Café Obscura has opened their doors! Sudbury's newest coffee shop is drawing in a unique crowd, and it's not just for the delicious coffee. The shop is a one-of-a-kind print and film development store. That's right, FILM! What we once thought was a near obsolete craft has been making a resurgence over the last few years. Film sales have seen a slight increase as millennials and former film photographers gravitate towards using older cameras and developing their own film. A new light has been shed into darkrooms and black and white prints are back in style. As a former darkroom gal myself, there's something so serene, and rewarding spending hours printing your own photos.

Owner and photographer, David Wiewel opened the shop this month and has been thrilled with the success of the café over the first few weeks. Film enthusiasts have come out of the woodwork, customers have been bringing in long lost rolls of film they figured would never be developed, and curious residents have been stopping in to see the impressive collection of old cameras on display and for sale. David develops each and every roll himself, and has been pulling late shifts attending to the back log of film. He's also managing the café solo for now but is considering hiring a barista and front counter staff in the near future. 

Situated at the corner of College and Elm Street, the café is spacious with loads of character. Vintage seating and wooden tables make for a cozy (and photo-worthy) place to enjoy your cup o' jo and catch up on the latest news. Serving up Sudbury's locally roasted Old Rock Coffee and freshly made soup and sandwiches by Beards Bakery and Pinchmans, there's something for everyone to fill up on at lunch and snack time. Patrons can wash down their meal with a glass of our kombucha as the café now pours kombucha on tap (cue happy dance!). Offering two flavours of our draught kombucha and four flavours in bottles, Café Obscura marks our third fill station, adding to the local flare and small business support of the shop. 

Open Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm and on Saturday from 10am until 4 pm, head on over to Café Obscura to check out one of very few analog film and development stores in North America. A rare gem!

Wheelie Good Coffee is Muskoka's bar and barista coffee catering company offering delicious coffee, specialty beverages, and now kombucha! This unique Vespa car turned pop-up espresso bar is the first spot we hit up when we attend the annual Muskoka VegFest in Huntsville, Ontario.

In chatting with owner, Matt Tynan before this years event, we were thrilled when he requested our kombucha to add to his pop-up coffee bar. A professional barista, Matt serves up all your favourite espresso drinks right at his mobile coffee station. With an aptly named business, the bar on wheels is available for bookings at events throughout the Muskoka area and beyond. 

Hit up Wheelie Good Coffee on instagram and Facebook to book or follow the wheelie journey!

This beautiful café is known for its perfectly made lattés (be still my former barista heart - a rosetta late made right!), fresh sourdough bread (hello monthly subscription!), made-in-house ice cream sandwiches, wholesome eats, and authentically chill vibe.  

Located in the heart of Eganville and named after nearby rapids on the Bonnechere River, Fifth Chute is open Tuesday to Saturday, welcoming locals guests, cottagers, passersby, and road trippers alike. Open and airy, with loads of character, you'll come for the best coffee in the Valley, and stay for the pleasant music and friendly service. 

We delivered freshly bottled kombucha to the shop, met some lovely customers (check out the little booch fan with the "Small Towner" shirt!), and enjoyed a perfectly poured latté by wonderful owner, Hilary. You'll want to stop in on your next tour through Eganville!
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Just in time for the busy season, our kombucha is making its debut at the Sands on Golden Lake.

Now when you visit this gorgeous lakeside inn and restaurant, you can enjoy a cold, refreshing Laurentian Brew! We're so excited to be in the Sands! We've always loved this spot and how could you not!? A restaurant with amazing food and a beautiful view of the lake, guest rooms, chalets, or a cottage for overnight guests, a sandy beach, and a full-service spa for a complete self-care getaway. It's no wonder the Sands has such great reviews!

Open year-round, the Sands on Golden Lake is a travel destination for both locals and adventurers from afar. A dreamy spot for a wedding or conference, and a great family-friendly escape to the great outdoors, the Sands will whisk your worries away for the day, the weekend, or a full week vacation. With a golf course nearby, the OFSC trail system, special events, and live entertainment, there's plenty to keep you busy during your stay. 

Check out www.sandsongoldenlake.com for more info or to book your visit. We'll be hitting up the restaurant for lunch on our next delivery day!

A New Leaf Food Experience has just opened their doors!

Located in Petawawa on Victoria Street, A New Leaf is a plant-based, made-from-scratch restaurant. Featuring soups, salads, wraps, sweet treats, snacks and entrées, you'll find a tasty meal to take out or dine in. 

I sampled the Rainbow Hummus (my favourite was the sweet potato!) served with fresh veggies. Paired with a kombucha to wash it down (four flavours in stock!), this hit the spot for the lunchtime belly growls.

Hours of operation are currently 11am - 7pm Tuesday to Saturday, serving the lunch crowd, midday snack attacks, and ringing the supper bell. A New Leaf is also hiring! Hit up their Facebook page for contact info if you think you might be an asset to the team.
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Pembroke has a new business in town! Farmstead Cheesehouse opened their doors this week just in time for the warm weather.

This beautiful building is now home to a café featuring a large selection of delicious local cheeses, homemade gelato, baked goods, coffee, tea, kombucha and various locally sourced products. A family run business, Farmhouse Cheesehouse is located on the outskirts of Pembroke at 2545 Greenwood Road, near the Quebec turnoff.

Customers can take their treats to go, or stay and eat in (note the beautiful front patio!). Owners Nick and Steph Petermann are thrilled to be in business and are looking forward to a wonderful first season. We highly recommend their gelato! The pistachio and cantaloupe flavours were out of this world. 

Congratulations Farmstead Cheesehouse! We look forward to our next visit.

Four flavours of Laurentian Brew Kombucha have made their landing in Sudbury, Ontario!

Find our brew in the new location of locally owned and operated Frubar Juicery at 1984 Regent Street. Situated in a health-oriented plaza, Frubar is making its mark as a healthy on-the-go options for Sudbury residents. With a variety of delicious smoothies, fresh cold-pressed juices, made-in-house snacks, specialty drinks (hello Bulletproof coffee!), frozen yogurt, and cleansing programs, Frubar has something for everyone, anytime of day. 

With a mission to keep the community healthy, vibrant, and well-nourished, it's easy to see why Frubar is gaining popularity in the Northern Ontario city. Open 7 days a week, the shop is newly renovated with a light, bright and energizing colour palette, and a small seating area to enjoy your beverage in house. 

Friendly service and a passion for wellness, the enthusiasm is contagious, and I just had to try the fresh-pressed juice of the week, 1 in a melon (seriously good!), and the most beautiful blue coloured smoothie, Tropical Waves (wow!). I'll be looking forward to the next delivery day (drooling until then).

We're so fortunate to have the support of Frubar Juicery and look forward to having more Sudbury customers. If you're in the area, be sure to pop in for a treat!
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Hey KINGSTON!!

We're in Symphony Spa & Yoga on Brock Street in the heart of downtown Kingston!

You'll find a fridge full of kombucha in the newly launching smoothie bar. To compliment the wide range of wellness treatments in Symphony, the spa is opening a café and smoothie bar THIS WEEK! Sip on a healthy, raw smoothie or kombucha after completing a hot yoga class or while getting pampered with one of many salon and esthetic services. 

Featuring a hair salon, yoga studio, massage therapy, waxing and sugaring, lash extensions, facials, laser hair removal, manicure/pedicure, and a café lounge, Symphony is an elaborate, one-stop-shop for personal wellness and self-care. 

Kingston brides-to-be, and girls-day-out - this is for you! Head to www.symphonyspa.ca for more info.

We're looking forward to sitting on that patio this Summer!

Arnprior's newest business Good Food To Go has recently opened their doors. A gluten-free, peanut-free facility, Good Food To Go features healthy grab-and-go meals with a focus on fresh, nutritious ingredients featuring soup, salads, hot food, gluten-free muffins, and daily specials. 

For those with a gluten intolerance, dietary restrictions, or just looking for a healthy take-out meal, Good Food To Go makes it an easy choice for lunch and supper. Located in Unit 6 at 75 Elgin Street in the heart of Downtown Arnprior, it is easily accessible with ample free parking in front of the building. 

The store is bright and cheery, with accents of their signature fresh green colour, and an impressive backsplash makes for a great feature wall in the exposed kitchen. Owner Leslie Wirth wanted to create a space where you could see the food being prepared, as well as a view to the back storage area containing their premium products and ingredients used in their recipes, bringing more transparency to the made-from-scratch meals. 

Having knowledge and personal experience with celiac disease, Leslie was aware of the lack of fully gluten-free, and peanut-free options in the area. After leaving her corporate position to pursue this new venture, her enthusiasm in creating good food is evident and contagious. 

We delight in stopping in to the store to stock the fridge with kombucha, always having a great chat, and leaving with a smile. We highly recommend stopping in here for a healthy, gluten-free meal.

Congratulations Good Food To Go. We wish you much success! 

You may notice a new bottle alongside the Great Eight! 

That's because we've officially launched our Nude Jun!! Landing on the shelves today, our Jun is now available in 500 ml bottles, making it one of the only commercial, fully-labeled and lab-tested Juns in Canada!

But just what is JUN? (pronounced like gin but replace the "i" with an "uh" sound)
Jun is a fermented tea similar to kombucha only it uses a raw honey as its nutrient rather than cane sugar. Kombucha culture cannot use raw honey as the antibacterial properties of the honey compete with the bacteria in the kombucha, destroying the culture. Jun culture has been adapted over time to use the raw honey without issue, making it even more valuable with the known benefits of raw honey. 

We've kept our first flavour of Jun as simple as can be, using only organic sencha green tea, unpasteurized kosher Canadian honey, and naturally-occurring live cultures of bacteria and yeast. In essence it is "nude", unflavoured, with no frills, leaving the subtle taste of honey and green tea shine through a natural fermentation process. Honey lovers, this one's for you!

Aside from the numerous health benefits of both honey and fermentation, our Jun is also low in overall sugar with only 6 grams of sugar per 250 ml serving. Raw honey is only used at the beginning of the process in order for the fermentation to occur. No sugar or honey is added afterwards, giving you and your belly another reason to sip, smile, and enjoy. 

Since the Spring our Jun has only been available on tap at events and in one refill location.

We're happy to announce that our Nude Jun is now available in five stores including:
Jan's Valu-Mart
The Olive Tree in Deep River
Hyska's Your Independent Grocer
Little Things Canning Company
Pura Vida Nutrition Store

As we increase production, you will see Nude Jun popping up at more retail locations. Let us know where you'd like to see it!

We are pleased to be among the first to bring this rare, delicious beverage to the area and look forward to having you try our Nude Jun.

The Ottawa Valley has more access to fresh, raw, local kombucha on tap!

Blendz Smoothie Shop in Pembroke now pours two flavours of kombucha in addition to carrying our line of 500 ml bottles. The more eco-friendly, cost-efficient way to fill up on fresh booch, Blendz is the latest business to jump on board with our refill program. 

Purchase a 1L glass bottle and fill it full of kombucha for $12.50, drink, (smile), return the bottle for an exchange and a fill up at the refill price of $9.50! A full litre of booch for $9.50, keeping Mama Earth AND your belly happy!? Triple Win!

Special blends and seasonal flavours will be featured on tap, giving you access to even more delicious varieties.
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​Currently Blendz hours are:
8am - 7pm Tuesday to Saturday
8am - 3pm Sunday

Stop in for a drink, stay for the healthy food and atmosphere.

We’re up North in Thornloe, Ontario in the Thornloe Cheese store!

We took a road trip this weekend to deliver kombucha, meet the friendly folks at Thornloe Cheese, and fill our bin full of delicious goods. 

Located in the New Liskeard area on Highway 11 North, Thornloe Cheese has a long history of making tasty products. For over 70 years, the factory has brought Northern Ontario and Quebec the best in high-quality artisan cheese using sustainable local milk from farms in the area. The business has seen a few change of hands over the years but is now proudly 100% farmer-owned and 100% Canadian.
With a wide range of products ranging from traditional mild cheddar, to fresh flavourful curds, and specialty cheeses, Thornloe Cheese has some mighty fine award-winning products to enjoy. 

​A cheese-lovers heaven, Thornloe Cheese is known from far and wide (side note, we were 4 hours away from home but while we were there, a Deep River local walked in to stock up on his favourite curds - small world!) for their exceptional cheeses, and have been making even bigger headlines as the first Canadian company to offer a new line of grass-fed butter and cheeses. 

With Matt always on the lookout for local grass-fed butter, this is actually how we connected! Through social media, we expressed how we enjoyed each others products and just had to get together! We just love how these things happen organically; local businesses supporting other local businesses. Aside from kombucha, Thornloe Cheese also has a variety of other local products in store, adding to the authenticity and true sense of community of the business. 

Thornloe Cheese continues to grow and expand but never looses sight of the original pride and vision of using high-quality ingredients and the same old-fashioned techniques from their early days to bring us the finest (most delicious) Canadian cheese. Visit www.thornloecheese.ca to learn more!

Blendz Smoothie Shop and Healthy Eatery has a new home!

Now located on Pembroke Street, Blendz has been busy moving into their newly renovated space in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. Exposed brick and high ceilings gave this space a massive facelift and we can't help but admire the new look at the latest restaurant in Pembroke. 

*Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, October 20th from 11am until 5pm*

Whoever said vegan food was lacking in taste never tried anything at Blendz. This vegan eatery takes you all the way to Flavour Town (ya.. that's right.. Guy Fieri needs to eat here!) with a great selection of dairy-free, gluten-free, taste-FULL options including their signature smoothies, soup of the day, and fan-faves like rice wraps, and banana bread waffles. 

Although we'll miss having Blendz as our neighbour in the plaza, we wish Dale and her team all the best in her new location (you can't keep us away, we've been there twice already!). We look forward to what's on the menu next and will see you on delivery day! Yesssssss, of course Blendz carries our booch!

Congrats!!

Laurentian Brew Kombucha is now in LONDON, ON!
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Our friends in Southern Ontario will be thrilled to learn that Farm Boy has added another great location for our booch.

​Check out what flavours are in store at Farm Boy Wellington.

A new business is born and Cobden will have yoga classes!

Ottawa Valley Yoga celebrated its Grand Opening this week! Partnering with the Inner Strength Fitness Centre on Main Street, Megan Chase is excited to bring her love of yoga to the area. 

The centre will host Hatha yoga and meditation classes and offer special events and group rates. There will be a pop-up shop in the studio featuring locally made products, including a fridge full of kombucha! 

Looking forward to the growth of this new biz. If you're in the area, keep your eyes out for the class schedule or head to www.meganchase.org/ottawavalleyyoga for the latest news.

We're excited to announce that select Farm Boy locations in Ottawa now carry our kombucha!

You can find five flavours in the Train Yards and Westboro Farm Boy stores.
Hibiscus Ginger, Wild Blueberry, Beau-Tea-Ful Morning, Meta-Boost, and Strawberry Mint were selected to debut our partnership in this Canadian grocery chain.

In its 36th year, Farm Boy proudly serves the province of Ontario with over 27 locations, bringing fresh, local food to thousands of health-conscious consumers across 11 major cities. With a vision of using the best foods to create a better shopping experience, Farm Boy stores dazzle customers with a bright, open-concept layout, farm-fresh local produce, made-from-scratch food from the Farm Boy kitchen, a salad bar and hot meal bar for take out. Several locations also house a sushi bar, artisan pizza, stir-fry station, and a selection of beer and wine. 

​We're very happy to be able to access more of our Ottawa customers and bring our traditional, small-batch brew to a larger area. We are grateful for the opportunity and are fuelled by the passion to ensure a high-quality, live-cultured, true kombucha is available to our family, friends, and friends of friends. Thank you to all who made this happen! We truly appreciate your support!

You can find Laurentian Brew Kombucha in Toronto! 

That’s right! We’ve teamed up with an amazing business, Stronghouse Health to have our brew available in the big city. 

Sooooooo stoked about this! In two locations in downtown Toronto, Stronghouse is a nutrient-dense riot, providing fuel for pre and post-workouts, snacks on the run, and help to get you through that mid-day slump. 

Taking her culinary background and passion for fitness into a new business avenue, Owner Beth Davis founded Stronghouse Health, a bar-style set-up for healthy snacks, smoothies and fitness supplements within an established fitness facility. With a focus on Canadian-made products and ingredients, the Stronghouse menu includes shakes, cold-pressed juice, fresh smoothies, protein balls, waffles, bars, tea, coffee, plus grab-and-go snacks and drinks from the fridge. For the fitness and muscle-building enthusiast, Stronghouse is your one-stop-shop for supplements to take your goals to the next level. 

Currently in CRUNCH Fitness at 382 Yonge Street, and CrossFit YKV at 175 Avenue Road, Stronghouse welcomes you to stop in and have a bite or a sip. We couldn’t resist the Meet Your Matcha smoothie and took some delicious protein balls for the drive home; these are tried-and-true tasty and Laurentian Brew approved! 
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We live for these small business collaborations. Beth tried our brew while visiting another retail location and loved it so much, she contacted us to bring it in to her business. What a great organic connection to form a wonderful relationship with our FIRST TORONTO LOCATION! We can’t thank her enough for the opportunity.

Joanne's Valu-Mart has welcomed us in to their store!

You'll find our full selection of kombucha in the fridge at Joanne's Valu-Mart in Shawville, Québec. 

Situated on Main Street in the heart of the town, Joanne's Valu-Mart serves as the main grocery store for Shawville and the surrounding areas. The store offers a wide selection of produce, ready-made meals, dairy and non-perishables including specialty items, a large frozen foods section, a bakery, a meat and deli department, some garden centre options. as well as an assortment of alcoholic beverages. 

Finding available refrigerated space in a grocery store is not always easy, so we appreciate that Joanne and her team have put up valuable real estate for The Great Eight kombucha variety. 

We learned that Joanne's Valu-Mart has just celebrated their fourth anniversary. Congratulations! We wish you great success in the years to come. 

Another great spot in Québec to add to the map! 

Lennartz Corner Gas and Convenience Store has welcomed in some new products. 

Find out what flavours of kombucha are in stock along with The Urban Gourmet's Oils, Chef Bills Preserves, homemade goods, maple syrup, fresh sandwiches and specialty coffees. The gas station and auto service business is expanding their wares to include additional locally made products. 

With their chip truck open from 11-3, you can pop in for a grab and go lunch, or stay and sit in their dining area and enjoy your Summer treat. If you check the cooler, you'll find local meats and goods from Ullrich's, McGarroch's, Uncle Jims, or Klaesis Bakery. Lennartz is also a great spot to stock up on camping staples like firewood, kindling, coal, starter fluid, worms for fishing, ice, and smore kits. 

Located just on the outskirts of Pzembroke at the corner of Round Lake Road and Doran Road, the  Lennartz Auto Service station is your go-to for repairs, maintenance and vehicle needs. With over 25 years experience, Owner Stefan Lennartz, originally from Germany, has become the local import vehicle specialist in the area offering exceptional service to the Pembroke area and beyond. 

We're loving the expanding business ideas and local collaborations! Stop in to Lennartz on your way to cottage country. 

Have you been to the Neat Coffee Shop?? If not, you've been missing out!

This gem of a café is located on Calabogie Road in Burnstown, Ontario and is an incredible place to stop for a bite to eat. We've never been disappointed! Perfect for a short road trip, the Neat Coffee Shop has a full menu including daily specials, soups, salads, and wood-fired pizza (even gluten-free!) plus specialty coffees and adult beverages. But wait.. there's more!

The Neat Coffee Shop also hosts live shows and up-close-and-personal intimate concerts. The venue has seen plenty of amazing talent through their doors and has a full line-up of events planned for the Summer. Check out https://neatmusicandcoffee.ca/collections/tickets to see who's up next and to purchase your ticket. Act fast, some shows are already sold out! 

We're pretty excited that Co-Owner Mark Enright hopped on board the booch train and brought in three flavours of kombucha! A healthy, local brew to pair well with the delicious, made-from-scratch food in the café. Food is local when possible and they even started growing their own produce just outside the door. 

Stepping out onto the patio, we made some new friends and were witness (perfect timing!) to the first sip of the first bottle of kombucha sold. 

Now that's pretty Neat. 

Big thanks to Mark and everyone at the Neat Coffee Shop! This is going to be a great Summer!

You may have noticed new signage up at Kerry's Place in downtown Pembroke. That's because Janna's Gallery Café has moved in just across the street to Kerry's Place to become Janna & Kerry's Over Easy Bar and Grill. 

The amalgamation of two great family-run businesses is the perfect mash-up from owners Janna and Kerry. You can still pop in for your cup of hot jo (or a bottle of booch!!), stay for breakfast, lunch or dinner, AND listen to great live music. 

We're diggin' the fresh look, with new flooring, instrustrial-chic lighting and exposed brick, local art on the walls, and funky blue bar lights, this place is rockin' the good vibes all 'round. 

Stop in for locally roasted coffee, a fresh pint of locally brewed craft beer, grab a bite to eat and stay for some tunes! Lots coming up this Summer at Janna & Kerry's.
Check their Facebook for updates on what's up next! 

Have you been to the White Owl Bistro?

You should. Really. This is our favourite place to eat in North Bay. 

First, the view. Located right along the shore of Lake Nipissing, The White Owl Bistro has the most wonderful patio. A 1500 square foot patio to be exact (hello Summer gatherings and weekend road trips with friends!). Sit in the sun, soak up the rays, sip on drinks, watch the sunset, and enjoy....

The food. Ohhhh the foooood!!! Chefs and owners, René and Laura Dubois showcase their culinary flare at The White Owl with a focus on farm to table cuisine. Using high-quality, healthy, seasonal and local ingredients (whenever possible), you'll taste the difference in each delectable bite. With a large selection, daily specials, and meals catering to specialty diets (the gluten-free batter here is a-ma-zing) there's certainly something on the menu for everyone.

The service. Happy servers make the meal taste better, don't ya think? It's a package deal. I mean, who doesn't want friendly, knowledgeable and attentive service when they dine out!?

This Summer, The White Owl Bistro will see live entertainment and a great selection of meals filled with locally-sourced ingredients. New to the menu is healthy kombucha! Sip on as a nice non-alcoholic refreshment (or use as a cocktail mix!) with three flavours to choose from.

We suggest a lunch date, a dinner out or if you've got an event or party coming up, book it at The White Owl. You won't be disappointed. 

Laurentian Brew took a tour just passed Barry's Bay to the Madawaska Kanu Centre this week.

What an amazing spot!! Wow. Just the drive to get there is stunning. Passing through small, rural towns, crossing rivers, and contouring beautiful lakes, it's Ontario wilderness at its finest. 

We were pretty excited to deliver four flavours of kombucha to the MKC's Riverside Shop + Café. The shop serves the students, staff, and day-trippers at the centre, but is also open to the public daily from 7:30am until 6:00pm (worth the trip for a scenic drive and a good latte!). 

A family-run business founded in 1972, Madawaska Kanu Centre was the first whitewater paddling school in the world. Three generations of highly skilled whitewater champions have successfully owned and operated MKC as well as their sister company, Owl Rafting in Foresters Falls. 

Known for their elite athletic background, the founders turned their love of kayaking and canoeing into a wilderness resort and outdoor classroom to bring the passion through education to students and participants from all over the globe. 

The centre offers a multitude of courses and fun on the river including a 5-day Whitewater Canoe and Kayak Program, Weekend Whitewater, Family Weekends, Specialty Programs, Women's Retreats, a 1-day Intro Program, and 2-hour rafting trips. You can have fun learning in the water throughout the day, stay in the on-site accommodations (complete with a yoga room!), purchase a meal package (a week off cooking!?), and enjoy campfires at night. There's certainly something for everyone with all skill levels from beginner to advanced as well as courses in First Aid, Rescue Certification, and Instructor Certification. 

The centre is always open to visit and is welcoming to anyone with questions about the services. The shop is also a great place to pick up some great outdoor gifts, gear, and clothing, and grab a snack and a hot (or cold!) beverage to be enjoyed on the deck (shout out to Christine at The Hemp Cookie Co. who mentioned our beverages after delivering her own delicious hempy cookies to the shop!).

The Madawaska Kanu Centre should be on your list of places to check out this Summer. The river awaits!