2023 Food producer Awards

Written By Fin McDonald

The team at Dr Bucha are so excited to announce our Kombucha has won its first awards! Read more about us, below:

Local Katikati Kombucha Brewery scoops food producer awards.

A little-known local Katikati Kombucha Brewery start-up has scooped 3 awards at the NZ 2023 food producer awards announced on the 21st of March 2023.  

In the search for a healthy alternative to soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, Dr Bucha's Living Drinks has been carefully crafting Kombucha (a fermented tea beverage) with real fruit flavourings.  The difference with Dr Bucha's Kombucha is the fruit flavourings are added directly to the bottles which means although the drinks have a shorter shelf life than their competitors - the flavour is real and genuine.  The reactions from customers have been fantastic because they know they are getting a hand-crafted locally made product and keep coming back for more.  

Dr Buchas Living Drinks Limited is run by a Katikati local husband and wife team Donna and Fin McDonald.  They started 18 months ago and now employ 5-6 people locally with a focus on keeping things local and supporting the local community.  They purchase locally produced inputs where ever possible with the aim of keeping money in the local economy.  They now attend up to 8-9 farmers' markets a weekend and supply around 50 stores from Whakatane to Auckland with a focus on supporting local independent stores. 

"Kombucha and low-alcohol drinks have seen a surge of interest as people focus more on their health.  We created a product that we liked first and as it turns out our customers like it too.  Kombucha can be a bit hit-and-miss, so it's always a thrill when a new person discovers a healthy option where they don't feel like they are missing out on their special drink.   We've seen quick growth and are now looking at expanding the brewery capacity further."  Fin McDonald - Dr Bucha Owner


Dr Bucha's Kombucha is available at the Katikati Produce market every Friday 3.30 - 5.30 pm and at local stores such as Growlink, The Big Avocado, Orchard House Cafe, Common Ground Cafe, Parkland produce and Beach Road Garden Centre.  We also offer free local delivery.    Visit www.drbucha.co.nz for more information. 

Award Winning Komboucha

  • Jalapeno - New Zealand Food Producer Awards - 2023 - Silver

  • Kawakawa, Apple and Ginger - 2023 - Silver

  • Raspberry, Lime and Ginger - 2023 - Bronze.

Fin McDonald