–by –by Jennifer Ruple
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 03. 2018

A brief period of living in a sustainable eco-village in Hawaii gave Sylvania native Stacy Jurich the know-how to launch what is now a booming business in the area. Jurich, the creator of Boochy Mama’s Probiotic Tonic, learned how to make kombucha or fermented tea while residing on the island in 2010. “It’s a fascinating process, and I have not stopped brewing since then,” said Jurich.

Kombucha is known for its health benefits. “The main benefits are probiotics, which are the good bacteria that create a healthy ecosystem in your gut. They also help keep your immune and digestive systems strong,” said Jurich. “Other benefits I’ve heard from customers are that it has helped with inflammation, IBS, acid reflux, hangovers, alleviating cold symptoms and boosting energy.”

Jurich explained that kombucha originated in Russia and is commonly found in every household there. “It’s made with water, tea, sugar and a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). The SCOBY is a living culture that feeds on the tea and sugar. Kombucha is a raw, living drink full of enzymes that are vital to many processes in our body. That’s why kombucha’s nickname is the ‘ancient elixir of life.’”

Jurich unofficially started her business out of her Old West End kitchen in 2014. She called it Boochy Mama’s Toledo Tonic. “I would deliver kombucha on my bicycle,” she reminisced. “I officially incorporated in January 2015 and was commercially licensed in March. I had my first commercial sales in April 2015.” Today, Boochy Mama’s Probiotic Tonic can be found at over 40 grocery stores, yoga studios, restaurants, coffee shops and pubs in the Toledo area, Ann Arbor and Detroit.

In May 2016, Jurich moved her business out of a shared commercial kitchen to a brick storefront at 130 10th Street in downtown Toledo. The space serves as a production facility as well as a retail outlet for natural body care products, loose leaf organic herbs and teas, and kombucha by the bottle and on tap for growler fills. In addition, Jurich holds workshops there on how to make kombucha.

“To make kombucha, a SCOBY is placed in a jar with sweet tea. As it consumes the sugar and tea, sour acetic acids and trace amounts of alcohol are created,” explained Jurich. “Most kombuchas that you see in a store, including Boochy Mama’s, are non-alcoholic at less than .5% alcohol. I love how you can take a few simple ingredients to make tea, add a strange looking thing like the SCOBY and end up with a really healthy and delicious tonic.”

“SCOBYs are the driving force in creating kombucha and are often referred to as the mother,” said Jurich. “I have many SCOBYs as they are constantly growing and replicating, being that they are living organisms. That’s one thing that makes kombucha so special – it’s a living beverage, so naturally, it is an invigorating tonic.”

Boochy Mama’s is recognized as a sustainable business by the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, and Jurich is proud to note that she works with local growers to source the herbs, teas and flowers for her tonics. She has 13 flavors in her recipe collection including current flavors: Midnight Moon with juniper, elderberry and rose; Solstice Chai with organic chai spice and apple cider; and Cold Fire with ginger, echinacea and turmeric. Jurich offers four flavors at a time, three staple flavors year-round and one seasonal flavor. “Coming up with new flavors is my favorite part of brewing,” she said.

Boochy Mama’s Probiotic Tonic can be found in Sylvania at Balance Pan-Asian Grille, Fowl and Fodder, Organic Bliss, Sautter’s Food Center and California Yoga Studio. Enjoy Boochy Mama’s by itself or use it in one of Jurich’s recipes.

Probiotic Green Smoothie
Serves 2

6 ounces almond milk, milk or juice of choice
4 ounces Boochy Mama’s kombucha, any flavor
1 banana
2 tablespoons Liquid Chlorophyll (available at Boochy Mama’s retail shop)
8 strawberries or ½ cup fruit of choice
2 tablespoons Artist Conk mushroom powder
5 ice cubes
To a blender, add all ingredients and blend until smooth.
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Boochy Mimosa

 

Boochy Mimosa
Serves 1

5 ounces Boochy Mama’s kombucha
1 ounce orange juice
3 ounces champagne
Combine all ingredients in a champagne flute. Enjoy!
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Wildfire Hot Toddy
Serves 1

Steep your favorite tea in steaming water, using a tea bag or reusable tea strainer and loose-leaf blend.

Once it’s done steeping, add 1 ounce of Boochy Mama’s Wildfire Tonic to give it a kick and extra health benefits.

Add a spoonful of raw, local honey and squeeze a lemon slice in the tea (a shot of whiskey is optional).