Dr. Cătălin Tîlvescu is a general surgeon and the coordinator of the Department of Hyperbaric Medicine at Nova Vita Hospital in Romania. In 2020, he founded Kombucius in his hometown of Târgu Mureș, Transylvania.

The decision to launch was heavily influenced by a clear market opportunity in Romania. A certain level of awareness of kombucha existed in the country, as it was a popular home brew in communist times, often perceived as a “miracle cure” kept in a jar by grandmothers. Although he is a physician by training, his experience as a home brewer provided the foundational knowledge for his new venture. He had a long history with fermentation, growing up learning how to make wine and moonshine (spirits) with his grandparents.

He discovered that Romania didn’t have any breweries producing kombucha at the time. The imported store-bought kombucha he tasted was often “really bad” and bland. He noted that the varieties being sold locally were “very harsh, very sour, very acidic,” leading him to question why consumers would purchase them. This quality gap inspired his core business philosophy: to make a kombucha that people would actually enjoy drinking, resulting in a product that is sweeter and less carbonated, akin to the Asian style, rather than the more sour, highly carbonated North European/American types.

He overcame multiple challenges in establishing the business, such as learning to produce kombucha at scale, securing a suitable factory location, and addressing public perceptions of kombucha. All this as a one-person operation while working full-time as a physician in three hospitals.

However, he recognized that he needed to rebuild his life, and opening a brewery became a viable option, particularly since his ex-wife, who was “not a fan of me doing home brewing,” was no longer a factor. The business served as a positive trajectory for his life, preventing him from becoming a “bitter, resentful, old divorced dad” and allowing him to truly find happiness and personal growth. He  remarked that starting a kombucha company was the “best decision that I have ever made in my life.”

He previously held the “dream” of having a large beer brewery but lacked the necessary funds. Kombucha presented a similar opportunity that was more financially accessible.

The idea solidified after watching two key online videos: one showing a brewery tour that revealed the process was “not really hard to make,” and another featuring Sebastian Bureau at the 2019 Berlin Kombucha Summit explaining how to scale up production, which transformed the concept into a “possibility.”

Based on insights gained from friends in the beer industry, he decided to bypass starting in his kitchen and immediately launch the company as a professional, legal brand, knowing that serious commercial operations require stability and consistency.

The brand recently gained international recognition when its mint flavor won a World Kombucha Award, validating his approach of creating a less acidic, more palatable beverage.

Kombucius has published a library of over 60 YouTube videos (in Romanian) that cover everything from home-brewing tips to the scientific benefits of kombucha, and even the first episode of a humorous soap opera featuring Master Kombucius, who arrives on his motorcycle, swigging kombucha!

• Original Kombucha with green tea – for those who love the authentic and refreshing taste.
• Kombucha Rojizo Granada – an explosion of freshness and fruity flavor.
• Ginger Khan Kombucha – for those who love a little spicy craftsmanship in their life.
• Fresh Mint Kombucha – an award-winning refreshing combination.
• Kombucha Strong Hops with hops – a bold combination of freshness and bitter subtlety.

Kombucius is available across Romania.

This lengthy conversation tells the story of the founding of Kombucius, including overcoming challenges of limited funds and doing much of the physical labor himself. Dr. Tîlvescu discusses his brewing process and the philosophy behind his products. Finally, he shares his long-term aspirations for scaling the business and offers entrepreneurial advice, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process and maintaining one’s principles.

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