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
Finch Ford Lincoln
As a junior hockey player with the London Knights, Mark Guy had a reputation for sticking up for his teammates on the ice. He loved the camaraderie that he found in hockey and sought that in his professional life. Instead of moving back to Mississauga when hockey ended, he jumped at the chance to co
Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board
In 2019, the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board (SLWDB) celebrates 22 years serving Lambton County. The organization began as the Sarnia Lambton Training Board in 1997 with an office located at 112 Christina Street South. In 2007 the organization instituted a new name in order to more clearly
Coffee Lodge
When he first established Coffee Lodge, Leo Stathakis was inspired by trips he had made to small coffee houses in Seattle, Vancouver and Michigan. I've always loved coffee and coffee houses. I would often venture out in Detroit to visit all the old coffee houses. I loved the coffee and the atmo
Nicole Smith - Twin Bridges EXIT Realty
Nicole Smith is the first to admit that the thrill of closing a deal is what motivates her when it comes to working as a real estate agent. I've always worked in sales and I am definitely a very social person, Nicole proclaims. I got to know a lot of people while working locally at the ma
Related Stories
Oh Me Nerves Photography
For photographer Shaun Antle, the COVID-19 lockdown was as difficult as it was filled with opportunity and time. "I had been into photography for the better part of 25 years," says Shaun. "I just loved the thought of capturing life's moments and the world around me, so as a kid, as soon as I"
Rotary Club of Sarnia
The Rotary Club of Sarnia started on February 24, 1928. “Sixteen community-minded people met with the City to receive the charter. Today, there are three different clubs, which a lot of people don’t realize,” says Mike Hurry, the...
Forbesvue Farms
Kevin Forbes was destined to take over his family-run dairy farm, Forbesvue Farms, even if he didn't always know it. When you are growing up with it there are times you love it and times when you hate living in the country and being on a farm when your friends are out partying, Kevin says.
H. Moore and Son Windows & Doors
H. Moore and Son, located at 1578 London Line in Sarnia, is owned and operated by Bob and Nancy Bork. In 1952, Harry Moore started building and selling aluminum storm windows and doors out of his garage. A few years later, Moore e...
