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 SCOBY’s, their three children and a handful of necessities. Unity Vibration began as a Kombucha tea company in Carpinteria, California selling out of the back of the Founders van to school parents on Fridays in the parking lot. Two additional drop sites were added as word spread quickly throughout the community. Demand began to grow for their unique style of authentic and delicious Kombucha without any intention of starting a business, until they moved their family back home to Michigan for various reasons (and with one extra child in tow). 2009 was a major recession everywhere but especially in Michigan where no one was getting massage (Rachel is a Certified Massage Therapist and Artist) and automotive engineers were being laid off (Tarek is a Mechanical Engineer and MSW). After some serious thought they believed it was now or never for their business idea and decided to gamble big…..well big for them at least. 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 and home base (which soon smelled especially like pickles). For almost 3 years this was the home base and legally licensed “Micro-brewery” (with a special variance from the TTB). They began selling to local farmers markets, health food stores, co-op’s and even pitched Whole Foods (and got in!). They were self-distributing and spent many hours hauling cases outside to their Ford Flex and drove into the wee hours of the morning to retailers for deliveries. Many times things became hard for them and their family but the business took on a life of its own and took them over. Things were just starting to flow when the summer of 2010 national ‘Kombucha Crack-down’ occurred, which 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 at 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.’ They went the authentic route, had to shut down for 4 months, and came back releasing their 1% ABV Kombucha Tea product line 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! And so it was formulated and was as delicious as the idea. Sales started to really take off and their business began to grow. They moved into their first production facility in an empty warehouse in 2012 (with the help of their first investor). That which followed was a dream – they became a Draft Magazine Top 25 Best Beer in 2013 and saw substantial growth for many years to come.
And now they go on selling their lovely authentic Kombucha Beer and Tea in 23 states! Still staying true to the product, the customers and themselves!!! ALWAYS STAY TRUE and DRINK AUTHENTIC KOMBUCHA!