Food holidays on January 15

United States·January 15 2026

National Booch/Kombucha Day

In 2737 B.C., a time of emperors and epic legends, the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong was just boiling some water, minding his own business, when suddenly, a random leaf from a wild tree floated into his pot. And it created the very first tea ever! In Japan, a guy named Dr. Kombu introduced this amazing potion to Emperor Inyoko. They called it Kombucha, with “cha” meaning “tea” in Japanese. Legends even say that samurais got their superpowers from sipping on this stuff! By the 20th century it had spread to Russia, where it is known as “tea mushroom” or “tea kvass”. It is still popular in former Soviet republics, where some people brew the drink at home in 3 liter glass jars. The beverage has spread to Germany and then to the rest of Europe. Kombucha became the talk of the town, thanks to rumors about its super health benefits. They also call it the “Tea of Immortality”. Kombucha is made by fermentation of black or green tea using a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). This SCOBY feeds on the sugars in the tea, resulting in a slightly tart and effervescent beverage. In the USA, Kombucha became a superstar in every home. A smart company called KeVita saw its potential and launched their Kombucha tea brand. They also decided to make National Booch Day, which started on January 15, 2019.