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Exploring the Fizz

A Northland Couple’s adventure into the refreshing world of Kombucha

Kombucha, the newest health craze; but Lucky Elixir is here to stay. This relatively new fermented drink has hit pop culture running. In the large market of health drinks, Lucky Elixir has definitely made a name for themselves here in the Kansas City Northland. While the product is nothing short of phenomenal, the story of Amy and Shawn also shines. 

Growing up on a farm, Amy watched her parents make a lot out of little. Her parents' grit and hard work lit the fire for her to become her own entrepreneur. After being a paralegal for almost 25 years, she felt like that job had fulfilled its purpose. She knew she could make a lasting impact on the Kansas City community in a different way. She had always been interested in nutrition and food wellness. So, Amy took up a new hobby of making sourdough bread while her husband, Shawn started home-brewing beer. These processes turned out to be very similar and easy for them to produce. This sparked Lucky Elixir in its first form: a brewery and bakery. 

Amy needed to prove her business could be successful, so she started a booth at the local farmers market. She soon found out that she couldn't sell her beer there and would need to find a new drink to pair with her sourdough bread. That's when kombucha came into the picture. She pioneered this fermented tea from something mostly found on the West Coast to a Kansas City favorite. 

After a summer at the farmers market and drinking kombucha on the daily, Amy and Shawn were reaping the health benefits of their beverage. She had decided that this was something she wanted to share with her whole community. Nine months after making the switch from beer to kombucha, Lucky Elixir hit the shelves at their first grocery store in 2015.  Now, eight years later, Lucky Elixir was named The Best Locally Made Kombucha in the Kansas City Area by Pitch Magazine 2022.  “Kombucha is a fermented tea,” says Amy. “Tea is actually one of the healthiest drinks in the world that you can drink because it's loaded with polyphenols. Which gives you lots of antioxidants that help fight viruses and sickness. Once the tea is fermented, the antioxidants are increased by 200%. Those are the kinds of things that help boost our immune system and gut health.”

While Lucky Elixir is still in the process of expanding, Amy’s mission is to make kombucha accessible to the community as a healthy alternative for sugary energy drinks and soda. Opting for kombucha over energy drinks is a holistic choice that not only energizes the body but also nurtures overall well-being. The natural fermentation process of kombucha not only provides a refreshing burst of energy but also delivers a load of health benefits, from improved digestion to strengthening immune system function. Unlike the effects of jittery energy drinks, kombucha offers a balanced boost, promoting mental clarity and energy without the crash. By choosing kombucha, you're not just selecting a beverage; you're embracing a healthier lifestyle that harmonizes with your wellness goals. Cheers to a mindful choice that bubbles with both flavor and vibrance.