Downtown Toledo is welcoming a new storefront. In the Davis Building (130 10th St., at the corner of 10th and Jefferson) Great Lakes Tonics Greenhouse Tea House will host a grand opening celebration. The space is the new warehouse and production facility for Boochy Mama’s Probiotic Tonic— a kombucha crafted by owner and Toledo native Stacy Jurich. The storefront will also serve as a small retail outlet to promote health and wellness.
Jurich began learning how to brew kombucha, a type of fermented tea, more than five years ago in Hawaii, and has been perfecting her skills ever since. The process of making kombucha involves fermenting tea with a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria, known as a probiotic. The result is a sweet and sour beverage with many perceived health benefits. “The most challenging part is maintaining consistency with each batch,” she says.
Inside the Lab
The fermentation room houses three 45 gallon barrels— each one for a different seasonal brew. “Over the last year I’ve done ten different flavors, including the three that are available now,” says Jurich. These current flavors include Magic Mama, Pedal Power, and Corsican Dream. Each is a different blend of fruit, flowers, and herbs fermented in a probiotic culture— yielding a beverage that will bend your imagination.
The new space will allow Stacy and her fiancé Ben to continue expanding and experimenting; Jurich explains, “We’re also working on small-scale medicinal and culinary mushrooms.”
The grand opening of the new storefront coincides with the one year anniversary of Boochy Mama’s distribution in Toledo, which can now be found at over 20 locations (including some in Ann Arbor) as well as on tap at The Attic and Black Cloister Brewing Company.
Local Love
The continued growth of this venture is the result of hard work— both from Stacy her growing community support base. “We’ve had a lot of help from volunteers. It’s nice to feel the excitement of other people getting into this”, says Jurich.
A grand opening / one year anniversary will take place on Friday, May 6. Enjoy some brand new kombucha flavors, as well as kombucha beer and cocktails. Light hors d’oeuvres will provided by the Happy Badger Family, along with the music of Hector Mendoza and DJ Benny Goodtimes. There will also be a silent auction, where bidders will have the chance to win many great prizes, including a free monthly case of kombucha for a year.
7pm-midnight, Friday, May 6. $20.
Great Lakes Tonics Greenhouse/Teahouse, 130 10th St.
Street parking is available, but everyone who rides a bike there gets a free drink ticket.
For more information visit boochymama.com or RSVP online.
