We're excited to introduce a new partnership brewing in the Red Bay Coffee community — our collaboration with Sip to Live Teas, a brand rooted in wellness, culture, and handcrafted herbal blends. Founded on the belief that tea should nourish both body and spirit, Sip to Live brings intentionality, artistry, and deep cultural reverence to every cup.
Let us know a little bit about who you are, your background.
I was born in Oakland to a family of educators and grew up between the Dimond and Fruitvale districts, surrounded by books, music, and community. In high school, youth journalism programs opened my world and nurtured my curiosity. I attended Morehouse College and spent a transformative year studying in Seville, where a trip to Morocco sparked my love for tea. After graduating, I taught elementary school boys with emotional and behavioral challenges, then earned my MBA at Morgan State while working on the Hubble Space Telescope project at NASA. Around that time, I discovered yoga and Ayurveda, which deepened my understanding of herbalism and it inspired me to begin blending teas with intention and purpose. When my mother later passed from breast cancer, she left me with the means to bring Sip to Live to its next chapter. Today, I teach
Herban Yoga, blending Ayurvedic wisdom, herbal education, and tea into each class. And Sip to Live serves the Grand Lake and West Oakland Farmers Markets and now also partners with Red Bay Coffee̶something my mother would have loved.
How did you get started with herbal tea, and what inspired you to create your brand?
My first memory of herbs is my father making mint tea when I was sick. But Morocco truly deepened my love for tea ̶ the harmony of green tea, mint, and hospitality. That experience inspired my first blend, Marvelous Mint, which still anchors Sip to Live. Ayurveda later gave me a framework for understanding how herbs interact with the body and each other. My Moroccan roots bring boldness and sweetness, while Ayurveda adds balance and synergy. Sip to Live reflects that ̶ it’s not about me, but about life itself in every sip.
You mention your time studying yoga and Ayurveda, and working at NASA ̶ how did those chapters influence your tea-making philosophy and approach to wellness?
While working at NASA, I met my first yoga teacher, who introduced me to the connection between movement, breath, and balance. Through him I discovered Ayurveda, which deepened my understanding of herbs as energetic medicine. Yoga integrates mind, body, and breath; Ayurveda aligns diet, lifestyle, and environment ̶ together and taught me that balance is a living practice. That philosophy guides my tea-making. Each blend embodies harmony, where every herb complements the next like instruments in a song. My goal is for each sip to invite awareness ̶ creating good space where energy flows freely and calmly through the body and mind. I eventually left NASA to pursue tea full-time in Portland, learning hard but necessary lessons before returning home to Oakland where I joined an artist collective, taught yoga across schools and correctional facilities, and continued developing my craft.
You experienced a serious accident and then rebuilt your path ̶ how did that transformation shape your relationship with tea, healing, and community?
In 2018, I was in a car fire that left me with significant burn injuries. The recovery was long ̶ I had to relearnhow to walk and rebuild both body and spirit. That experience taught me deep gratitude for the basics: breath, movement, love, and connection. When I couldn’t practice yoga as before, tea became my way to reconnect with life force. Building Sip to Live helped me reclaim identity and purpose. At markets, I share tea with old friends, new faces, and whole communities. Those moments of conversation and curiosity are deeply healing ̶remind me how tea connects people and opens hearts.
Your blends are described as 'songs' where each herb is an instrument ̶ what is your creative process for composing a tea blend?
Each blend starts with an herb, a feeling, or a purpose. For example, Smile Jamaica centers on hibiscus ̶ brightand tangy ̶ with Saigon cinnamon providing warmth, and ginger adding rhythm. Peppermint expands the flavor like background harmony. I tune each herb so the flavors flow together like music.
How do you see the relationship between tea drinking and wellness ̶ physical, mental, and spiritual?
Ayurveda teaches that taste reflects the elements ̶ earth, water, fire, air, and ether ̶ and each person, season, and herb carries unique energy. Choosing herbs to balance those energies cultivates health and happiness. Herbs also work on breath and mind: Tulsi, chamomile, and lemon balm calm the spirit; mint and eucalyptus open the lungs. My blends bring these together to create space for reflection ̶ helping people slow down, breathe, and reconnect.
How did the collaboration with Red Bay Coffee come about, and what excites you most about this partnership?
I first met Brother Keba through Woody Johnson back in the days of Guerilla Café. I have always appreciated the heart, soul, and attention to quality that he brings to his coffee shops and had big respect for him as a person. When we first met back in 2008 I was a guy with good tea but no licenses, permits, or sales channels. Since that time, I have watched his growth and he has been supportive of mine. He had Sip to Live in his Chasing Lions Cafe. When I started selling at farmer’s markets two years ago he was always available to give me advice. I am happy and humbled that he invited me to do a tea tasting for him and his team earlier this year. Through this collaboration, I am looking forward to sharing tea with a wider community and learning as much as I can.
Outside of tea, what are other things you’re passionate about these days?
I love nature, music, and good conversation. Hiking and blending tea often go hand in hand. I stay curious about the world and care deeply about social justice, from housing and healthcare access to liberation movements. The Tea table is where those passions meet ̶ a space for music, dialogue, and community.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for Sip to Live?
I want Sip to Live to spark curiosity about herbs and create spaces where people connect from a centered place. Right now, that happens at Oakland’s farmers markets, but I hope to expand into cafés, health stores, and eventually open a tea shop. I also plan to use proceeds to support local organizations feeding the community through the 'We Got Us' initiative. It means something to me to be able to grow with community-oriented, socially and environmentally conscious Black businesses that are about sharing quality products with good people.
