Profile: Wild Kombucha, Kiev, Ukraine

Kombucha in a time of war

Among the dozens of kombucha producers I spoke with from around the world gathered in Barcelona for the World Kombucha Awards, one stood out. Artem Manko the founder of Wild Kombucha, Kiev, Ukraine, shared the story of his brand and the effect the conflict with Russia has had on his business. It’s not what you might expect:

Business in Ukraine are thriving, to be honest. The war brings some sadness and some possibilities. There is an increased demand for kombucha. It’s not only for kombucha, but for every product, because people are…how to say it right, at a crossroad. And which way to go, they always try new, because they do fear that they will die at any time. It might be the last day, so they’re trying everything. And kombucha is not the product that you think of for the first, when you want to drink something. When people come to the market, they see the shelf and they see kombucha, and they might think, I never tried it before. I want to try it, yeah, because this could be my last day, you know?

World Kombucha Awards

Wild Kombucha received three awards at the Barcelona World Kombucha Awards ceremony:

• Gold: Fruits with Herbs category for their “Berries” flavor.
• Bronze: “Classic, Other Teas” category.
• Best Rookie: For the best newly founded kombucha company.

Flavors

• Classic: Crafted from white and red tea sourced from China (Bronze Award Winner)
• Rooibos Coffee: A blend of African rooibos and red bush teas with nine Ukrainian herbs enriched with 100% Arabica coffee beans.
• Green Tea: Sencha green tea with cornflower petals, complemented by candied tropical fruits.
• Raspberry: Made with fresh raspberry puree. A rich berry sweetness with a hint of tartness. (Gold Award Winner)
• Citrus: Green tea blended with fresh lemon and orange.
• Hibiscus: Based on classic kombucha with a hint of hibiscus. A vibrant berry-red flavor with notes of cherry and wild fruit. Slightly tart and refreshing.
• Ginger: The vibrant warmth of real ginger. Natural spiciness is balanced with the citrus brightness of lemon, lime, and grapefruit, while hints of lemongrass, cardamom, and nutmeg add depth and harmony.

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