Uncle Zev’s Kudzu Bitters is a deep, grounding bitter, for drinks, digestion, pleasure and long-term health. Starting with giant fragrant kudzu roots harvested in winter, and blended with birch, hardy citrus, reishi and 7 other locally sourced botanicals, its unique, earthy flavor forms the basis for a mixed drink unlike any other you’ve tasted.
These bitters can also be taken directly on the tongue as a tincture:
before and/or after meals as a digestive aid, or daily for long-term health benefits.
Kudzu is used traditionally in Asia and by Western herbalists to curb alcohol cravings, support digestion, and regulate blood sugar.
All ingredients are ethically wildcrafted or organically sourced.
Uncle Zev’s Kudzu Bitters was originally developed by Zev Friedman. Zev grew up in the 1980’s in western NC on a 3 acre kudzu patch (which also contained a house and parents) and played and experimented with kudzu as a child.
Zev developed the Kudzu Bitters formula as a co-product resulting from the winter harvesting of kudzu root starch for culinary use. A concentrate of potent, medicinally rich “root juice,” which forms the basis of our bitters formula, is naturally separated out by the starch production process.
The Kudzu Culture founding group (including Zev) has been organizing winter “Kudzu Root Camps” in western NC since 2011. At these camps, participants learn group harvesting and processing techniques for the many uses of the kudzu plant. Through these camps and other efforts, Kudzu Culture has been coordinating experiments in creating viable industries from kudzu – both to provide rural income and to limit the negative impacts of kudzu on native ecosystems.
The bitters are available as both an alcohol-based formula and a glycerite, for those wanting to abstain from alcohol entirely. The alcohol formula is our tried and true bitter, in production since 2017 using an organic cane alcohol base. It has a robust bitter flavor.
Alcohol-based bitters are available in 2 and 4 oz sizes.
2 oz – $25
4 oz – $40
Glycerite comes in 4 oz bottles only, $30 each
*The glycerite formula is still under development and may shift slightly over the coming year (we would love your feedback on any of our products that you try, but especially this new glycerite!) We use organic coconut-derived glycerin in this formula, and it is sweet and palatable. Though some users notice its bitter undertones, it would not be considered a classic “bitter.”
Our Team
Zev Friedman // Founder and Co-Owner
Zev lives and works as a milpa farmer, kudzu harvester, Permaculture educator and bio-cultural seed keeper based in the Hut Hamlet Housing Co-op at Earthaven Ecovillage outside of Asheville, NC. After growing up in a patch of kudzu, Zev earned a B.S. in Human Ecology at UNC Asheville in 2004, started his own businesses after PDC’s and apprenticeships with Patricia Allison and Chuck Marsh, and now seeks to grow climate resilient community and multi-generational village culture through Kudzu Culture, through his consulting work and land projects, and most recently with Co-operate WNC, a regional scale mutual aid initiative.
Rebecca Roberts-Wolfe // Co-founder and Co-Owner
Rebecca has worked in ecological agriculture, permaculture design, and environmental education since 2011. He is a co-founder of the Nutty Buddy Collective and the Asheville Nuttery, guides foraging tours with No Taste Like Home, and works as a consultant for people and communities engaged in agroforestry.
Kudzu Culture 