Olga Sorzano of Phoenixville’s Baba’s Brew recently announced her newest kombucha venture, A Culture Factory, a skincare line made from kombucha-infused byproducts, writes Kiki Aranita for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Growing up with influence from her grandmother, affectionately called Baba in Russian, chef Sorzano recognized all the benefits that fermentation and kombucha have on gut health. Her family had long fermented foods while living in the harsh Siberian winters.
She watched as her grandmothers and other women in her family used over-fermented kombucha as a toner, lard on their dry elbows, and the drink as a remedy for anything.
The company produces large quantities of the mother culture that is used as a kombucha starter, scoby, similar to sourdough starter. Eco-conscious Sorzano saw this as an opportunity to use the surplus to create face masks, serums, and scrubs, and more.
The line is made with food-grade ingredients, fermented botanicals, and tallow—no added preservatives or fillers.
“Our skin is alive. Most skincare is like Wonder Bread, designed for shelf-stability, but what if it could be like a beautiful, artisanal loaf of sourdough, which is living and nourishing? It feeds you with a living culture,” said Sorzano.
A Culture Factory skincare, which is under the same name as Sorzano’s tasting room, is now available for purchase.
Read more about Baba’s Brew and Olga Sorzano’s newest fermentation adventure at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Baba’s Brew has had a home in Phoenixville for the past 10 years.
