Baba’s Bucha: A Big Name Brewery With Small Town Roots

Baba’s Brew, a kombucha brewery in Phoenixville, is introducing us all to a drink we may have never heard of.

Kombucha, by definition, is a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink that has many health benefits. While it may sound foreign to many of us, it has been founder Olga Sorzano’s normal for as long as she can remember. 

“I was born in Siberia during Communist times, so we didn’t have many options for drinks,” Sorzano said. “There was no Coca-Cola or Pepsi. Instead of going to the store and picking up bottled sodas, my great-grandmother made me kombucha.”

Sorzano’s great-grandmother, who she called Baba, had kombucha at the ready to cure any ailment. If her leg hurt, Baba would give her kombucha. If her stomach hurt, a glass of kombucha would soon appear.

“It was almost like this magic cure-all potion,” Sorzano said. “My Baba would give me kombucha, and my sickness or pain would go away. I was always in awe of what it could do for my body.”

When Sorzano moved to the United States in 2000, she craved the magic drink her Baba would always make. But, there were none on the market that tasted as good as home.

So, with the aid of her husband and Baba’s memory, she founded Baba’s Brew in 2015.

“To differentiate ourselves from the bigger name brands, we decided from the beginning that we wouldn’t cut any corners,” Sorzano said. “Our kombucha is completely vegan and gluten-free, and we only use fair trade, organic ingredients. To create our flavors, we only use fruits that grow in our local area, and no juices, extracts or concentrates. All of these things combined make the best kombucha, one that we’re proud to serve.”

As Baba’s Brew continues to expand, so does their menu and flavors. As Sorzano is a chef by trade, she produces the best tasting kombucha that is also great for your body.

“We want to make something that people enjoy drinking first,” Sorzano said. “It’s great that kombucha can help digestion, but if it doesn’t taste good, then why drink it? When you enjoy the taste of something, health benefits are a plus.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baba’s Brew is still open and offers curbside pickup. In addition, they have partnered with many other small businesses in the area to provide an extended product line.

“In the midst of all of this, we’ve learned that we’re stronger together,” Sorzano said. “We were offering curbside pickup, and seeing increases in orders, while other businesses were struggling. So, we decided to start offering their products alongside our kombucha, to try and help the community that has helped us.”

To see Baba’s Brew’s products and available curbside pickup times, visit their website.