating and informative podcast series that began back in 2020 and has posted almost 50 episodes. You can find... The post Profile: Ferment Radio, with Aga Pokrywka appeared first on 'Booch News.

The two-day conference wrapped up Friday afternoon with a Fermentation Festival where attendees gathered in the courtyard of the Clark Center to sample food and beverages from a variety of vendors. Attendee Impressions I asked some of the attendees to... The post Stanford Fermented Food Conference: Attendee Impressions appeared first on 'Booch News.

Mikaela Kasperek is a registered dietician with a PhD in nutritional sciences. Her research focuses on the health benefits of fermented foods, focusing on the role of microbial metabolites, particularly aryl-lactates. While existing evidence suggests fermented foods are beneficial (e.g.,... The post Improving the Health Benefits of Fermented Foods appeared first on 'Booch News.

As with all foods, kombucha brewers are legally required to include nutritional information on their bottles and cans. The labels allow us to see the amount of calories and sugar in each brand. Fermented beverages like kefir and kombucha will... The post Nutrition Facts or Fiction: Should Consumers Trust Kombucha Labels? appeared first on 'Booch News.

At the end of Day One of the Conference, after listening to more than a dozen experts offer insights into everything from the ways red ants are used as a traditional yogurt starter in rural Turkey, to why gastrophagy was... The post Stanford Fermented Food Conference: Fayee Wong appeared first on 'Booch News.

I met her in a club down in old SohoWhere you drink champagne and it tastes like Coca-ColaC-O-L-A, Cola — Lola, The Kinks Pascal Du Bois has been a fan of kombucha for many years, from the days when his... The post Profile: ROBOT Kombucha, Chichester, UK appeared first on 'Booch News.

The UK's original kombucha label, GO Kombucha, is up for sale. I first came across the brand back in November 2018 when I visited Liverpool. In October 2023, I interviewed founder Gary Leigh . You can find more information about... The post For Sale: GO Kombucha (UK) appeared first on 'Booch News.

Kombucha connoisseur Susanna Danieli recently visited her native Italy and reported on the thriving kombucha scene there. She added a number of reviews of Italian brands to her excellent Instagram channel. The new brands that she discovered have been added... The post Susanna Danieli: Kombucha in Italy appeared first on 'Booch News.

We first reported on Keg Outlet in our February 2020 post Growing Beyond Home Brewing where we referenced three informative videos they had produced: These are among the 90+ informative videos that Keg Outlet have posted to their YouTube channel.... The post Profile: Keg Outlet, scaling up from home brewing appeared first on 'Booch News.

While visiting family in Cheshire, England, I was delighted to meet up with Charlotte, the founder of Shropshire Kombucha. We'd not been able to connect when I was last in Nantwich. But this time around, she was at the bustling... The post Shropshire Kombucha: In Person appeared first on 'Booch News.

Sambucha Kombucha is located in Pangbourne, near Reading, England on the banks of the River Thames. It is a “hobby turned full-time job” for Sam May, who moved from California to the UK. The commercial operation started during lockdown and... The post Profile: Sambucha Kombucha, Pangbourne, Berkshire, UK appeared first on 'Booch News.

Three years ago, I visited the KC Kombucha taproom in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento. News broke last week that the taproom was closing. Courtney, the founder, had sold the business to her long-time partner Michelle Grubbs. A time... The post Interview: Michelle Grubbs, KC Kombucha, Sacramento, California appeared first on 'Booch News.

Curro Polo is currently pursuing a PhD under the Basque Culinary Center program, with the academic guidance of Harvard University The research project will take place at Ama Brewery, exploring the fascinating world of microbiology applied to beverages. We'd met... The post Interview: Curro Polo — Kombucha: A Word on Metamorphosis appeared first on 'Booch News.

Jean-Pierre Parent, a yoga teacher in Portland, Oregon, noticed that, even though people often go to yoga studios for the community, many students would shyly slink away after class. In response, he began bringing his home-brew kombucha to enjoy after... The post Profile: SOMA Kombucha, Portland, Oregon appeared first on 'Booch News.

On a recent trip to Mexico City, I met with the founders of Umani Fermentos. Our 20-minute discussion provided insights into the company's origins, production, and distribution. Origins Umani was started as a side project in 2018 by three friends—Ixchel,... The post Profile: Umani Fermentos, Mexico City appeared first on 'Booch News.

Following my recent interview with Sally of  Burning Bloom Kombucha in Puerto Vallarta, I met Gina Méndez the founder of Kova Kombucha, a small-batch kombucha business also based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Zapotlanejo, near Guadalajara. Kova is the most... The post Profile: Kova Kombucha, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico appeared first on 'Booch News.

It's been two years since I first discovered local kombucha in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. At the time I met Monica at the Elixir Spot Vegan Cafe I had not seen any others. It was only this January, when I dropped... The post Profile: Burning Bloom Kombucha, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico appeared first on 'Booch News.

This podcast interview features James, the owner of Nania's Vineyard, a Bristol-based company producing canned English wine and kombucha. James details his journey from home winemaking to establishing a thriving, albeit small-scale, kombucha business. He explains his unique brewing process,... The post Partner Wanted: Nania's Kombucha, Bristol, England appeared first on 'Booch News.

Gwen Bortner is a business advisor and operational strategist specializing in women entrepreneurs, particularly those who have turned hobbies into businesses. In a recent interview with Booch News, she detailed how her expertise can benefit women business owners in the... The post Business Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs appeared first on 'Booch News.

On Oct 29, 2024 Real Co Labs hosted an afternoon discussion on The Art and Science of Fermentation in London. The audio of company founder David Begg's presentation is attached with the company's express permission. In this audio, David Begg,... The post The Art and Science of Fermentation, by David Begg, Real Co, UK appeared first on 'Booch News.

Statistics show that 50% of small businesses failure occurs within five years. Last year, we looked at general numbers for the kombucha industry. This is the story behind one brand's decision to move on. The goal of these features is... The post RIP: Creature Craft Soda, Joplin, Missouri appeared first on 'Booch News.

Statistics show that 50% of small businesses failure occurs within five years. Last year, we looked at general numbers for the kombucha industry. This is the story behind one brand's decision to move on. In this interview, Joshua Rood, founder... The post RIP: Dr Hops Hard Kombucha, San Leandro, California appeared first on 'Booch News.

This is a follow-up to the recent post about the study by the students and faculty the department of chemistry at Shippensburg University. The lead authors are Professors John Richardson and Jeb Kegerreis. They spoke with Booch News about the... The post Interview: Silicone Bag Brewing appeared first on 'Booch News.

Last week I posted an appreciation of the Instagram of Susy Drinks Kombucha – an impressive archive of over 270 detailed reviews of commercial brands in the States and Europe. At the time I speculated that …she grew up in... The post Interview: Susy, the Kombucha Connoisseur appeared first on 'Booch News.

Edited transcript (original audio at the bottom). Booch News: I was delighted to make contact with Caroline Gilmartin and Jo Webster, two British fermentation experts who live in the southwest of England. I'd found them on the Substack platform, which... The post Interview: Caroline Gilmartin & Jo Webster, Fermentation Experts appeared first on 'Booch News.

The 2024 KBI European Salon was held Oct 24-25 in the meeting space at the Terra Veritas organic supermarket in Barcelona, promising a “dynamic discussions surrounding the changes in the kombucha market…a landscape that is evolving rapidly, presenting both exciting... The post Report: KBI European Salon appeared first on 'Booch News.

This podcast is the result of an experiment with Google's new generative A.I. tool NotebookLM — created “to help you make sense of complex information. When you upload your sources, it instantly becomes an expert, grounding its responses in your... The post A.I. bots discuss the science of kombucha appeared first on 'Booch News.

Daniela Guilbert founded Bruja Sana Kombucha in 2015 after discovering the drink while living in Vancouver and visiting Northern California. On returning to Mexico, she was dismayed that kombucha was largely unavailable. A friend suggested that she start making it,... The post Profile: Bruja Sana Kombucha, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico appeared first on 'Booch News.

Thierry Tran authored a 3-part series in SYMBIOSIS Magazine: (Back copies are available to order.) He now offers independent consulting via Transverse Consulting, contact Thierry by messaging him on his LinkedIn profile. He has published over 20 research papers on... The post Interview: Dr. Thierry Tran, Dijon, France appeared first on 'Booch News.

On the last day of a two-week road trip from my home in the San Francisco Bay Area to Portland and back, I was fortunate to arrive in Fort Bragg when the Wednesday Farmers' Market was on. I came across... The post Profile: Mendo Ferments, Willits, California appeared first on 'Booch News.

It's Alive Kombucha is located on the far north coast of California in the remote college town of Arcata. For the past 11 years, the family-owned business has supplied regular and hard kombucha to the region. They now distribute from... The post Profile: It's Alive Kombucha, Arcata, California appeared first on 'Booch News.

Jared Englund founded Lion Heart Kombucha 14 years ago and named the company after his son, Lev, whose name means “lion heart.” He started teaching kombucha classes in 2008 and established Lion Heart Kombucha in 2010, brewing booch at night... The post Profile: Lion Heart Kombucha, Portland, Oregon appeared first on 'Booch News.

Michael Churchill and his wife Natalia Amijo are industrial designers living in the San Francisco Bay Area. They have employed their design chops to create KOMBU — a sleek, if pricey, appliance for home brewing kombucha. Their “Fermenstation” features a... The post KOMBU: Home Brewing Appliance appeared first on 'Booch News.

Julie Morrell and Ted Archuleta founded Urban Mama 505 in Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2021. This was after a dozen years brewing kombucha at home that helped Julie resolve health issues including a brain tumor, autoimmune disorder, and fibromyalgia.... The post Profile: Urban Mama 505, Albuquerque, New Mexico appeared first on 'Booch News.

On May 17 we featured a Guest Posting by Joseph at Holos on How to make a SCOBY Leather Bag. This interview with company co-founder Naomi Partridge tells the story of the brand. I was introduced to Holos by Reeti... The post Profile: Holos Kombucha, Sussex, England appeared first on 'Booch News.

Emma Davies founded award-winning Curious Kombucha five years ago. She is based in Thorncombe, Dorset, in the south-west of England. Emma began her brewing career 20 years ago, producing beer in local microbreweries, where she developed a deep understanding of... The post Profile: Curious Kombucha, Thorncombe, Dorset, UK appeared first on 'Booch News.

In the Fall 2021 edition of SYMBIOSIS Magazine, we profiled Sacha Laurin's award-winning designs fashioned from SCOBY fabrics. She had taken early experiments in fabrics based on SCOBY (pellicle) processing to an international audience when, in 2015, she premiered her... The post Vegan Leather from Kombucha SCOBYs appeared first on 'Booch News.

We first reported on the Kombucha Warehouse in May 2023. The company is now two years old. I took advantage of a trip back to the UK to meet founding brothers Jack and Jordan Sotoriou in person at their facility... The post Update: Kombucha Warehouse, Potters Bar, UK appeared first on 'Booch News.

We first reported on Andrew Mills — the founder of NUNC Living Jun-Kombucha — in December 2020. At that time the company, started with a paltry £12,000, was only two years old. I took advantage of a trip back to... The post Update: Nunc Living Jun, Buckingham, UK appeared first on 'Booch News.

Statistics show that 50% of small businesses fail within five years. In October, we looked at general numbers for the kombucha industry. This is the story behind one person's decision to move on. Eli Cayer founded Urban Farm Fermentory in... The post RIP: Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland, Maine appeared first on 'Booch News.

I first met Numan Karabiyik of Boochman Kombucha in Berkeley in November 2019. Since then, his business has gone from strength to strength and he now operates out of a larger facility across the Bay in San Francisco. Boochmania Boochman... The post Boochman, San Francisco, California – Revisited appeared first on 'Booch News.

Kendra stepped up to lead KBI in January after Hannah Crum moved on. She recently spoke with Booch News about the latest developments at Kombucha Brewers International. Listen to the podcast to hear the latest. Highlights include: Seal Program The... The post KBI Update with Kendra Sepulveda appeared first on 'Booch News.

Julie Davidson opened Komadre Kombucha in Tacoma, Washington, at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020. She used government grants to fund her start-up but, after a four-year journey, decided to close earlier this month. The decision to close... The post RIP: Komadre Kombucha, Tacoma, Washington appeared first on 'Booch News.