Profile: Wild Kombucha, Kiev, Ukraine

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Kombucha in a time of war

Among the dozens of kombucha producers I spoke with from around the world gathered in Barcelona for the World Kombucha Awards, one stood out. Artem Manko the founder of Wild Kombucha, Kiev, Ukraine, shared the story of his brand and the effect the conflict with Russia has had on his business. It’s not what you might expect:

Business in Ukraine are thriving, to be honest. The war brings some sadness and some possibilities. There is an increased demand for kombucha. It’s not only for kombucha, but for every product, because people are…how to say it right, at a crossroad. And which way to go, they always try new, because they do fear that they will die at any time. It might be the last day, so they’re trying everything. And kombucha is not the product that you think of for the first, when you want to drink something. When people come to the market, they see the shelf and they see kombucha, and they might think, I never tried it before. I want to try it, yeah, because this could be my last day, you know?

World Kombucha Awards

Wild Kombucha received three awards at the Barcelona World Kombucha Awards ceremony:

  • Gold: Fruits with Herbs category for their “Berries” flavor.
  • Bronze: “Classic, Other Teas” category.
  • Best Rookie: For the best newly founded kombucha company.

Flavors

  • Classic: Crafted from white and red tea sourced from China (Bronze Award Winner)
  • Rooibos Coffee: A blend of African rooibos and red bush teas with nine Ukrainian herbs enriched with 100% Arabica coffee beans.
  • Green Tea: Sencha green tea with cornflower petals, complemented by candied tropical fruits.
  • Raspberry: Made with fresh raspberry puree. A rich berry sweetness with a hint of tartness. (Gold Award Winner)
  • Citrus: Green tea blended with fresh lemon and orange.
  • Hibiscus: Based on classic kombucha with a hint of hibiscus. A vibrant berry-red flavor with notes of cherry and wild fruit. Slightly tart and refreshing.
  • Ginger: The vibrant warmth of real ginger. Natural spiciness is balanced with the citrus brightness of lemon, lime, and grapefruit, while hints of lemongrass, cardamom, and nutmeg add depth and harmony.

Distribution

Wild Kombucha is available across Ukraine in 400 to 500 cafes, restaurants, and hotels. They won these accounts “by asking”.

It’s as simple as that. We make some propositions on price and taste, and we handle our own logistics. We transfer our products to the main centers of these retail networks.

Instagram

More than most brands, Wild Kombucha highlights the many ways their kombucha is enjoyed fit, healthy, and attractive young people. A refreshing counter to the pictures of front line troops and Russian drone damage that the world sees on the nightly news.

We don’t want people to stay stressed all the time. Right. So, they can find like half an hour to relax, think about themselves, reflect, and drink some kombucha.

Future plans

They are a new brand — not the largest in Ukraine — but have plans to grow.

We are looking for partners —maybe in Europe, another brand, or an investor.

Olympic Fencing Champion

Artem is no stranger to Awards. When not brewing kombucha, he is a member of the Ukrainian Olympic team as a wheelchair fencer, competing in épée, foil, and saber. He won a silver medal in the men’s saber event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He was also a member of the three-man national team that won Gold at the 2025 Para Fencing World Championships in Iksan, South Korea.

He qualified for the Paralympics fencing category after suffering a fall from a 5th-floor window and shattering his legs, putting an end to his participation in the sport he had excelled in since he was a young man, unless seated in a wheelchair.

He hopes his Olympic medal will be an inspiration to the Ukrainian men and women injured in the war:

That is really important right now as there are a lot of injured soldiers without legs, hands, and in wheelchairs. It is hugely important for them to feel that disabled people are accepted in society.

Podcast

Hear Artem describe his experiences as one of Ukraine’s leading kombucha producers in this exclusive Booch News interview.

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1 Response

  1. the_editor says:
    December 4, 2025 at 7:53 pm

    The Ukrainian newspaper Agronews reported on the three Awards.

    Dec 4, 2025

    Ukrainian kombucha Wild has received three awards at the prestigious international competition World Kombucha Awards, becoming the first Ukrainian brand to be recognized at this level.

    Wild won gold in the Fruits with Herbs category with the flavor “Berries,” bronze in the Classic, Other Teas category, and was also named Best Rookie – the best new company of the year. This victory was a significant step for Ukrainian producers in the market of fermented functional beverages – a category that is rapidly growing and gaining popularity in the FMCG sector.

    “For us, it was important to show that a Ukrainian product can compete – and even surpass – international companies in a category that is rapidly growing worldwide and transitioning from niche to mainstream consumption. The competition was very high, so the victory is especially valuable to us. We will continue to invest in the culture of thoughtful and quality consumption, create new combinations, and expand our presence in Ukraine and abroad,” the Wild team notes.

    Among the founders of the brand are a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and entrepreneur Oleksandr Sushko, Paralympic medalist Artem Manko, and Volodymyr Migas, who heads the technological part of production.

    The Wild brand was founded in 2020 and specializes in producing natural unfiltered kombucha without pasteurization, preservatives, artificial flavors, and stabilizers. The recipes include proprietary combinations of flowers and types of tea, as well as exceptionally fresh berries and juices, allowing the beverage to retain its natural probiotic properties.

    Today, Wild is among the top 3 kombucha brands in Ukraine in terms of recognition and presence, and its products are available in nationwide chains such as Silpo, Novus, Fora, Kolo, Wine Time, Epicenter, MauDau, and in 400 HoReCa establishments across the country. In 2024, Wild also received a gold award at the Favorite Food & Drinks, the only professional international tasting competition in Ukraine.

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