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Kombucha Na Dálaigh, brewed in the Donegal Gaeltacht, has been named Ireland’s Best Wellness Drink at the 2025 EVOKE Wellness Awards — a recognition that traces back to a kitchen experiment started during lockdown to repair the founder’s digestion. The brand’s journey from home batches to national shelves highlights a growing appetite for naturally fermented drinks made with simple, organic ingredients.
From a home remedy to a local business
Marianne O’Donnell launched the company after learning about the live culture known as the SCOBY. What began as a personal attempt to improve gut health quickly turned into a regular ritual she loved: brewing, tasting and refining recipes.
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Based in Gortahork, Co. Donegal, Marianne draws on a background in food, nutrition and education. She says that fermentation fascinated her, especially its links to overall wellbeing, and she began experimenting with different teas, fruits, herbs and botanicals to create balanced flavours.
How the kombucha is made
The drinks are brewed with organic green and black teas and undergo natural fermentation with live cultures. The finished product is lightly sparkling and flavoured to be both refreshing and palate-friendly.
Marianne’s core line features distinct blends: Grá (raspberry and hibiscus), Sláinte (ginger and turmeric) and Anam (lime, ginger and hops). Each is positioned as a flavour-led option that also supports gut health.
Scaling up and where to buy
In the early days Marianne brewed small batches at home, hand‑labelling bottles and selling them at local markets. Production has since been scaled up to meet demand.
Today Kombucha Na Dálaigh is supplied to a range of outlets, from cafes and hotels to retail chains. It is available in locations including Avoca and Ballymaloe House, as well as in SuperValu and Eurospar stores.
The EVOKE award underlines the brand’s shift from a personal remedy to a recognised wellness product on national shelves. For consumers, it offers a locally made, fermented drink crafted with organic ingredients and live cultures.
