Jan. 11, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Vanguard Hospitality.

Elsa Fokken had spent a decade in the service industry when the pandemic forced her to figure out Plan B.

“It was actually a huge blessing for us,” said Fokken, who had crafted the idea for a business with her husband, Jacob, in early 2020.

“We were without half our income and were very motivated by the idea of starting a business. So having the extra space and time with me not working was a really important part of our origin.”

Still, there were doubts.

How would Sioux Falls respond to their signature product, kombucha? Would there be a market for it?

Less than three years later, the answer is a clear “yes.”

“We didn’t know how we would be received, so we had no expectation,” Fokken said. “So our expectations have been exceeded greatly, and we feel amazingly supported by the community of Sioux Falls.”

Songbird Kombucha now has a storefront at 1712 S. Minnesota Ave. and more than 20 wholesale partners who sell the kombucha in grocery stores, coffee shops, breweries and restaurants.

The most recent is Grille 26, which has started offering Songbird Kombucha on tap.

“We’re so excited and grateful to have been brought on board by the Vanguard Hospitality group,” Fokken said. “The company as a whole is ahead of the curve when it comes to supporting local agriculture and local makers, and they do such an amazing job of curating a community of local producers. So we feel really honored to be one of those producers. And Grille 26 is such a great hub for Sioux Falls that we’re so excited to be on tap there.”

Diners at Grille 26 can try Songbird Kombucha in strawberry basil and blueberry lavender varieties to start.

“This is a fun new addition for us at the perfect time,” Vanguard CEO Ken Bashore said. “Jacob and Elsa have done a fantastic job growing their business, we love their product, and we know that our guests right now are focusing on their health and wellness in the new year.”

Kombucha is a great way to do that. It’s an ancient, naturally fizzy health tonic made with tea and other whole foods. It’s nonalcoholic, low-sugar, barely caffeinated and is probiotic-rich to help with natural digestion and detoxification, plus absorption of nutrients from food.

“We like to tell people our kombucha is for people who hate kombucha,” Fokken said. “It’s really well balanced, so you don’t get the acid that is usually prevalent in store-bought kombuchas. That’s what usually turns people off. It’s mild in ours. You get that kick and tanginess, but we use all organic fruits and herbs, and it’s naturally carbonated versus forced carbonation. It’s more like champagne bubbles, which is so much more pleasant.”

The beverage is a great soda alternative and an option for those partaking in “Dry January.”

“Each January, we see more guests looking for beverage alternatives, and that’s the case this year as well,” Bashore said. “We offer a really nicely crafted menu of mocktails in addition to our kombucha, so you get a lot of flavor and options for a variety of tastes.”

The Fokkens are still a two-person business, handling all aspects of the growing business.

“We’re a mom-and-pop shop, and we do everything ourselves – taking orders, packaging, staffing the farmers market, staffing our store – and we’re starting to put kombucha in cans as well,” Fokken said.

“We approach our work with an open mind and craft our products with so much care. We’re just seeing, as far as the world of kombucha goes, the sky is the limit, and the more effort and care we put into it the more growth we experience.”

Here’s a look at the full Grille 26 mocktail menu: