written by CHRISTINA NIFONG photographed by COURTNEY HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHY Kombucha Cool Once a hippie drink brewed in West Coast basements, the fermented tea beverage has moved to the mainstream. Area makers can't keep up with demand. B RAD AND KRISTI-JO PROCAK open the door to their business, a low-slung house on a busy street in Floyd. Then they enter a sunlit room with stark white walls. "This is our sacred space," says Brad, with dramatic flourish. The air is warm and moist, thick with a fruity smell. Eighteen oak barrels cover the worn hardwood floor. A quote from Guatama Buddha keeps watch over a cluster of two dozen kegs. A hum, set to 528 Hz, is intended to infuse the place with positive energy. 88 MAY/JUNE 2018 TheRoanoker.comhttp://www.TheRoanoker.com