Our Founder

Sunyatta Amen, a 5th-generation Master Herbalist, draws on a deep healing heritage rooted in Jamaican and Native American traditions. Raised in her family’s iconic Harlem health food stores—Black Pyramid, founded in 1974, and Tree of Life—Sunyatta grew up surrounded by herbal wisdom and healing practices. Trained by her great-grandmothers, both renowned village healers, she carries forward their legacy of plant medicine and shamanic traditions to reconnect modern people with indigenous wellness practices.

In 2009, she founded Calabash Tea & Tonic, a multi-award-winning wellness brand that blends ancestral knowledge with the transformative power of healing plants. With over 35 years of experience, Sunyatta is a leading expert in holistic health and a frequent contributor to major media outlets such as FOX 5 Morning News, ABC 7, SiriusXM’s Karen Hunter Show, NPR, and CNN. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Discovery Channel, Thrillist, Marie Claire, and Essence, among others.

In addition to her three eagerly awaited books on traditional herbalism and a cookbook exploring her family’s healing traditions, Sunyatta is also launching a podcast. In each episode, she sits down for tea with authors, public figures, and thought leaders, sharing little-known facts about their lives, wellness routines, and personal journeys. Through Calabash, Sunyatta continues to share her family’s secret recipes and ancestral wisdom, transforming lives—one cup of tea at a time.