Our ingredients have a story: Who’s behind our organic kombucha? 

At Le Pain Quotidien, we like to surround ourselves with passionate, committed and daring producers who put all their know-how into creating recipes that are as tasty as they are respectful of the environment.
And when it comes to kombucha, this addictive sparkling fermented tea, it is with the small and young company Fous de L’île, founded in 2020 in Saint-Denis in Ile-de-France, that we wanted to collaborate .
Let’s meet Mathieu, founder of Fous de l’Île, “A slightly crazy eccentric whose career plan consists in growing mushrooms in beer vats.” as he likes to describe himself.

• Mathieu, who are you and what is your background?

My father was a producer of exotic fruit juices in the Caribbean. I grew up surrounded by guavas and passion fruit. When I discovered Kombucha, I thought it was great: a low-sweet, organic, local and lively drink thanks to fermentation. A revelation!

• What products do you produce for Le Pain Quotidien?

Kombucha Hibiscus Chai. It is a very balanced recipe that makes you travel, especially thanks to the cinnamon and cardamom.

• What is your personal leitmotif?

Life, not wasting a drop of it.

• How would you like to be remembered?

Brazilians have this unique word “saudade“. A sweet and happy slightly melancholic nostalgia whose memory inevitably brings a smile to the corner of the lips.

• Can you introduce Fous de l’île? What was the journey and the will behind the brand?

Les Fous de l’île moored in Saint-Denis, Île de France in 2020. We are a small team very proud of our products because it is by mixing our different cultures that we decided to brew together living drinks and fermented, atypical and fun.

• Among the 4 values ​​of Le Pain Quotidien (simplicity – quality – conviviality – authenticity), which one is the most in line with your own values? Why ?

Subjectively, conviviality because we wanted to create a Kombucha to share, a festive and non-punitive kombucha. We have explosive aromas always made with fresh products, whether ginger, hibiscus or cardamom that we grind ourselves. In short, it’s a party in the bottle and crazy people love to party!

Objectively, quality because both the container and the content leave no one indifferent.

• What are the values ​​of Fous de l’île? Are you looking for them in potential partners and if so why?

Diversity is an inherent value at Les Fous de l’Île, because it is the DNA of our small company. Solidarity between employees but also with the inhabitants of Seine-Saint-Denis, where many of us live, is an important point for us. We are not necessarily looking for the same values ​​in our partners, but we are looking for values. If a socially-focused company works with a company that focuses on ecology, great!

• What do you implement on a daily basis to be respectful of the environment in your activities? What measures do you take for example?

We are 100% organic and only use glass bottles. We are actively studying the bottle deposit which would go hand in hand with carbon-free delivery. A real logistical challenge.

• What do you think would be the most obvious state of mind between Le Pain Quotidien and Fous de l’île?

The desire to create beauty and goodness, without pretension. Le Pain Quotidien offers exceptional products, as does Les Fous de l’Île. We see our bottle as a showcase that offers a drink that is both good for health and good for the taste buds. Without pretension we seek excellence, and we hope that it shows in our work and in each of our brews.

• Do you have anecdotes or figures showing your contribution to a more sustainable world?

Although we are a small team, we immediately hired a person with a disability. It is not something that we put forward because it is obvious to us. On the other hand, we encourage all structures, small or large, to try. It all worth it.

• What is your ultimate goal?

Put a fermented and living drink in each fridge, here and up to Betelgeuse.

Discover Fous de l’Île organic kombucha in our restaurants  in Paris or order it now.