SipZen: Wellness Drinks Inspired by Ancient Traditions

Discover the story behind SipZen, the innovative wellness brand blending Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern functional drinks. Founded by Chinese-American entrepreneur Jenna, Sip Zen brings centuries of herbal wisdom into accessible, delicious beverages designed to support balance, energy, and stress relief in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.

From the invigorating Assam Melody & Melon and calming Sencha & Yuzu teas to the powerful Kiwi & Pear SipZen Shot, every formula is rooted in TCM principles, crafted with adaptogens and functional herbs to promote holistic wellbeing. In this exclusive founder Q&A, Jenna shares how her heritage inspired SipZen, the science behind her formulas, and how her clean-label, B-Corp brand is redefining wellness drinks for a global audience.

SipZen beautifully blends modern wellness with Chinese tradition - how did your Chinese-American heritage shape the creation of Sip Zen formulas?

My Chinese-American heritage is the very heart of SipZen. It’s a story of two worlds. In one, I saw my grandmother brewing intricate herbal soups and teas, speaking of "cooling" and "warming" foods with an innate wisdom. In the other, I was navigating the fast-paced, high-stress world of modern life, where wellness often meant a quick fix in a sugary drink or a synthetic supplement. I felt a disconnect.

SipZen was born from the desire to bridge that gap. I wanted to translate the profound, holistic wisdom of my heritage into a format that made sense for today’s lifestyle. It’s not about choosing one culture over the other; it’s about taking the timeless principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and presenting them in a way that is accessible, effective, and truly enjoyable for the modern consumer. It’s my way of honouring my ancestor’s discoveries and achievements in holistic medicine, while speaking to the needs of my generation. 

For people new to Traditional Chinese Medicine, how would you describe its core philosophy and how it influences the functional herbs you chose for SipZen?

At its core, TCM is about balance and flow. It views health not as the absence of disease, but as a state of harmonious balance within the body and with the external world. The central concept is Qi (pronounced "chee") - the vital life force that flows through pathways in our body. When Qi is balanced and flowing freely, we experience health and vitality. Stress, poor diet, and fatigue can block or deplete our Qi, leading to imbalance, which manifests as things like anxiety, low energy, or brain fog. 

This philosophy directly influences every ingredient we choose. We don't just pick herbs for a single function. We look for herbs that work synergistically to restore this balance. For example, if you're stressed but tired - a classic sign of imbalance - we wouldn't use a purely stimulating herb. Instead, we select ingredients like hawthorn and dandelion root that help your body adapt to stress, calming the nervous system while gently supporting sustainable energy, without the crash. 

How do the flavour profiles of Assam and Sencha link to TCM principles, and what makes each blend uniquely functional for everyday wellbeing?

Assam: Black tea has a warm, slightly bitter effect. In TCM, warmth helps to invigorate and move Qi, making it ideal for gently lifting energy and improving focus. The slight bitterness helps to drain dampness and can aid digestion. We pair it with robust, earthy herbs like ginseng to create a grounding, sustained energy lift, perfect for a focused start to the day. 

Sencha: The slight sour taste is associated in TCM with gathering and containing energy, which is exactly what you need when you're feeling scattered, stressed, or "wired but tired." It helps to calm the nervous system and anchor your Qi. Combined with the adaptogenic herbs, it creates a beverage that is both uplifting and centering, ideal for an afternoon reset or a wind-down ritual.

The SipZen Shot is such a powerful concept. What was the intention behind creating a concentrated functional shot, and what everyday wellness problems is it designed to support?

Thank you! The SipZen Shot was born from a need for potent, on-the-go support. We all have those days, a big presentation, a draining social event, a poor night's sleep, or just feeling run-down. You need something more than a gentle tea; you need targeted, functional support.

The Shot is a concentrated elixir of our most powerful adaptogens, like sea moss and sea grapes. It's designed for those acute moments of modern life: to build resilience against stress, combat mental and physical fatigue, and support immune function when you need it most. It’s your daily wellness insurance policy in a single, powerful shot. 
SipZen is a long term ritual, and not a one off pill. Our shot is concentrated and can help with natural sleep regulation, hormonal balance, stress relief and digestive aid. TCM works on overall balance (Qi), so it works by providing your body with botanicals to calm and realign.

Many customers search for “natural stress relief drinks” and “functional herbal wellness” - how does SipZen provide a science-backed alternative to sugary or synthetic calming drinks?

The market is flooded with drinks that promise calm but deliver a sugar crash or rely on isolated, synthetic ingredients. But most importantly, they all take inspiration from TCM in one way or another, but don’t give credit where credit is due and they work with ingredients, as opposed to a formula. Ingredients provide instant short-term effects, formulas are for long-term solutions.

SipZen is fundamentally different. It relies on thousands of years worth of data and inclusive testing of not only how the human body reacts to botanicals, but how they react to each other.

TCM is not a collection of random old wives' tales. It is a complete, coherent medical system with a written history spanning over 2,500 years. Its foundational text, the Huangdi Neijing or The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine, was written around 300 BCE.

This isn't a dusty old scroll of superstitions; it’s a sophisticated treatise on the human body, the nature of disease, and the art of living in harmony with our environment. 
As more studies about holistic medicine are being pushed in modern times, there’s ironically more and more evidence from modern medicine to support the need of complementary medicine.

SipZen’s goal is to educate on both studies and provide an introduction to daily TCM usage, whilst of course keeping it delicious. Our foundation is a synergy of whole-plant adaptogens with centuries of traditional use and a growing body of clinical evidence.

We avoid the blood sugar spikes of sugary drinks, which can ultimately worsen stress and inflammation. Instead of synthetic L-Theanine or melatonin, we use herbs like lemon balm, which naturally contains compounds that promote a calm yet alert state. We are clean-label, vegan, and keto-friendly, with no "natural flavours" or artificial anything. Its efficacy through intelligent herbal synergy, not isolated chemicals and sugar.

As a B-Corp brand, you give back to charity in Scotland. Why was that particular charitable link important to you, and what impact is SipZen hoping to make?

We partnered with Seawilding because oysters and sea grass are some of the most effective methods to sequester carbon. Additionally the highlands are some of the most overly used land in the UK and we felt it was important to protect the ecosystem that feeds into our ingredients. You cannot have true wellness without saving the planet that provides us with its natural goods. 

As a B-Corp, we're committed to being a force for good. Our hope is to not only provide wellness through our products but also to contribute to the wellbeing of our local community, creating a virtuous circle of health and support.

I personally chose SeaWilding for their integrity. Many charities and carbon projects out there struggle with double counting, leakage, and permanence. SeaWilding is operated by locals who genuinely care and they have put compliance measurements in all their activities to avoid such issues. 

TCM focuses heavily on restoring balance - how do your blends promote balance in the body, especially for people dealing with stress, fatigue, or fast-paced lifestyles?

The fast-paced lifestyle is the epitome of imbalance in TCM, it depletes our Yin (our restorative, cooling energy) and overstimulates our Yang (our active, warming energy). This leads to that classic "burnout" feeling: being exhausted yet unable to relax. 
Our blends are designed to address this directly. The adaptogens in our formulas are "smart" herbs.

They don't forcefully push the body in one direction. Instead, they help regulate its systems. If your system is overactive (stress), they help calm it. If it's underactive (fatigue), they help gently energize it. By supporting the adrenal system and modulating the stress response, we help the body return to its own natural state of equilibrium, making you more resilient to the ups and downs of modern life. (see chart below) 

What do you wish more people understood about TCM herbs and their role in modern wellness products, especially when compared to Western supplements or energy drinks?

I wish people understood that TCM herbs are not a single-ingredient, single-solution game. Western supplements often isolate one active compound - like caffeine for energy. TCM, and SipZen, works on the principle of synergy. It's the combination of herbs, working together like a well-conducted orchestra, that creates the harmonious effect.

Furthermore, TCM is inherently holistic. It doesn't just see "low energy"; it asks why. Is it from stress? Poor digestion? An energy drink might jolt you awake, but it doesn't address the root cause. Our formulations are designed to nourish the underlying systems, providing a more sustainable and foundational form of wellness.

You speak about bridging cultural heritage with contemporary wellbeing - how do you ensure your formulations honour traditional practices while meeting scientific and regulatory standards?

The initial formula was created by my family’s TCM doctor in China. After I went through months of treatment for my PCOS and saw good results, I asked my doctor for general formulas made for daily use for all genders. We then brought the formulas to a lab here in the UK to make it accessible in canned form without compromising the benefits. The lab we use also has an in-house compliance team specialising in beverages.

For consumers searching for ‘clean-label wellness drinks,’ how important was it for you to keep SipZen free from artificial sweeteners, colours, or unnecessary additives?

Very, I’ve put my entire life on hold to create this brand and I want it to be a long-term brand with a community. I also didn’t want to serve others what I wouldn’t drink myself. Part of my inspiration came from not having a healthy enough option on the market that I would drink, thus SipZen’s formulas had to be made differently and according to standards I set through my own palate lens.

The very premise of SipZen is to provide pure, potent nourishment. How could we claim to promote balance and wellness while adding ingredients that the body has to process as toxins? Our customers are intelligent and discerning; they read labels. We want them to look at a SipZen can and recognise every ingredient and understand its purpose. True "clean-label" means there’s nothing to hide.

Your drinks are brewed with Assam & Sencha - how do you source these ingredients, and what makes them powerful foundations for functional health beverages?

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SipZen focuses a lot on ritual and slowing down - how do you hope customers incorporate your drinks into their daily mindfulness or self-care routines?

•  The Morning Ritual: taking a few quiet moments to set your intention for the day before the chaos begins. Even if you’re on the go, bring a SipZen with you as a morning pick me up.
•  The Afternoon Reset: Stepping away from your screen, cracking open a can and focusing on the complex, uplifting aroma and taste as a form of active meditation to recenter and de-stress.
  It’s about reclaiming a small moment for yourself, using the drink as an anchor for mindfulness.
  

What scientific research or emerging studies influenced the development of SipZen’s formulations, especially around adaptogens and TCM herbs?

TCM has been around for thousands of years, it includes data and research on how the human body reacts to botanicals which elements each ingredient aligns to within your body’s Qi. Modern research is now catching up with traditional ingredients and reports of patients given herbs such as tremella have been proven to rebuild their cells and detox their lungs.

Looking ahead, how do you see SipZen contributing to the growing global interest in TCM-inspired wellness, and what innovations are you excited to bring to the market next?

We see SipZen as a trusted guide, making TCM-inspired wellness authentic, accessible, and safe for a global audience. As interest grows, there's a risk of dilution or misappropriation of these ancient practices. We are committed to being a brand that honours the depth of the tradition while innovating for the future.

We're incredibly excited about developing new product lines that target specific modern needs, like sleep support, cognitive focus, and immune defence, all through the TCM lens of balance. We're exploring innovative formats beyond ready-to-drink teas and shots, and delving deeper into the synergy between TCM herbs and other global wellness traditions. Our goal is to continue building a comprehensive, functional wellness system that helps people thrive in their modern lives, powered by ancient wisdom.

SipZen's Sencha and Yuzu has recently won the Plant Based Awards by FoodBev. What does this award mean to the Sipzen team?

It's a moment of pure joy and pride. While we've always believed in our drinks, this award is a wonderful acknowledgment of our team's dedication and innovation. It's particularly meaningful to see a TCM-based product celebrated like this, signalling a delicious and positive shift in the mainstream.

Jenna’s vision for SipZen is more than just a line of functional beverages - it’s a modern take on centuries-old TCM herbal remedies designed for everyday wellness. By combining rigorous science, adaptogenic herbs, and mindful rituals, SipZen offers an alternative to sugary or synthetic drinks, helping consumers restore balance, support immunity, and boost energy naturally.

As a B-Corp committed to sustainability and community impact, Jenna ensures every SipZen product nurtures both people and the planet. Whether you’re looking for a moment of calm, an afternoon reset, or a potent wellness boost, SipZen brings the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine into your daily routine, making holistic wellness both simple and enjoyable.