When did you begin making Kombucha? What was your inspiration?

I started brewing Kombucha in our home back in 2013. I had really poor digestive issues that no doctor could figure out. Frustrated, I took it upon myself to figure out what it was my body needed to feel whole and healthy. I changed my diet & lifestyle, but it was consuming Kombucha that was the real catalyst towards my healing.

What is the most important thing you would like people to know about your product?

We are what we like to call “glorified homebrewers”. Since Kristin has to drink kombucha for health reasons it is of utmost importance that the quality of our product remain top notch and low sugar. Hoochy ‘Booch is one of few Kombucha companies that doesn’t use any fruit juice or concentrates to make our flavours. All of our flavours come from organic teas, herbs & botanicals.

How do you create your flavour varieties?

This may sound a little “woo woo” but I create all of our flavours through inspired thoughts. Whether it be a mood, a smell or something I’ve seen, my mind is always thinking about the next flavour. As mentioned, all of our flavours come from organic teas & herbs which in my opinion, allow our flavours to be more diverse and complex.

What is the most popular, and what would you suggest for someone trying kombucha for the first time?

Currently our most popular flavours are:
Hibiscus Ginger – we call this the “gateway to ginger”, as its not too gingery and perfectly floral
Blue Valentine – reminiscent of a blue-raspberry slurpee, this Kombucha is bright blue as we add Blue Majik (a blue-green algae)
Lady Grey – it’s hard to find an earl grey kombucha out there and this flavour has a bit of a cult-following. We call it our dessert kombucha because of the vanilla notes and how delicious it is to make a float with.

We think choosing a flavour for a first timer is still pretty personal. We typically ask folks if they like ginger or fruit, sweeter or sour profiles. This helps us pick a flavour best suited for them.

Why is supporting local important to you?

Supporting local is the backbone to our company. Hoochy ‘Booch is currently only available in local retail shops, no big box retailers. We find this so important and close to our heart because it not only allows us to better know our retailers & customers, it also supports the local economy, keeps our product top-quality and creates a direct impact on our lives & the lives of others who are local producers/farmers etc.

What do you like the most about selling at farmers markets?

We LOVE seeing our customers come back excited to refill their growlers! We hear stories about how their tummies are feeling better and also see their pride about doing something good for the environment by reusing their bottles. Also, the vibe at the markets is super friendly & fun.