When Elliot Pees first tasted kombucha back in 2008, he was skeptical at best. He was—in a word—confused why anybody would drink it. But the tangy, effervescent tea grew on him, especially after his sister brought home a fruity, homemade batch that flipped the script.

Soon, the siblings were treating kombucha like a DIY science experiment, joking, “One a day, baby,” as their curiosity bubbled into obsession.

By 2010, Pees had turned his hobby into a full-fledged business. KANbucha—named as a nod to (you guessed it!) both Kansas and kombucha—became the first kombucha company in the state. Now, it’s a staple at the Lawrence Farmers Market and plenty of nearby vendors, including Enjoy Pure Food + Drink.

Pees continues to craft his small-batch brews with premium organic tea, glass fermentat

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