Orcas Island’s new Sunspice is first ‘not-coffee’ shop to open in Washington

— from Nicole Miller for Sunspice —

Celebrating the summer sun in the San Juan Islands is something special. A beautiful release after a dark winter. This year is a bit different for obvious reasons. Orcas Island in particular is a magical place usually filled with all kinds of festivities, family vacations, weddings, and retreats. These activities unite people to celebrate life under the sun surrounded in beauty. So naturally it felt like the perfect place for Sunspice to open up and serve the island community with its first Health Bar.

Sunspice is the first “not coffee” shop and brand to open in Washington State, with plans to expand into other cities as they continue to expand their online presence. Founder Ashley Welch explains,“We’re ready to disrupt the coffee industry a bit, and hopefully wake people up to the idea that their morning cup of coffee may not be the best friend they thought they knew and loved.”

Sunspice makes healthy coffee alternative powders and herbal supplements using sustainably grown and processed spices, root herbs, medicinal mushrooms, and flower essence. They are obviously not your average latte you’d find at your local coffee shop. That being said, they are still pretty delicious, while still being very healthy.

Ashley openly shares that she’d been an avid coffee drinker for years, and often followed it up with an evening glass of wine as a daily routine. She’s also the first one to admit to her own health consequences from these habits. From acidity issues that dried out and disrupted her gut, to adrenal fatigue and anxiety, coffee is not a drug to take lightly. 

Sunspice’s coffee alternative blends use essential spices and herbs to re-energize the body and mind, support the gut to heal itself, and boost the immune system. “The truth is, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Ashley explains. My own desire to heal and nourish myself and my family has now just extended its wings into something much bigger.

Ashley’s background is in both nutrition scientists and in tech. Her research in natural medicine with companies like Genesis Today gives her a more herbal approach toward human health, while also having a seat as an advisor to Nordic Naturals where her research and education on cellular health and nutrition gave her a very grounded and in-depth approach toward current health issues. She launched her own tech company in silicon valley in 2016, but couldn’t help but find her way back into health and wellness despite having a lot of appreciation for the rat race.

Healing is at the forefront of Sunspice. Let’s be clear that Ashley makes no claim to heal anyone who consumes her products. Sunspice’s goal is to
open the doors for bigger conversations around health and wellness and feeling good! They are proud to have formulated potent products rooted in science, but beyond the products themselves, they aim to have these deeper conversations on whole body health. And with everything that’s going on right now, it might just be the perfect time to unabashedly tend to this topic.

Ashley welcomes the local community and travelers to experience the Sunspice lifestyle at 19 Fishing Alley in Eastsound, knowing that they can continue to experience it from anywhere in the world at sunspice.co.