Wild Kombucha by Ballsy Brewing

With years of art and medical experience between them and a trip to Hawaii to blame for their inspired minds, Matt and Lara Ball set their sights on kombucha. Although the naturally energising and detoxifying drink has been around in Eastern Europe, Russia, China and Japan for centuries, it’s recently made ripples in health circles because of its supposed probiotic qualities and health benefits. It’s been referred to as the ‘Tea of Immortality’ and is on tap at Wild Kombucha by Ballsy Brewing, Australia’s first kombucha bar.

The spacious self-coined collaboratory by Matt and Lara - members of Kombucha Brewers International - sits discretely on Parramatta Road. With natural light streaming through the roof windows and the smell of native flowers in the air, the warm space is testament to Lara’s background in public art. Beakers and test tubes are high up on the shelves which have been crafted, along with other wooden fittings, by Lara’s dad. The cool room houses kegs of their flavoured brews while a microscope and other science paraphernalia are at the ready for curious inspections. “Kombucha strains are all different which allows them to produce different flavours – nothing’s ever the same,” says Matt, who continues to work as an eye surgeon around the state while enjoying the side project.

The collaboratory comes to fruition with two others in the shared space; Loco Love, an organic raw chocolate company with Emica Penklis at the helm and Wild Thing Raw, the clean, raw food initiative of Demelza Donohoo. The creative collaborations between the three wholesome businesses are ripe for the picking when they come together for pop-up breakfasts, Japanese dinners, and dessert bars. All dates are found on the Wild Kombucha website.

The lightly carbonated drink is made by the fermentation of green or black tea and raw cane sugar which creates a living product full of organic acids. Available in flavours such as ginger, finger lime, cold drip coffee and more, you can make sure your Wild Kombucha leaves with you in either a 500mL or 750mL refillable bottle. Clean out your carafes and refill them at the Bar & Collaboratory in Leichhardt, or drop into one of their other on-tap friends at Orchard St Elixir Bar, Ruby’s Diner or Greenhouse Coffee.