A decision to take better care of herself put Kristen Carroll on the path to improving her wellbeing through meditation, yoga and a healthier lifestyle.<\/p>\n
It also led to an unexpected business opportunity.<\/p>\n
“I used to be addicted to two or three coffees a day,” Kristen explains.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t a huge amount but I went on a retreat with no coffee and, when I couldn’t get rid of a headache, I decided I needed something that didn’t damage me.<\/p>\n
“Coffee was kind of like the last thing that I had to get rid of to make myself clean and clear.”<\/p>\n
The Wallington mum began experimenting with ingredients for an alternative brew that tasted so good she would not miss her daily caffeine fix.<\/p>\n
The result was an organic chai blend she has since released commercially under the label of Frank n Al, which is named after her grandparents Frank and Alma.<\/p>\n
While she never set out with a business venture in mind, it became an option when COVID restrictions put a stop to the group meditation and yoga sessions she had been teaching.<\/p>\n
“I had been building that business up for six months when COVID happened,” she recalls.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t want to take it online so I knew I needed to find a new focus.<\/p>\n
“When I told people what I was thinking of doing with the chai there was all this goodwill so I thought maybe it was a good idea and I would give it a whirl.”<\/p>\n
Sold in compostable packaging, Frank n Al chai contains 100 per cent organic ingredients, is cane sugar and caffeine free and can be served hot or cold.<\/p>\n
A card with a meditative practice is included in each pack, which costs $20 for 150 grams of chai powder (up to 50 serves).<\/p>\n
Kristen says her chai blend is produced in a commercially accredited council-approved kitchen and she hopes customers will love the product as much as she has loved creating it.<\/p>\n
“I was constantly trying to get that perfect taste through trial and error of making up different batches and assessing whether it was too strong or sweet,” she says.<\/p>\n
“It was good fun and it was constant \u2013 I really just poured myself into it.”<\/p>\n
Kristen has plans to add to the product offering but for now she is keen to introduce more people to the brand and secure more like-minded stockists.<\/p>\n
“The local businesses around this area have been so fantastic and encouraging so it’s been a really nice trip so far,” she says.<\/p>\n
“When someone buys it, I’m like ‘wow, people want to try my chai’ \u2013 it’s a really great feeling.”<\/p>\n
Frank n Al Chai is available through Instagram @franknal_chai or Facebook. It is stocked at Green Mumma Organics in Rippleside, Green Grocer Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove Fruit Crew and in Wallington Rural’s local produce section.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A decision to take better care of herself put Kristen Carroll on the path to improving her wellbeing through meditation, yoga and a healthier lifestyle. It also led to an unexpected business opportunity. “I used to be addicted to two or three coffees a day,” Kristen explains. “It wasn’t a huge amount but I went […]<\/p>\n