Written by Upstream Organizer Amanda Arbogast

St. Paul native Rob Wheeler makes and sells homemade Kombucha in Hibbing, MN, where he resides. Unlike other brands of Kombucha, Rob’s “Boss Booch Kombucha” is homegrown. To create the 15 flavors he offers, Rob forages many of the ingredients from the woods of Northern Minnesota. He then makes his brew completely by hand, with the help of a great behind-the-scenes team. Rob does all of this because he genuinely likes it, “I enjoy making it, and seeing people enjoy it as well brings me happiness.”

Rob initially became interested in Kombucha on a trip to Costa Rica. While there, he met a French man who offered to share his Kombucha with Rob. Immediately, Rob “was hooked on the unique flavor and effervescence.” Then, about 6 years ago, he began brewing Kombucha as a hobby. He finally started selling it locally 4 years ago.

While brewing his Kombucha, Rob is dedicated to remaining conscious of stewarding our natural places. His glass bottle return system, for instance, is an important way that he keeps his waste down. Through the system, customers return their used Kombucha bottles to Rob after they finish the drink. By reusing the bottles, Rob reduces the number of bottles he has to buy and cuts down on his waste. He also only uses organic ingredients and exclusively purchases his supplies from local stores. Through these efforts, Rob not only supports local growers and vendors but also helps the earth.

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