On a recent trip to Mexico City, I met with the founders of Umani Fermentos. Our 20-minute discussion provided insights into the company’s origins, production, and distribution.

Umani was started as a side project in 2018 by three friends—Ixchel, Juan Carlos, and Jorja—who met in culinary school. They initially fermented vinegar and officially launched their kombucha in October 2019. They now sell around 8,000 cans a month to over 120 locations, primarily in Mexico City.

The name “Umani” means “to cook” in the Purépecha language from Michoacán. They chose this name to represent their Mexican identity and because they see fermentation as “to cook with live foods.”

The founders received valuable support and mentorship from Yesfolk, a kombucha brand in New York State. They were referred by cider makers while visiting the Hudson Valley. Before launching commercial production, they spent two weeks with Yesfolk, who shared their production techniques and encouraged them. “They were very, very, very, very sweet…”

They currently operate out of a compact 52-sq-meter (550-sq-ft) space in the Roma district and employ nine people. They expect to triple production in 2025.

They shifted from glass bottles to cans due to pandemic-era supply chain issues.

Umani offers a range of core flavors, including orange turmeric, rosemary grapefruit, hojasanta, and fig leaves. They also offer special edition flavors based on rare teas. In addition, they produce small batches of hard cider.

The greater Mexico City metropolitan area has a population of over 20 million people, making it one of the largest cities in the world. So there are a large number of potential customers:

…here in Mexico, it’s not easy to try new things. People like the things they know. But the people that try kombucha usually enjoy it. So, while it’s not growing really fast, it’s steadily going up.

As a tourist, I was only able to visit a few areas of the amazing, beautiful, safe, verdant metropolis. A look at where Umani is available provides a glimpse into interesting areas for visitors to check out and buy a can of their ‘booch. They list the 100+ intra-city and 14 remote locations where their kombucha is available. The most popular areas are:

32 accounts in Roma:

Roma is known for its bar scene, top-class restaurants, incredible street food, and picturesque cafes on every street corner. The area is also home to some of the best-preserved colonial-era architecture. Every street is plush with greenery and ivy falling off balconies. Wide avenues are home to charming artisans, and the idyllic parks where locals come to relax.

14 accounts in Cuauhtémoc:

Cuauhtémoc is the energetic heart of the city, with the Templo Mayor Museum’s Aztec ruins beside the lofty Metropolitan Cathedral on Zócalo Plaza. Murals by Diego Rivera and David Siqueiros can be seen in the marble Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Angel of Independence monument overlooks the bustling Paseo de la Reforma.

10 accounts in Hipódromo:

The sprawling, shady Parque México, home to yoga classes, young couples, and skateboarding teens, is the heart of the stylish yet easygoing Hipódromo. Art Deco apartment buildings and vibrant street art define the neighborhood’s winding, tree-lined thoroughfares. The area is also home to sidewalk cafes and hip, international eateries, many offering vegetarian options, as well as low-key bars and nightlife.

9 accounts in San Miguel Hidalgo:

The Greenwich Village of Mexico City, San Miguel Hidalgo is equal parts urban artsy and quiet residential. Residents are a truly eclectic mix of middle-class singles and families, with a healthy dose of international expats. It is particularly notable for its proximity to Chapultepec Park. Inhabitants, many in their thirties and forties, push baby carriages past neighbors as they walk their trendy dogs, en route to the organic market or the latest art gallery opening. The famous artist Rufino Tamayo once lived in San Miguel, contributing to the area’s rich cultural heritage.

14 accounts outside of Mexico City:

Ensenada, Baha; Hermosillo, Sonora; Chihuahua; Oaxaca; San Luis Potosi; Guanajuato; San Miguel de Allende; Querétaro; Pueblo, and Cuernavaca.

Click on the podcast to hear Ixchel, Juan Carlos, and Jorja tell the story of Umani Kombucha.

The post Profile: Umani Fermentos, Mexico City appeared first on 'Booch News.