GoodMood Kombucha was founded in New York City in 2023 by chef Chris Li, who spent years in professional kitchens before turning his attention to the beverage aisle. His starting point was a frustration shared by many drinkers: kombucha had a reputation for being too vinegary, too intense, too much of an acquired taste. Li set out to fix that.

The brand approaches kombucha the way a chef approaches a dish, balancing acidity, fruit, and botanicals so the finished drink is bright and clean rather than harsh. Berry Pomegranate was the first flavor, and the lineup has grown from there. Every can is brewed as real kombucha, with the fermentation respected and the flavor dialed in for people who actually want to drink it.