Ben Calkins wears a lot of hats for Happy Mountain Kombucha. His business card says he is the CEO, Co-owner, kombucha maker, delivery guy, graphic designer, sales, marketing and whatever else the day requires of him.
We’re a small company, so titles are kind of cheesy.
It’s part of what he likes about running a small business. Every day is different, and it keeps things exciting.
Happy Mountain Kombucha began brewing their delicious kombucha in 2015 (although they were part of Tea Chai Té for a few years before that). According to their website,
Happy Mountain Kombucha was created to find that perfect balance between sweet and sour. What’s left is the best tasting kombucha available. Light and bubbly, it doesn’t matter if you’re an advanced kombucha drinker or if you are just trying it for the first time, we are confident you’ll love it.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan of kombucha until I tried Happy Mountain. In fact, most people who try it say basically the same thing. Something like “wow, I don’t like kombucha, but this is delicious!”
So, What is Kombucha?
Kombucha is an ancient, fermented drink made from tea (black, green, or in this case, white) and sugar. It is fermented with a SCOBY (a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast), which is loaded with nutrients. Supposedly those nutrients contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics and other stuff good for your gut.
Calkins says “the gut” is, “the powerhouse to your immune system. It balances your overall health.” A healthy gut is central to a healthy body.
He’s quick to add that there haven’t been any studies to prove this, and most evidence is anecdotal. They try not to sell their kombucha as a health remedy, rather, a great tasting healthy alternative to soda.
In this episode of the Oregon Brewery Running Series Show, Ben and I talked about:
- The supposed health benefits of Kombucha
- The secret behind Happy Mountain’s unique take on kombucha (hint, it’s white tea!)
- Why Happy Mountain Kombucha is super low in sugar, yet super flavorful
- How HMK keeps each batch of kombucha consistent
- How Happy Mountain got their name and why they support a life of adventure
- A few of Ben’s favorite places to eat and things to do around Portland
And much more!
Watch the full interview, then join us for our next 5K fun run, where you can sample some Happy Mountain Kombucha for yourself!
More Interviews!
If you’d like to watch an entertaining interview with Ben Dobler, brewmaster at Laurelwood, check this out! We sample some of their just released summer beers. For an interview containing simple yet solid running advice, watch the one I did with my running buddy Mark Remy.
Run with Us!
Because we love Happy Mountain Kombucha, we’re offering discounts on any of our upcoming 5K fun runs. The first five people who use promo code HMKFree will get a complimentary entry! Alternatively, use HMK5 for $5 off.
