Kombucha startup on the grow in Grand Rapids

BLOOMferments is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, working out of the Downtown Market incubator kitchen. Its mission: make great kombucha.

Emily Helmus is the master fermenter behind the business, which started its journey with a Kickstarter campaign in 2012, began development in Uptown Kitchen, received its license in July 2013, moved to the Downtown Market's incubator in October, and started selling product shortly thereafter.

Kombucha is a sweetened fermented tea beverage that some people feel has health benefits.  "It is different for different people," says Helmus. "There are reported health benefits. I am now drinking it because I am interested in fermented beverages and different teas. I want to bring to kombucha to the speciality beverage market."

Helmus says kombucha is a very old beverage and popular in Eastern Europe, but despite its long history, there are relatively few studies about its benefits. "There is a huge educational component when making and selling kombucha," she says. "It's been around for 1000 years but [there's] not much research so I am actively researching it."

Putting aside the challenges of creating awareness and "demystifying" kombucha ("The mother culture looks pretty scary. It looks like a pancake."), Helmus continues to build her business, adding new products and distribution channels. "We are releasing a new flavor in a few weeks. It's lavender-hibiscus and is called Parejas. If we continue to grow, we will outgrow the space very quickly."

Currently you can find BLOOMferment's kombucha on tap at Cult Pizza at 10 Jefferson Ave. SE in downtown Grand Rapids and at over a dozen other stores in the area.

To learn more about BLOOMferments you can visit their website here or their Facebook page here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor