Our Founder

As a fifth-generation Master Herbalist, Sunyatta learned at the feet of her Jamaican and Indigenous great-grandmothers, revered healers whose remedies and wisdom became the roots of Calabash Tea + Tonic. Raised in Harlem’s iconic health food stores—Black Pyramid and Tree of Life, founded in 1974—she grew up immersed in healing practices and the power of community care over capitalism.

Fifteen years ago, Sunyatta founded Calabash Tea + Tonic, a multi-award-winning brand with four thriving teahouses. Now offering products online to reach the masses, Calabash invites everyone to “decolonize their tongue” by reconnecting with ancestral healing.

With over 35 years of experience as a professional herbalist and wellness expert, Sunyatta’s work has been featured on NBC, NPR, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence, PBS and more. A sought-after presenter, she has offered her lively workshops and led panels at the Smithsonian, Harvard, Howard, NYU, and in over 25 countries.

On YouTube’s The Witch’s Kitchen,, Sunyatta shares her wit, herbal wisdom and family recipes. Her upcoming cookbook, The Kitchen Witch, brings her engaging approach to wellness and cultural healing straight to your table.

 

 

 

For press inquiries, contact love@calabashtea.com