Tete-a-tete of mixologist Nupur Joshi with brew master Cyriac Thomas from Umami Kombucha 

◦ What is kombucha & how is it a Healthy Drink for a Healthy Gut?
Kombucha is basically sweetened black or green tea fermented over 10 to 14 days with a SCOBY which stands for symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. The yeast converts the sugar in the tea to alcohol and the bacteria converts the alcohol into acetic and gluconic acid.
These acids formed during this process are highly beneficial for your gut and help in maintaining a balance in your body. Since gut health is related to many other functions of the body, it is necessary to have good gut health.
Anything that is fermented is also high in pro-biotics and helps in improving your gut flora. 

◦ How does you brand name Umami express your brand’s ideology and experience?
Umami translates to the fifth taste after sweet, salty, bitter and sour. In India we can also call it chatpata. It is that elusive taste being chased to give you that flavor bomb experience in your mouth.
We also believe that umami is a feeling that you get after experiencing a well-rounded and wholesome flavor. For this to happen every ingredient is to used to its optimum capacity.
Hence at Umami Brew every flavor is made with real fruits, herbs and spices and is crafted in a particular way to make sure that you get a umami bomb in every sip.

◦ How is Kombucha best had? What would you suggest as a right food pairing for any 3of your variants?
Kombucha is best had chilled and as a standalone drink anytime of the day. We also see people opting for it as a healthier alternative to the regular mixers in the market without compromising on taste. On the face of it Umami Brew is a refreshing drink and can easily replace the fruit juices and sodas in your pantry.
Kokum ginger kombucha pairs well with sea food.  Apple cinnamon goes well with anything that has bread as its base so sandwiches. Pineapple Spice goes well with spicy veg and non veg dishes. 

◦ Tell us how is Umami Kombucha different from other brands that are available in the market? Your brand differentiation!
At Umami Brew, we take pride in the fact that we use real fruits, herbs and spices for our flavorings. No artificial colors, chemicals or preservatives are used. We have also stayed away from the fad of nature identical flavors and sweeteners like stevia.
Our ingredients list is so simple and plain jane that even a child will be able to comprehend everything.

◦ What is the shelf life of a bottle of a kombucha? What about storage at home and its life in good refrigeration?

Kombucha if made right will never go bad. It just becomes more acidic with time and will turn into vinegar eventually.
Shelf life of Umami Brew is 8 months at ambient temperature. The processes that we use has enabled us to do so without compromising on the integrity of the drink and also its taste.

◦ Some words of motivation for the conscious millennial and the flamboyant youth to switch to Kombucha?
It is a known fact that all the sodas available in the market are full of empty calories and high in sugar. Most of the other fruit based drinks are not natural and have a lot of preservatives added to it.
Umami Brew is giving you an equally tasty and refreshing beverage which also happens to be healthy. So why not make the right choice for your future?

Here are a few KOMBUCHA COCKTAILS recipes by our very own brew master Nupur Joshi!

Kokum Ginger kombucha with Pomegranate & Gin

Ingredients: Stanger & Sons Gin – 45 ml, Pomegranate Juice – 60 ml, Kokum & Ginger Kombucha – 120 ml, Mint leaves – 3 to 4 leaves.
Method:

  • Add all the ingredients (except the Kombucha) in a shaker & shake it over ice
  • Pour into a glass & top with Kokum Ginger Kombucha & Garnish with a mint spring!

Coffee Nutmeg kombucha with Bourbon & Apple Cinnamon Flavours

Ingredients: Bourbon Whisky – 60 ml, Apple Juice – 45ml, Coffee Nutmeg  Kombucha – 120 ml, Cinnamon Stick – 1, Cinnamon powder – one pinch.
Method:

  • Add all the ingredients (except the Kombucha) in a shaker & shake it over ice
  • Pour into a glass & top with Coffee Nutmeg Kombucha & Garnish with a Cinnamon stick

CHEERS !!!