If your bathroom cabinet is a graveyard of half-used supplements and mystery powders,
you’re not alone. For years, wellness has meant swallowing synthetic capsules, deciphering ingredient lists, and wondering whether anything is actually working. Now, a new wave of modern supplementation is putting ancient wisdom back in the spotlight – and SipZen is leading the charge.

Unlike other wellness brands that dabble in Eastern inspiration, SipZen doesn’t borrow from traditional Chinese medicine – it is traditional Chinese medicine. Rooted in centuries of practice and backed by modern science, SipZen is here to replace your synthetic
supplement stash with sleek cans of herbal tea formulas designed to actually work – and
taste great whilst you’re at it.

So, what makes it different? How are ingredients like sea moss and sea grape becoming the modern supplements that deliver the results we’ve all been waiting for Here’s what you need to know.

Why traditional Chinese medicine?

SipZen distils the core principles of traditional Chinese medicine – balance, prevention, and whole-body harmony – into daily drinkable doses. While Western medicine tends to target isolated symptoms with specific interventions like antibiotics, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) takes a different view: that the body is a complex, interconnected system, and that true healing means restoring internal balance. In light of this, TCM has unique value in the prevention and treatment of complex and chronic diseases.

But don’t just take our word for it – the science is catching up. Backed by thousands of years of clinical use, TCM goes further than simply treating symptoms. It looks at the root causes of diseases, and uses a combination of herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to bring the body back into balance.

Now, scientists are working to decode what TCM has been using for centuries – the power of bioactive compounds. Think of these as the active messenger molecules found within TCM ingredients that stimulate various systems in the body, working together to nourish, repair and protect – like ingredients in a perfectly balanced recipe.

The science behind the sip – why does it work?

What makes SipZen more than just a pretty can of botanicals? It all comes down to the
science of how each ingredient interacts with your body – not in isolation, but as part of a broader system.

Take sea grape, for example. This mineral-rich algae, often referred to as ‘green caviar’, is loaded with bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and sulphated polysaccharides - natural compounds that act as cellular bodyguards. These help neutralise free radicals*, reduce inflammation, and improve skin hydration by supporting the extracellular matrix – the structural ‘scaffolding’ that keeps skin plump and elastic. A recent study even found that supplementation with sea grape extract significantly lowered blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels in rats, suggesting potential metabolic health benefits 1.

 

* Debunking ‘Wellness’ 101: At SipZen, we believe that knowledge is power. And with all the confusion in health and wellness, we’ve decided to take matters into our own hands and debunk the common myths and incorrect science that’s all too often thrown around online. First Lesson: Free Radicals & Antioxidants Think of free radicals as the social saboteurs at a dinner party – unstable and attention-seeking, they bump into molecules, steal electrons, and leave chaos in their wake. In biological terms, we often see oxygen free radicals – oxygen molecules missing an electron. In trying to gain that missing electron to stabilise themselves, they damage healthy cells in a process known as oxidative stress. Left unchecked, this can lead to everything from DNA damage to premature skin ageing and chronic inflammation. That’s where antioxidants (hey sea grapes and sea moss) step in. They’re the gracious hosts, offering spare electrons on a silver platter to neutralise the oxygen radicals and restore harmony, one sip at a time.

 

You’ll find this powerhouse ingredient in SipZen’s Sencha & Yuzu Cold Brew Iced Tea – a refreshing nootropic blend that pairs antioxidant-rich green tea with the zesty brightness of yuzu and restorative properties of sea grape.

Then there’s sea moss, which contains over 90 essential minerals, including iodine,
magnesium, and potassium 2 . Magnesium is involved in activating one of the hormones
produced by the thyroid. Your cells can only use the active version of hormones, and so
without magnesium, the activation slows down, leaving you feeling sluggish, foggy or
fatigued.

If that sounds familiar, try SipZen’s Assam Melody & Melon Cold Brew Iced Tea – a smooth blend of malty Assam tea and cooling melon, supported by Irish sea moss and adaptogenic herbs designed to promote clarity, energy, and hydration.

And if you’re seeking a daily dose of immunity and vitality, SipZen’s Kiwi & Pear Wellness Shot delivers a powerful punch. With ingredients taken from TCM and functional nutrition – including panax ginseng, hawthorn berry and peach gum – it's the perfect option for on-the-go support when you need a boost, fast.

Are we done with synthetic supplements yet?

It doesn’t take a genius to realise you can walk into your local pharmacy and buy bottles of every mineral and vitamin you can think of – and probably some you didn’t even know
existed! The problem? Your body often can’t utilise these efficiently, and so you’ll end up
excreting a large amount of them unused. At that point, you’re quite literally throwing your money down the toilet.

When it comes to nutrients, it’s all about bioavailability: the ability of these supplements to be absorbed and utilised by your cells. Unlike many synthetic supplements packed with fillers and binders, nutrients from whole, plant-based sources like sea moss and sea grapes come paired with cofactors – like enzymes, fibre, and trace compounds – that help the body recognise and process them more effectively.

In TCM, ingredients are never isolated. They’re used in synergistic combinations that enhance their therapeutic effect. In short? Your body knows what to do with real food and ingredients – especially when they’ve been used to heal for centuries.

 

No more pills and powders. We want results, without compromise. 

Let’s be honest: most supplements don’t give us the results we are promised, and they most certainly don’t spark joy. For anyone tired of juggling pill boxes filled with synthetic supplements and ready to return to something more rooted, more effective, and frankly, more enjoyable – SipZen might just be the switch your body’s been waiting for.

And yes, it looks very chic on your shelf. 

Ready to sip smarter? Discover the SipZen collection now. 

References

1 Kuswari, M., Nurkolis, F., Mayulu, N., Ibrahim, F. M., Taslim, N. A., Wewengkang, D. S., Sabrina, N., Arifin, G. R., Mantik, K. E. K., Bahar, M. R., Rifqiyati, N., Rompies, R., Augusta, P. S., & Permatasari, H. K. (2021). Sea grapes extract improves blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α in rats fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet. F1000Research, 10, 718. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.54952.2

2 Lomartire, S., Marques, J. C., & Gonçalves, A. M. M. (2021). An Overview to the Health Benefits of Seaweeds Consumption. Marine drugs, 19(6), 341. https://doi.org/10.3390/md19060341

 

About the Author

Caitlin MacClay holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry from the University of Oxford. During her MSc, she conducted research in the Ligoxygakis lab, investigating immunity and gut microbiome dynamics using Drosophila models. With a background spanning global pharmaceutical companies to a skin-health start-up, she brings a unique ability to translate complex science into clear, accessible insights.