Kombucha Hound
Kombucha HoundFor Alex Pearson, Kombucha tea has been something of a lifesaver — in more ways than one. For starters, drinking Kombucha has provided numerous health benefits for the 32-year-old who used to suffer from acid reflux, but is now cured of it. Also, when Alex was unable to continue in her chosen career as a veterinary technician, she opened her own Kombucha tea company — Kombucha Hound. “My sister-in-law got me into it,” Alex says. “I noticed my heartburn was getting better with it. It was an expensive habit so my sister-in-law and I did a homebrewing course and learned how to make it ourselves. I started giving some of my finished product to friends and they really liked it.”
Alex advanced from making home batches for herself and friends to starting a business where she now brews up to 1,300 litres of Kombucha tea per week. “I went to school to be a vet tech, and I did that job for seven and a half years, but I injured my back and suffered from terrible sciatica pain. It wasn’t getting any better because being a vet tech is a very strenuous job. I dropped down to doing it part-time but eventually had to make the hard decision to quit and turned to my hobby of making Kombucha into a full-time job. We moved to the country and opened our own commercial kitchen in Reeces Corners. It is mostly just me, but my husband Marc Piquette helps me when he can.”
Kombucha is a raw and unpasteurized drink that's fizzy and refreshing. “It is considered a living drink,” Alex says. “I don’t pasteurize it because that goes against what Kombucha is. Kombucha is very simple: It is made from sweet tea, cane sugar and water. Then you add your culture to it and let it sit and do its ferment. That is the basis for all Kombucha. In the second ferment, I add the fruit and herbs, and spices for extra flavouring." Pasteurization, or the heating of something to kill bacteria, also kills all the good probiotics, yeast, and bacteria. "You just wouldn’t get the beneficial properties from it.”
Kombucha Hound comes in a variety of flavours including Just Ginger, Strawberry Mojito, Black Cherry, Greyhound Grapefruit, Raspberry Gimlet, and Lavender Fields to name a few. And working as a one-woman show keeps Alex busy. "In addition to brewing, I do all the sanitizing and packaging. Originally, all our Kombucha came in glass bottles you could return for a deposit. But, due to supply issues, we are switching from bottles to cans, and I will do all that myself too.”
Alex hopes others will enjoy the benefits of Kombucha tea. “I was on three medications because of acid reflux,” Alex says. “As I drank Kombucha I noticed right away my heartburn would dissipate. I didn’t have that with any of my medications. I was slowly weaned off the meds as I continued to drink Kombucha.” An animal lover, Alex says Kombucha Hound donates a portion of its proceeds to alternating animal rescues and shelters.”
Related Stories
St. Clair Windows and Doors
Don White started St. Clair Windows and Doors in 2007 with the mission to offer quality you can afford. We sell top-quality products, and have used that slogan since we started. It's still holding true, says White. Having previously worked in the industry for five years, White always had his
Java & Scoops
If you pop into Java and Scoop expecting to find only a selection of coffees and ice creams, owner Tracy Brophy has a pleasant surprise for you. Despite the business's leading name, Java and Scoop in Forest, Ont., has much, much more to offer. My original goal in purchasing Java and Scoop was t
Big Fish Steak & Lounge
The Tsaprailis family has been in the restaurant business for over thirty years. Their first restaurant, The Valley House on Vidal Street, was a busy spot serving eggs, sandwiches and burgers. In 1992, they bought the Old Country Steak House on London Line and renamed it The Brigantine. Five years a
Bluewater Health Foundation
Bluewater Health Foundation's sole purpose is to raise funds to support Sarnia-Lambton's hospital, Bluewater Health. We envision a healthy community sustained through a culture of generosity," shares Kathy Alexander, the Foundation's Executive Director, "Quite often people are surprised to
Related Stories
Planet Stitch
Duffy Simon thought his uncle was yanking his chain. "I was taking business marketing in college and an uncle of mine said there was a need for embroidery in the area," Duffy recalls. "I chuckled because at that point only my grandma did embroidery. But it turns out he was being serious. We were"
The Glass & Pillar Spa
When Gayle Tidball opened The Glass & Pillar Spa in 2006 she wanted to create a business where people came to enjoy themselves. I love this industry for the transformation it offers a person. Making people feel good and seeing them relax in this space is so important to me, Tidball shares.
Korny Korners Farm
One look at the name and you just know Korny Korners Farm is a fun place to visit. It's a fifth generation, over a century-old farm, says owner Roger Thurston, 74. I have been working here all my life. It has transitioned over the years and about 10 years ago we started to take our produc
Sylvan Learning was founded in 1979 in Portland, Oregon to provide supplemental instruction in reading, writing, math and study skills. The Sarnia location began in 1984 and has been located at the same address all these years, 10...
Own a local business in Sarnia-Lambton?
Your customers, your link, your revenue. We do the rest.
Become a #local Partner and we pay you 100% of every gift card members spend with you. It costs you nothing to join.
Free. Takes about three minutes.
