KKON22 – Kombucha Kup Award of Excellence Winners

The Kombucha Brewers International KKON22 conference in Long Beach, California, concluded on Friday April 1 with the Kombucha Kup Awards of Excellence. Eight judges (I was one) spent two days tasting over 80 entries in the seven categories:

  • Original (unflavored)
  • Ginger/Spice
  • Fruited
  • Floral/Herbs
  • Hops
  • Hard Kombucha
  • Jun

The tastings were completely ‘blind’ with coded samples delivered to the tasting room. After an initial elimination round, six in each category went forward to the final round where the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals were awarded. Congratulations to all the winners, and for those brands who were not selected (or did not even enter!) there is always next year.

And the winners are:

Original Kombucha

Gold: Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, New York – Amaterasu

Silver: Lao Kombucha, Quebec, Canada – Crystal

Bronze: Kaldi Kombucha, Antigua Guatemala – Natural

Ginger/Spice Kombucha

Gold: Cloud Mountain Kombucha, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – Lemon Balm Ginger

Silver: Federal Brewing Company, Federalsburg, Maryland- Imperial Gold

Bronze: Swiss Kombucha Company, Zug, Switzerland – Carrot Ginger Turmeric


Fruited Kombucha

Gold: Cloud Mountain Kombucha, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – Autumn Mary

Silver: Elixir Kombucha, Louisville, Kentucky – Grapefruit, Hibiscus & Orange Peel

Bronze: Boochy Call Kombucha, Sharpsburg, Maryland – Full Monty


Floral/Herbs Kombucha

Gold: Swiss Kombucha Company, Zug, Switzerland – Elderflower, Lime & Mint

Silver: Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, New York – Echinacea

Bronze: Nokkos Kombucha, Helsinki, Finland – Heather & Gooseberry

Hops Kombucha

Gold: Spring Branch Kombucha, Springfield, Missouri – Lemon Hops

Silver: Yugen Kombucha, Knokke-Heist, Belgium – Grapefruit Hops

Bronze: Ninja Kombucha, Richmond, Virginia – Dry Hopped Lemon Ginger


Hard Kombucha

Gold: Arlo Boozy Kombucha, Delta, BC, Canada – Raspberry

Silver: Arlo Boozy Kombucha, Delta, BC, Canada – Mango

Bronze: Strainge Beast, Chico, California – Watermelon, Sea Salt, Lime & Mint


Jun

Gold: Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, New York – Dragon’s Nectar

Silver: Revel Kombucha, Ojai, California – Hoppy Valley

Bronze:  Revel Kombucha, Ojai, California – Pink Moment

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