WAKU Wellness tonic founders Nicolas Estrella, 26, and Juan Giraldo, 29, blended 20 herbs known for their health benefits to make an infusion inspired by the fabled “healing water” of their homeland Ecuador.
Nature provides the goodness of plants but relies on man toact as its compounding pharmacist.
Healing water has been consumed for centuries in the AndesMountains, said CEO Giraldo. “The name comes from the word wanku, which means“together” in Quechua, the language of the indigenous people of Ecuador,” he said.Ingredients include dried mint, rose petals, chamomile, lemongrass and Escancel,a bright reddish-purple botanical with aromatic leaves steeped to treatsymptoms of colds and lung disorders.
The drink, called “horchata lojana” locally, is an anti-inflammatory usually consumed daily with meals and known to aid digestion and cure other ills, Estrella told the Boston Globe.
Giraldo said the company works closely with indigenous farmersfrom Chuquiribamba in the southern Andes region where harvesting ingredientsfor the drink improve the livelihood of growers, he said. The village is in theprovince of Loja, which is known for its culture, people and for being acombination of highland, cloud forest, and jungle, he said.
He said Loja is the perfect place to cultivate and grow a wide variety oforganic herbs and flowers because of its good weather and rich soil. Thevillage has fewer than 3,000 hardworking people, almost all of whom are farmerswho love and make their living from nature. “Our dream is to create a brandthat customers really LOVE and is good for their body, by sharing traditionsfrom the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with the world, and make a bigger impact onmore families,” he said.
The crowd-funded ready-to-drink beverage launched one year agothis fall and has since found its niche in natural and health food locations inand around Boston where the two now live. The blended of infusions is bestserved chilled. Flavors include the original Lemon Hint, Lemon and PassionFruit. WAKU Wellness sells for $4 per 10-oz bottle.
Source: WAKU, BostonGlobe