A Conversation with Sunyatta Amen

Plants aren’t always just pretty things to look at on Instagram. Behind them are real human stories, including stories of oppression.

To help me tackle some of the tough topics, I spoke to Sunyatta Amen, a fifth-generation master herbalist & natural lifestyle expert. She grew up steeped in ethnobotany behind the counter of the ‘Black Pyramid’ herb shops & vegan juice bars founded by her father in Harlem. She has had a lifelong drive to create beautiful, safe spaces in gentrified communities and decolonize wellness for all.

She is the founder of CALABASH Tea, a multi-award-winning wellness brand designed to reconnect modern people with food and drink as medicine. She creates healing tea blends that are quite delicious if I do say so myself. She offers spice blends and herbal tonics--all available through her online shop, calabashtea.com.

In this episode, we discuss what it means to decolonize wellness, Sunyatta’s favorite coffee replacement, why sea moss is a hot ingredient and how to use it, and how she uses tea as a healing agent for herself and her community.

Calabash Tea: https://www.calabashtea.com/

Blue Velvet tea from Calabash: https://www.calabashtea.com/store/bluevelvet?rq=blue%20velvet

Sea moss from Calabash: https://www.calabashtea.com/store/seamoss?rq=sea%20moss

Read more at https://www.plantoutloud.com/sunyatta-amen

This episode is sponsored by Stewart & Claire. Use the code PLANTOUTLOUD to receive 15% off at checkout.