Kickstarter Campaign Launched To Bring A Modern Kombucha Tasting Room & Authentic Chinese Eatery To North Park | Help Support JinBucha

JinBuCha owner and brewer Jing Chen

November 17, 2015

In a land full of craft beer brewers, Jing Chen brings a new type of brewing to the food and beverage culture of San Diego ­- the art of brewing Kombucha. Jing currently has a Kickstarter to help open the first Kombucha tasting room, brewery and Chinese restaurant in North Park - JinBuCha, which is currently open as a tasting room but needs additional funding to fulfill its ultimate destiny.

Chen spent her youth living in China then moved to the US with her family where she worked in their Chinese restaurant, learning traditional recipes passed down from generation­ to ­generation. But it was not until she landed in San Diego that she discovered her passion for the ancient Chinese elixir - Kombucha.

“I had been taking probiotics in pill form for years when I lived in Chicago and got very few results that I was looking for,” said Chen. “It wasn’t until I came to San Diego and found the solution I didn’t know I was looking for. That solution was Kombucha and its unequaled probiotic benefits.”

Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea­-based probiotic beverage, revered as a healing tonic for at least 3,000 years. It is believed to provide healthful micronutrients and bacteria beneficial to digestion, detoxification and immunity.

“I decided to start officially brewing in 2013, after learning more about Kombucha, the fermentation process and how it contained multiple health benefits,” said Chen. “I first started creating JinBucha out of a commercial kitchen in Ocean Beach and later began to distribute to local restaurants and farmer's markets around San Diego.”

Chen is now looking to give back to the community that helped her reignite her passion for traditional Chinese culture through the art of brewing kombucha. By bringing a modern Kombucha tasting room and Chinese restaurant to San Diego, Chen will be sharing her passion and knowledge of ancient Chinese culture in the heart of North Park where her work in progress shop is currently located at 3620 30th Street (tasting room only).

In order to make this dream become a reality, Chen is asking for a little help from the community. The space she has found in North Park is not equipped to brew Kombucha. H​er challenge now is getting the funds to acquire 6, 100 gallon fermentation tanks, a complete and professional draught system, complete a new bar for additional seating inside, create an outside seating bar & gazebo to add outside seating and shade, purchase proper glassware, kitchen cooking equipment, interior remodeling to reflect the food and culture, and uniforms and training for a full staff. Once this campaign is fully funded it will help Chen bring a modern Kombucha tasting room, brewery and Chinese eatery into the community.

Do donate to the Kickstarter campaign for JinBucha, visit kickstarter.com/profile/jinbucha and help support a dream!