Our Story
WakeUpSips, like any other product, has a unique journey. Here’s our founder’s story:
Herbal infusions aren’t a new concept for me; they’ve long been a part of my culture. At home, my mom regularly added cardamom and vetiver to our water. Even now, majjige hullu (lemongrass) rasam and kokum rasam are staples in our meals. In Kerala, I’ve often enjoyed the pinkish-red water known as karingal vellam in restaurants. For centuries, temples have served theertha, water infused with tulsi, patchouli, or durva grass. My memories of Kashmir are filled with khawa and Himalayan treks with rhododendron teas. The list goes on.
However, none of these experiences were enough to motivate me to create something like WakeUpSips until 2020. Who could forget that year? Covid was a life-altering event. My wife was seven months pregnant, and I was about to become a father. I still find it hard to believe we made it through that period unscathed.
It was my dad who helped us navigate that challenging time by introducing us to Nela Nelli (bhumi amla, Phyllanthus niruri) khada. The khada had a significant, positive impact on my family’s overall health and well-being. That’s when I was inspired to unearth the uses of these age-old herbs and transform them into a modern form of tea, and thus, WakeUpSips was born.
Herbal infusions aren’t a new concept for me; they’ve long been a part of my culture. At home, my mom regularly added cardamom and vetiver to our water. Even now, majjige hullu (lemongrass) rasam and kokum rasam are staples in our meals. In Kerala, I’ve often enjoyed the pinkish-red water known as karingal vellam in restaurants. For centuries, temples have served theertha, water infused with tulsi, patchouli, or durva grass. My memories of Kashmir are filled with khawa and Himalayan treks with rhododendron teas. The list goes on.
However, none of these experiences were enough to motivate me to create something like WakeUpSips until 2020. Who could forget that year? Covid was a life-altering event. My wife was seven months pregnant, and I was about to become a father. I still find it hard to believe we made it through that period unscathed.
It was my dad who helped us navigate that challenging time by introducing us to Nela Nelli (bhumi amla, Phyllanthus niruri) khada. The khada had a significant, positive impact on my family’s overall health and well-being. That’s when I was inspired to unearth the uses of these age-old herbs and transform them into a modern form of tea, and thus, WakeUpSips was born.