Since day one, our original recipes have included natural herbs and spices, like reishi or cordyceps, for their unique flavors and functional health benefits. Like matcha, how these plants were cultivated and sourced is critical to their potency and environmental impact. Years back, as we gathered our favorite ingredients to showcase and use at our first café, we sought an herbal partner whose values and quality aligned with our own. We met our match in Adriana Ayales of Anima Mundi, a Brooklyn-based herbalist and now dear friend.

Adriana founded Anima Mundi after moving to New York from Costa Rica. An educator and medicine maker, she aims to integrate healing traditions from Central and Southern America with the demands of today. “I want to create a true farm-to-pharmacy experience through the art of medicine making with herbs. Our Apothecary is composed of organic, wildcrafted, and ethically grown botanicals,” says Ayales. Her vision has come a long way: from Adriana’s kitchen, to Anima Mundi’s beautiful and spacious all-in-one store in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Greenpoint.

At Matchaful, our cafés carry many active botanicals, among them Anima Mundi’s Ashwagandha—one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda—and as Adriana calls it “nature’s chill pill.” This adaptogenic root has been used for over 3,000 years to relieve stress and promote a calmer, happier sense of being while also delivering a rejuvenating energy lift. Its secret is that ashwagandha gently supports the adrenal glands, balancing cortisol levels and reducing stress.

Another favorite of ours is the Anima Mundi Euphoria Elixir, a truly magical combination of guarana, catuaba bark, and damiana designed to promote joy and ecstasy. Adriana teaches us that “damiana is a classic aphrodisiac native to Central America known to support male and female libido and lower performance anxiety.” Need we say more?

Visit our friends at Anima Mundi online or chat with a knowledgeable herbalist in-person at their Brooklyn apothecary. Anima Mundi is located at 31 Noble St in Greenpoint, Brooklyn - open 10AM to 5PM on weekdays and 11AM to 6PM on weekends.