Namaste with Coffee?

My first memory of coffee is closely associated with my first flight as a toddler, excited about the notion of flying as I stepped into this tube of composite metals. What greeted me first was through my olfactory senses, the smell of coffee wafting through the enclosed space, which forever carved a familiar groove in my psyche.

I enjoy coffee, not for its stimulating aspects, which some glorify and some deprecate, but simply, for its taste. However, coffee has been demonized as the culprit of anxiety or with jitters for those sensitive to caffeine. My sensitivity to coffee rears its ugly head when I stop drinking it upon regular consumption. The pounding headaches from “caffeine withdrawal” were a bit too much to bear, so I have refrained from it.

My relationship with coffee was further scrutinized as I dived deeper into the spiritual and wellness landscape as a student and teacher of Yoga. Coffee seems to be demonized by some in this setting because of its stimulating effects that can affect one’s energetic internal environment, especially when we hear accounts of side effects that seem to plague some, myself included.

So I switched to turmeric/ginger lattes and green tea/matcha, which seemed more acceptable, though the latter still contains caffeine, but without the tangible side effects. I didn’t give it further thought, other than listening to my body, and being fully aware of what it resonates with. Once in a while, I’d sneak in a latte when the smell of coffee comes drifting through. 

I was introduced to JostArriba, the line of fair trade coffee by EightBillion, founded by Holly and John, who practice at the yoga studio where I taught. It rekindled my affinity for coffee. 

JostArriba’s tagline “So much more than coffee” lives up to it. JostArriba is formulated with L-theanine, which is present in matcha and green tea. I am not an expert in this field but from my understanding, L-theanine interacts with caffeine to curb the unwelcomed side effects of caffeine. Extract of lion’s mane and reishi mushrooms offers cognitive performance with coffee fruit extract that teems with antioxidants. This is important to consider as it means sustainably using the whole coffee fruit rather than only using the bean. 

Another important ingredient in JostArriba is Ashwagandha, known as the king of herbs in the Ayurvedic landscape, which balances and stabilizes our inner energetic environment for holistic well-being. Having lived in India for six years, I am familiar with the practice of Ayurveda (ayur - life, veda - knowledge) the sister science of Yoga, knowledge of life. Yoga means to yoke or to unite with our highest Self. Yoga is the natural state of our being, of consciousness and bliss.

The practice of Yoga goes beyond the mat - one aspect is to be fully aware of, and accountable to, our first line of defense, what we tangibly put in our bodies. The real test came when I sat in Vipassana (a ten-day silent meditation retreat) caffeine-free, after a month of regular consumption of JostArriba. No sensitivity or discomfort, but an alert and focused mental climate and an undercurrent of ease that supported me emotionally and physically.

JostArriba’s single-serving, biodegradable, and compostable sachets serve a purpose -  to provide us with the appropriate ratios to ensure optimum efficacy for our physical, mental, and energetic well-being. I am acutely aware of how important it is to maintain a sustainable and accountable relationship with our planet, and the eight billion of us beings on this planet.

Eightbillion’s B Corp certification and 1% for the Planet membership align with these values and principles. I am an advocate of personal, direct, and mindful experience, educating myself through curiosity and information. I am so grateful to be able to enjoy coffee again through this gift of awareness.

Holly Xing, the formulator of JostArrriba and her yoga teacher Nora Lim chat about our complicated relationship with coffee and caffeine while sipping JostArriba.