Photo by Elena Koycheva on Unsplash

Why Kombooch was started

When I first decided to try brewing kombucha at home, I thought it would be simple. Tea, sugar, a SCOBY… how hard could it be?

I figured I’d save money and have my first homemade brew ready in a couple of weeks.

But I was so wrong.

Instead of saving, I ended up spending way more than if I’d have just stuck to my kombucha-buying habit. And it took me nearly three months before I finally had a batch that was drinkable.


Looking back, I realise the hardest part wasn’t brewing- it was just the getting started.

My first batch

I spent weeks trying to track everything down.

First, the jar- it needed to be at least a gallon, glass, and heat-safe. Not easy to find, definitely not cheap.

Then the SCOBY – I first ordered a dehydrated one from online: Didn’t work 🙁

So I tried growing my own. All I needed was a starter liquid. Google told me I could use “raw” and “unpasteurised” shop-bought kombucha. I found one in Ekoplaza with all the right labels.. but it wasn’t strong enough.. So another mouldy batch.

I literally failed four times.

By the time I’d finally gathered everything, from four different shops,  hours of Googling, months of waiting, and over €60 spent, I still hadn’t brewed a single successful batch…

I learnt from mistakes. I followed advice. But still, I was confused and frustrated about why it wasn’t working.

After I got my first batch working, it suddenly became easier. And I wish I’d applied all my learnings from the day one. But really, there wasn’t really an option to.

And there was nothing there to help me bypass my mistakes- no easy, beginner-friendly way to just start.

So I created Kombooch.

To help others skip the expensive trial-and-error.

To make the first brew easier.

No save you from running around, no second-guessing.

Just everything you need in one kit, and ready to work first time.

Your brew will be bubbling within days, and ready to drink in about 2-3 weeks. After that, you can keep it going, batch after batch, after batch.

Kombooch is currently an experiment. It’s currently a tiny informal side business, kits are made to order, and only available in Utrecht. It’s for anyone who loves kombucha, or just wants a healthier drink in their home, without the headache.

Leave the first comment