It is known as “the drink of joy,” and Boombacha Kombucha is spreading that upbeat and flavorful vibe all over the local map. This Sarasota staple, made by New College of Florida alumnus Rob Manley is, in a word…booming, now more than ever. Launched in 2018 by Michael Warner and Natalie Helm, Boombacha has been Manley’s sole project since he took over as owner in January 2021. “I love fermentation and had done a lot of different kinds of fermentation at home prior to this,” says Manley, who increased sales by 95 percent in the past year. “Now I’m doing the entire process—from labeling bottles to fermenting the product as a one-man team, with some help from my wife on social media.” Kombucha is an effervescent, fermented tea with numerous nutritional benefits, like improving digestion and immune health.

ROB MANLEY KEEPS THE FERMENTATION PROCESS ALIVE WITH EFFERVESCENT FLAVORS AND BUBBLY BREWS.

Currently, Boombacha is available at 10TEN Fitness, Homestead Hydroponic Farm, Lab SRQ (coworking space), O&A Coffee and Supply, and FushiPoke.There are four flavors: Lemonade, Passion, Ginger Lime and Smooth Operator (the latter is a bestseller, with its hibiscus and lemonade flavor combo).

BOOMBACHA KOMBUCHA, 2257 6TH STREET SARASOTA, BOOMBACHA.COM, @BOOMBACHAKOMBUCHA

“I got interested in fermentation through cooking. I started cooking in college and couldn’t get enough of it,” Manley says, adding that he was most inspired by a book called The Noma Guide to Fermentation. Manley graduated from New College in 2015 with a degree in marine biology, and his time at the honors college of Florida helped groom him into the entrepreneur he is now. The experience showed him how to manage his time responsibly and be self-sufficient, “which has been the key factor in my ability to operate and grow my business while being the only current employee,” he says. And there’s more to come. “In the far future, I’d honestly love to have stores like 7-Eleven or Wawa carry Boombacha. I have such a soft spot for convenience stores. I come from Wauchula, where there isn’t a lot of choice outside of fast food or convenience stores, so I fondly remember them,” Manley says. “I just want fermented foods and kombucha, specifically, to reach the masses.”