0.0% ABV
Sip Harmony, Taste Unity: Elevate Your Wellness Journey with Unity Vibration Kombucha!
RACHEL AND TAREK’S STORY
Unity Vibration Kombucha was conceived in 2008 out of the shared passion of its two Founders, Rachel and Tarek Kanaan. The journey began as they traveled to California with a S.C.O.B.Y (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), their three children and a handful of necessities. Initially launched as a Kombucha tea company in Carpinteria, California, Unity Vibration began selling out of the back of the Founders 93′ Chevy Astro Van to school parents on Fridays in the parking lot. Word spread quickly throughout the community, and eventually two additional drop sites were added. And although demand continued to grow for the unique style of Kombucha, there was no intent to start a bonafide business until the family returned to Michigan (with one extra child in tow).
The 2009 recession was devastating nationwide but Michigan felt it worse than a lot of places. People were forced to make hard decisions about their purchases, so niceties like massages slowly started to diminish (Rachel is a Certified Massage Therapist and Artist). The corporate labor force was not immune either, with countless automotive engineers being laid off (Tarek is a Mechanical Engineer and MSW).
What is that expression, “necessity is the mother of invention”? After some serious thought, Rachel and Tarek believed it was now or never to gamble big on themselves and their idea. They spent their last savings and IRA on brewing equipment and converted a 300 sq ft downstairs bedroom in their historic Ypsilanti, Michigan farmhouse into Unity Vibration’s first manufacturing spot which soon had the added bonus of a constant vinegar smell! This humble beginning would be home base and a legally licensed “Micro-brewery” (with a special variances) for almost 3 years.
Soon after, Rachel and Tarek began selling to local farmers markets, health food stores, co-op’s and even pitched Whole Foods – and managed to get in! With a true bootstrap mentality, they were self-distributing and spent countless hours hauling cases and driving into the wee hours of the morning delivering to retailers. Like most worthwhile pursuits there is an element or period of discomfort, and often this journey was an extreme challenge for Rachel, Tarek and their family. That dedication slowly started to bear fruit, with the business taking on a life of its own, in a positive way. And then, just like that, another hurdle to overcome.
Things were just starting to flow when in the summer of 2010, there was a national ‘Kombucha Crack-down’ that effectively had Kombucha pulled from the shelves of all Whole Foods nationally (UV’s largest account) to be tested for alcohol levels. Rachel and Tarek’s Kombucha tested over the legal limit, as did the majority of others, and they faced the choice of altering their tea to keep alcohol levels low, or allowing it to be fully authentic and calling it a ‘beer.’ Never ones to shy away from authenticity, they chose the authentic route. This meant shutting down for 4 months, afterwhich they released their 1% ABV Kombucha Tea product line that was thankfully distributed by a big Michigan Craft Distributor (Imperial Beverage). After being faced with this challenge, Rachel and Tarek turned an unfortunate event into an opportunity by going with and believing in integrity for the product and trusting their gut instincts (please excuse the pun). In 2011, an ingenious idea came to life: High ABV craft hard Kombucha – KOMBUCHA BEER – the world’s first 100% Kombucha beer. A beverage that would make you happy and healthy in one glass! The formulated product was as delicious as the idea, and sales started to really take off.
In 2012, Unity Vibration moved into their first true production facility in an empty warehouse, thanks in part to their first investor. That watershed moment was followed by others like being named in the Draft Magazine Top 25 Best Beer in 2013 and consistent, substantial growth. Rachel and Tarek have followed that trajectory, selling their lovely authentic Kombucha Beer and Tea now in 12 states, all the while staying true to the product, the customers and themselves. ALWAYS STAY TRUE and DRINK AUTHENTIC KOMBUCHA!