Meet the Culture Crew

Here at Happy Kombucha, we talk to our cultures, sing to them, and play them music and the odd podcast (alien abductions are their favourite). They really are part of the family. If they could talk back, this is how we think they would be.

Live cultures are camera-shy. Honestly, they're a nightmare to photograph: beige, wobbly and never smiling on cue. So we let our imaginations run wild instead.

Meet the Culture Crew: one character for each culture, here to help you brew. Enjoy!

Kombucha

Jarvis

Our leading jar. Feels the cold, loves a jumper and has strong opinions about windowsills.
- How to brew kombucha
- Shop kombucha cultures
Water kefir

Walter

Fizzy, and proud of it. Sometimes a bit too fizzy. Will remind you to burp your bottles.
- How to look after water kefir grains
- Shop water kefir
Milk kefir

Millie

Gentle, kind and a little bashful. Happiest in fresh milk, changed every 48 hours.
- How to look after milk kefir grains
- Shop milk kefir
Sourdough

Doug

Jolly, bubbly and always rising to the occasion. Likes to be fed on time.
- How to care for a sourdough starter
- Shop sourdough
Ginger bug

Ginger

Small, feisty and full of fire. The spark behind a proper home-made ginger beer.
- How to use a ginger bug
- Shop ginger and turmeric bugs
Turmeric bug

Tilly

Ginger's sunny twin. Golden, cheerful and likely to leave her mark on your worktop.
- How to use a turmeric bug
- Shop ginger and turmeric bugs
Kombucha

The baby jar

The newest arrival, and thrilled about absolutely everything. Doesn't have a name yet.

Watch the Crew

Short films, all with captions. Tap one to play.

Jarvis would like to remind you to keep your cultures warm in winter.

Film description, 21 seconds, with captions: Jarvis, a cartoon jar of kombucha, shivers on a snowy windowsill. A hand moves him to a warm shelf and dresses him in a red jumper and a yellow scarf, and he laughs. He says: It is winter. I live on a windowsill. I have regrets.
Walter would like to remind you to burp your bottles.

Film description, 22 seconds, with captions: Walter, a cartoon bottle of water kefir, smiles, then swells up and looks worried as he gets too fizzy. A hand opens his cap with a pop and a puff of fizz, and he grins with relief. He says: Burp your bottles, people.
Millie would like to remind you: fresh milk every 48 hours, please.

Film description, 27 seconds, with captions: Millie, a tiny cartoon milk kefir grain, bashfully covers herself up on a wooden spoon, then dives into a jar of milk with a splash. A hand puts a cloth lid on the jar and her smiling face appears on the glass. She says: Fresh milk every 48 hours, and I am a very happy girl.