Mana Kombucha: an interview with founder Filip van Asch
- By Geertje (Gre) Haak
- 1 Dec 2020
Mana Kombucha is one of the few sugar-free kombuchas available on the Dutch market. Sugar-free is special in this case because sugar, together with live cultures, initiates the fermentation process - in which the sugars are converted - that forms the basis for the final product. Recently I spoke to Filip, who, together with his brother Simon, created the sugar-free Mana Kombucha.
About the alleged benefits of kombucha
Kombucha is said to have all kinds of health benefits, such as supporting a healthy stomach and intestinal function, promoting digestion and having an anti-inflammatory effect. The teas from which kombucha is made also contain many antioxidants and during the fermentation vitamins are released that can support the immune system. These and other potential benefits have earned the drink the nickname "immortality tea." However, a disadvantage of kombucha is the often high sugar content in the product. Mana Kombucha does not have this problem, the drink is completely sugar free.The origin of Mana Kombucha
Mana Kombucha reflects a pure, holistic vision of the ideal world. Brothers Filip and Simon van Asch developed the product based on the idea of doing better than existing brands. When Simon became a father, Filip traveled to America - where Simon lived at the time - to pay him a maternity visit. It was there that Filip first came into contact with Kombucha and the idea arose to sell the drink in the Netherlands. Kombucha was already very popular in America at that time - 2015.
The brothers Filip and Simon van Asch
Carbon footprint of US dimensions
After some research, the brothers found that kombucha is not at all as durable as some brands would have you believe. Kombucha continues to ferment after it has been bottled. As a result, it must be kept and transported refrigerated. "And that takes a lot of energy," says Filip. "Many consumers do not think about this. My brother and I immediately agreed that we wanted to do this differently."Unrefrigerated and sugar free
To produce kombucha that does not need to be refrigerated and transported, they allow the product to ferment completely before bottling. "In traditional kombucha the residual sugar is about 4 or 5% and then it has to be kept and distributed in a refrigerated way," says Filip. "An additional advantage of fermentation is that the sugar is completely converted, resulting in a sugar-free kombucha. However, this can also be a disadvantage, because if a customer is looking for a sweet drink, Mana Kombucha does not fit. One solution would be to pasteurize it, but then you lose the healthy properties of kombucha. "The meaning of "Mana"
Mana is a supernatural force or substance that Polynesians say is in everything. Mana was also seen in some mythological stories as a substance necessary for the practice of magic. When I ask Filip whether this name was chosen because Kombucha is attributed to medicinal properties, he replies: "Yes, many foods nowadays contain little strength and life, but with kombucha the product literally lives because of the yeasts still present. In Hawaii, Mana is also referred to as “life force”."How sustainable is Mana Kombucha?
Sustainability has an important place in Mana Kombucha's business operations. This has already become apparent from the fact that thought has been given to a solution whereby Mana Kombucha does not have to be stored and transported refrigerated. "But this is not the only thing," says Filip. "Our product is in glass that can be recycled and we only use ingredients of biological origin." It is also nice to mention that a few years ago they used to supply the Amsterdam hospitality industry with an electrically powered Mana boat. Today these boats serve as a tour boat under the name 'Mana Boat Tours'.What distinguishes Mana Kombucha from other brands
Filip: 'Mana Kombucha is completely free of sugars and sweeteners, which is quite unique for kombucha. It is also ideal as a healthy alternative to soft drinks and alcohol. Due to its natural taste, Mana is also delicious in cocktails. We have noticed that people who want a pure and organic product choose Mana Kombucha. "Mana Kombucha Holy Ginger cocktail
Filip allowed me to pick this delicious cocktail off their website :-)- 15 ml carrot juice
- 15 ml grapefruit juice
- 15 ml ginger syrup
- 45 ml gin
- 65 ml MANA Kombucha Holy Ginger
What do we think of Mana Kombucha
Before we add additional products to the range, Bas and I often try out a few samples to evaluate the product (and yes, it is also great fun to try out new products ;-)). Bas and I have also tried Mana Kombucha. We were both very surprised by the delicious natural flavors. You can almost taste that it does something good for your body and that feels good. Both flavors - Holy Ginger and Lovely Lemon - have a fresh taste. If you are a real fan of sweet soft drinks, this may not be your preference, but a splash of ginger syrup can work wonders in this case. In any case, we loved it as it is!Try out Kombucha?
We recently added a kombucha package to the range, so you can buy all kombuchas in our range (Mana Kombucha, Mister Kombucha and Aard'g) for a nice price, but it may be more fun to give it to someone as a present ;-).
