Joe Scola, Founder and CEO of Wise Ape, is doing more than just making tea. He aims to balance flavor and function while also supporting non-profits who are also trying to help the mind and body. With the use of adaptogens and extensive research, each blend of Wise Ape tea is carefully crafted to provide specific benefits. A lot of thought goes into each blend of tea from the benefits, the mixture of flavors, down to the shape of the teabags.

The Inspiration

Joe was originally pursuing another startup project when he gave all of it up to return home to spend time with his dad who was diagnosed with GBM brain cancer. Joe and his dad have always bonded over health and wellness from a young age so it was no surprise when Joe started looking into other healthy ways of helping his dad outside of the usual treatments.

He did everything from talking to people in forums to reading papers and studies online searching for podcasts to see what could help his dad. During that time, Joe started making random concoctions using herbs, teas, and adaptogens for his dad and to deal with his own stress. And that was how Wise Ape was created.

The Partners

When partnering with an organization, Joe first looks at whether the organization’s goal aligns with that of Wise Ape. If they do, he then researches to make sure the organization is a reputable one that does what they say they do. If everything checks out, 10% of the profit of each purchase is donated to the organization that is partnered with that specific blend of tea. So when deciding on which tea you want to try, you can choose an organization to support, a flavor or a benefit.

Here are the partners of each existing blends of tea:

• Chocolate Hustle – The National Brain Tumor Society
• Orange Dreamsicle – The Michael J. Fox Foundation
• Coconut Warrior – The Warrior Angels Foundation
• Blueberry Time Machine – One Mind
• Pineapple Shaman – MAPS

The Benefits

Wise Ape teas improve focus, energy, and clarity. In order to do that, each tea is packed full of organic, all-natural herbs and adaptogens. When Wise Ape first started, there were very few search results for adaptogens. Since then, companies are understanding the power of the herb.

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@sipsandmaker serving up those fresh adaptogenic teas with some style. . #statenislandny #adaptogens #organictea #drinkhealthy #wellnesslifestyle

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Adaptogens have been used in Eastern medicine for a long time. They are a class of herb that helps the body regulate stress. Some adaptogens are ones that we have already heard of like turmeric, rosemary, and ginseng. Others are ones we can barely pronounce like ashwagandha and jiaogulan.

Each blend of tea is unique and helps with different parts of our bodies and lives. 

• Chocolate Hustle – brain
• Orange Dreamsicle – sleep
• Coconut Warrior – anti-inflammatory
• Blueberry Time Machine – antioxidant
• Pineapple Shaman – gut

Wise Ape has also coined the term Silverback Tea. This method came from the Bulletproof Coffee method of blending healthy fats like butter or coconut oil into your coffee. But with Silverback Tea method is blending those fats with Wise Ape tea. The method slows down the uptake of caffeine into your system giving an even fuel of energy throughout the day. Perfect for people who want to skip breakfast.

Another company that Wise Ape has partnered with is Pine Coast Culture Co. The two companies partnered up to create two unique adaptogenic kombucha flavors: Piña Colada and Super Blueberry. You will have to travel to New Jersey to try these drinks but your gut will thank you.

The Process 

“There are so many companies that do traditional teas so well. We love playing with these wild blends and pulling together flavors. That’s really part of the fun.”

It’s not as simple as mixing a bunch of random ingredients together when coming up with a new blend. Joe and his team do deep research about the benefits of each ingredient, contact experts to confirm, then taste test a couple of blends in-house to understand the flavor profile. They experiment with different steep time and temperatures so they could provide a recommendation on the container. The blend is then shared with lucky family and friends to get a general feeling of tastes others like and follow up on the effects of the tea. This process is then repeated for each new blend. 

The Teabags

The pyramid shape of the teabags is not just for aesthetics. The interview process the teabags went through was rigorous. They must meet all the requirements of being:

• Organic
• Biodegradable
• Heat-sealed
• Contain no plastics
• Contain no glue

The special shape allows each bag to be packed with 3-3.5 grams of whole leaf ingredients while still giving them room to fully expand.

The Future

“It’s natural to take a couple of steps forward and take a step back in life. It’s about the continued pursuit of trying to become better individuals and better humans.”

A new blend is launching March 2020: Lemon Vibration. It will be available on their website and retail partner locations. Wise Ape partners with vendors with a similar focus on the body and mind. This is why you can find them in spas and wellness centers. The tea is a complete balance of lemon and lavender flavors. Register here for free shipping and a limited edition sticker with your Lemon Vibration order.