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?

Wild Kombucha received three awards:

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

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The post Profile: Wild Kombucha, Kiev, Ukraine appeared first on 'Booch News.