Episode 158: Interview With Jade Chang Sheppard Of Fermenteria

With a resume that spans military construction, luxury eco-resorts, and now wellness beverages, Jade Chang Sheppard is not your typical founder. Her latest venture, Fermenteria, is setting a new standard in functional drinks with water kefir-based beverages that deliver up to 20 billion CFUs of live probiotics per can — with zero sugar and zero sweeteners.

“I'm a health-savvy consumer,” says Sheppard. “I read every ingredient list, and I couldn’t believe what brands were calling ‘functional beverages.’ Most of them are loaded with sugar or artificial sweeteners, which defeats the purpose.” After years of reluctantly drinking kombucha for its probiotic benefits, Sheppard discovered water kefir. Unlike kombucha, which often tastes vinegary, water kefir offers a crisp, clean flavor that feels genuinely refreshing.

What sets Fermenteria apart is its uncompromising focus on efficacy and ingredient integrity. “There’s nothing else on the market that gives you 20 billion live probiotics per can without any sugar or sweeteners,” Sheppard explains. “We wanted to create a beverage that’s as clean as it is functional.” This commitment extends to their in-house laboratory in San Antonio, where every batch is tested to ensure that the probiotic cultures remain fully alive and active until they reach the consumer’s gut.

Unlike kombucha, which is brewed with SCOBY, Fermenteria uses kefir grains — gelatinous, gummy-bear-like clusters that ferment into a probiotic-rich beverage without producing vinegar. “You can’t even brew kombucha and water kefir in the same room due to cross-contamination. They’re completely different drinks,” Sheppard explains.

Sheppard’s entrepreneurial journey has been anything but conventional. She built a $54 million government contracting firm from the ground up and later developed a boutique eco-resort in Nicaragua. Her passion for surfing and biohacking naturally led her toward wellness. “Fermenteria isn’t a vanity project. It’s something I created for myself and people like me — those who care deeply about what they put in their bodies,” she says.

As functional beverages flood the market with trendy labels and influencer-driven hype, Sheppard is positioning Fermenteria as the drink for people who care about real functionality. “We're not trying to be Liquid Death. We're not selling rebellion. We’re selling trust. For people who want to know exactly what’s in their drink and why it’s good for them.”

With International Self-Care Day on July 24 and National Refreshment Day on July 27, Fermenteria’s arrival is perfectly timed. It’s a brand built for people who don’t just want to feel good about their beverage choices—they want those choices to be backed by science.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOIQ7lDxqk4

🎧 To hear the full conversation with Jade Chang Sheppard, tune in to her episode on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience, streaming now.