Prism Kombucha, anyone?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2020 (2023 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nicolas Audette is hoping Prism Kombucha is your cup of tea.

According to the product’s website, the fermented tea beverage is locally brewed using ethically sourced teas, wild-foraged plants and handpicked fruit, and is raw, organic and packed with flavour.

Brewed at FortWhyte Farms, Prism Kombucha was recently acquired by Jardins St-Léon Gardens — a seasonal outdoor farm market that sells produce grown or made by local producers, which is located at 419 St. Mary’s Rd. Prism Kombucha was started by former owned Daniel Pastuck.

Kombucha is a fermented tea that’s been consumed for thousands of years, and it’s noted for its health benefits — it’s a rich source of probiotics and it also contains antioxidants. Audette, the company’s manager and brewer, said the tea has grown in popularity in North America since the nineties.  

“It’s a healthy alternative to drinks that are high in sugar and it contains probiotics, so it’s healthy for your gut and digestive system,” Audette said.

The St. Boniface resident said the stars aligned when Pastuck decided on a career change, and Jardins St-Léon Gardens made him an offer and purchased the business. To help ensure a smooth transition, Pastuck will remain involved with things for the next three months: “This way, I get to learn from him, and it will help us continue in the same direction.”  

As well as St-Léon, the tea is available at a number of locations across the city, including Café Postal, Fortify, Fromagerie Bothwell and La Belle Baguette in St. Boniface, to name a few.

And now, Audette — who was previously the marketing and communications director at Festival du Voyageur — is aiming to raise awareness about the product and encouraging more Manitobans to try the tea.

“We’re looking to keep going and grow the product further,” Audette said. “It’s not really well known in Winnipeg, and if you asked 100 people on the street about it, not many of them would know what kombucha is. We’re looking to raise awareness and education about it, and let people know it’s available in stores, restaurants and coffee shops.”

At the moment, Prism Kombucha has four flagship flavours — boreal blueberry, prairie wildflower, chicory chai and cranberry spice.

“Because it’s fermented and how the flavours are mixed, the tea tends to have a sweetness and tartness balance,” Audette added, noting the importance of supporting local enterprise.

“We only used ethically sourced ingredients, wild-foraged ingredients that are all from Canada,” he said. “We’re going back to the land.”

Visit www.prismkombucha.com or search for prismkombucha on Instagram for more information.