It was while staying in a village nestled in the Japanese mountains that Hebe Ibbotson came across a drink – and the inspiration for her future business began to ferment.

Quite literally.

It was kombucha, a mildly fizzy, fermented drink.

Said to originate in China, in 220 BC, and prized for its healing properties, it’s been described as ‘the tea of immortality’ and the ‘elixir of life’.

The drink is made from sweetened tea and a specific culture known as a ‘scoby’, short for a ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts’.

The bacteria and yeasts in the scoby convert the sugar into ethanol and acetic acid.

The acetic acid is responsible for kombucha’s distinctive sour taste.

Hebe, 30, drank lots of kombucha while staying in Japan at the end of an 18-month career break.

She also trained in its production.

And while Hebe stresses she’s not a nutritionist or a qualified expert in medical matters, she found its ‘mind-blowing’ probiotic properties solved her long-standing stomach issues.

On returning to the UK Hebe carried out more research and also started experimenting with brewing up her own batches of the drink.

Other members of her family – she has five brothers and sisters – reported health benefits, after drinking kombucha.

They included a rise in energy levels and less bloating.

Hebe, who graduated with a degree in medical engineering from Cardiff University, said: “The more I looked into it, the more I thought that, perhaps, I could make a business out of it.

“Not selling pre-prepared kombucha but, instead, brewing kits as not many others offer this.”

In June Hebe – the self-styled ‘Kombucha Engineer’ – began trading as  Boochacha Ltd after founding the company three months earlier.

Her home brewing kit, which allows for continuous brewing, costs £55 and includes a hand-painted three litre jar, storage bottle, scoby, two kombucha brew bundles and full instructions.

To date she’s sold more than 50 kits.

Hebe, who lives in Wareham, said: “No-one has a good day when they feel bloated, or sluggish and heavy.

“Kombucha has properties that aid gut health, helping to promote a stronger immune system, heart health, better sleep and effective digestion.

“It has plenty of vitamins and minerals too.

“Vitamins such as vitamin C, B1, B6 and B12 are all produced as the yeast breaks down the sugars used in the fermentation process.

“Polyphenols and other antioxidants, like those contained in green tea, are released during the brewing stage of kombucha – helping our bodies to fight harmful free radicals.”

Hebe, who has worked for a number of engineering companies over the last seven years, said brewing kombucha also had advantages for the environment.

She said: “Home brew kombucha can benefit the planet and environment in numerous ways – reduced waste for one.

“If more people knew how easy home-brewing is, there would be a lot less cans and bottles needed for distribution.

“Also, it’s not a ‘single use’ process.

“The living bacteria culture used for the fermentation of kombucha will reproduce exponentially meaning you’re able to brew again and again.

“It’s the ultimate reusable product, perfect for the environment.”

Kombucha does not agree with everyone.

Some reports suggest that drinking too much can lead to unpleasant side effects, such as stomach-ache, nausea and dizziness.

And prolonged fermentation is not recommended because of the accumulation of organic acids, which might reach harmful levels.

Hebe said: “I can only base things on my experience, those of my family who’ve tried kombucha and people who’ve bought the kits.

“They’ve found it’s made a positive difference to their lives.

“I love having all the kombucha answers or building experiments to uncover the mysteries.

“Everything I know is through my own brewing and I drink about 120 mls of kombucha every day.

“I plan to spread the word through markets and other events.

“I feel so motivated running my own business but it can take over your life.

“It’s hard work but I love what I do and, hopefully, I can make a real go of it.”

• boochacha.co.uk