Written by Nicole Scopelliti | Photos by Benji Rothenberg
The closer you get to the West Coast, the closer you get to crazier, boundary-pushing cuisine. Kombucha (pronounced kawm-boo-cha) is a staple in Northwest culinary culture and is popular among consumers of all ages and lifestyles because of its unique flavor and endless health benefits. I had never heard of kombucha before coming to the University of Oregon, and I was skeptical to try it after I heard that kombucha was alive! As you might guess, I succumbed to peer pressure from my local Eugenian friends and tried the funky, fermented drink. The rest was history.
What is kombucha?
Kombucha is a drink that is produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria. It is often flavored with flowers, fresh fruit juices and herbs. The brewing process is simple, therefore kombucha can be easily customized according to your personal flavor preferences.
The brewing process begins with a scoby, which stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria. A scoby most often resembles a large, slimy, floating mushroom head.  Consider it a refuge for the bacteria and yeast that will give your tea it’s true fizzy nature and flavor profile. This is what I mean when I say kombucha is alive: it contains millions of probiotic cultures which are not only pleasing on your palate, but are also beneficial for your gut. You can buy a scoby online, make your own or even borrow one from someone in the community (which I hear is a popular method in Eugene). In brief terms, the fermentation process is completed by mixing tea with sugar, followed by resting the scoby on top and then allowing it all to bask in unlimited sunlight for about a week.
Eugene is fermentation friendly!
Luckily, Eugene is a diverse hub for kombucha and fermented food and drink alike. Kombucha is available both on tap and in bottles in various bars and restaurants, and even in our very own EMU’s Townshend’s Tea. You can also purchase kombucha at Safeway and Market of Choice.
If you’re looking to explore the local kombucha culture exclusive to Eugene, Elevate Kombucha is a great beverage to start with. Natalie and Corey, partners and owners of the brand Elevate Kombucha, have only been in the business for 15 months, yet their kombucha is available on tap in over 20 locations, with over 10 staple flavors and various seasonal options. They began their journey serving kombucha from their mobile cart at music festivals. Their organic drink was such a big hit that they brought it to local vendors, the first being Vanilla Jill’s, which sells Elevate Kombucha ice cream floats! Owners Natalie and Corey hope to open their own brewing space in the near future, which will allow them to bottle their kombucha. Along with creating innovative flavors such as First Kiss (hibiscus rose) and Apple Ginger, Elevate Kombucha popsicles may come to fruition in the near future! Elevate Kombucha can be found at Falling Sky Brewery, Beergarden, Growler Guys, and many more locations.

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Farm to Fermentation: Eugene’s Spin on Kombucha