Community & Stories
Triple The Impact of Your Charity Donations This Winter
STOP PRESS! We just had some amazing news. Made in Hackney have a funder who is matching donations this December. This means that for every plate you donate, Made in Hackney will receive six! That's right, your £3 will provide a healthy vegan meal for six people. There's literally never been a better time to donate. At Raw Living, we’re proud to support three charitable organisations who share our values and are making a real difference in people’s lives. 🌱 Made in Hackney is a grassroots community kitchen on a mission to tackle health inequalities and improve food access, all through the power of plants. For just £3, your donation covers the cost of an organic, plant-based meal for someone in need. This year, we’ve been matching your donations: for every plate you donate, we donate another. For this season of goodwill, we’re going to double that donation, so every plate you donate will feed three people. 🌳 Trees for Life is a multi-award-winning conservation charity dedicated to restoring the Caledonian Forest in the Scottish Highlands. For just £6, you can plant a tree in our dedicated grove, and for every one of your generous donations, we’ll plant two more this winter. 💧 Charity: Water addresses one of the greatest challenges of our time, access to clean drinking water. It’s hard to believe that in the 21st century, over 700 million people around the world still live without it. Charity: Water are on a mission to change that. You can donate to our Spring here, and together, let’s see how many people we can help. We collect donations all year round, but this special seasonal drive, doubling the impact of every donation, runs until 19th December. So please consider giving generously. Just think about it, what feels better: splurging in the sales, or supporting these amazing organisations ensuring everyone has access to clean food, air, and water? ✨ Thank you in advance for your kindness, we are excited to see how many people we can help together this year.
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Inside The Living Libations Boutique in Venice Beach, Los Angeles
Ever dreamed of being able to smell and feel the entire Living Libations range in one place? It’s truly a feast for the senses! ✨ Living Libations products are unlike anything else on the market — in both potency and purity, they really do need to be experienced to be believed 🌿 At Raw Living, we stock over 100 Living Libations products — the widest range outside North America — and still, there are many treasures we don’t yet have! With so much choice, we know it can feel a little overwhelming to know where to begin 💫 Kate recently had the pleasure of visiting the Living Libations boutique store in Venice Beach, Los Angeles 🌞 She connected with store manager Freya and captured the experience to share with you. You’ll find a helpful video guide to creating an oral care routine 🦷, as well as another with a suggested skincare ritual 💧 — perfect starting points for building your own Libations ritual. Living Libations is an investment, yes — but one that pays off beautifully. When you take the time to create a routine that suits you, you’ll be rewarded with glistening skin, gleaming teeth, and the shining locks of your dreams 💖
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Rare Exclusive Interview with Ron Teeguarden of Dragon Herbs
We have something truly special for you today ✨ If you’re even slightly interested in Chinese tonic herbs, you won’t want to miss this. Kate Magic sits down with none other than Ron Teeguarden, at the headquarters of Dragon Herbs in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Ron is the founder of Dragon Herbs and the man widely credited with introducing Chinese herbalism to the West. Ron rarely gives public interviews, making this a precious opportunity to hear directly from the master himself. His influence runs deep in the world of herbalism, and his wisdom is as rich as the traditions he carries. We’re deeply honoured to share this powerful and heartfelt conversation with you. In 1994, Ron was declared a Master Herbalist, and in 2009 he was honoured with the title Dan-O Sun Sha—“Elixir of Life Master of Tao” 🕊—by Grandmaster Sung Jin Park, Keeper of Rites in the 3,000-year-old Taoist lineage of Kook Sun Do. This recognition came after more than four decades of dedicated training and Taoist practice. Ron co-founded Dragon Herbs with his wife Yanlin in 1996. Their mission has always been to source, produce, and deliver the highest quality tonic herbs on the planet. Their teas, tinctures, powders, and encapsulated formulas are a staple in every serious health-seeker’s kitchen 🍵 Watch the interview below and check out our range of Dragon Herbs products HERE. We carry the widest range of their products outside of the USA.
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Visit To The Living Libations Store, Venice, Los Angeles
Kate recently had the opportunity to visit the Living Libations store in Venice, LA—a true haven for lovers of pure, high-vibrational beauty. We have been selling Living Libations products for over 15 years, and Kate has been using them just as long. But seeing the entire collection in one place, being able to touch, smell, and experience the products firsthand, was a revelation. The Art of Unadorned Essentials Living Libations' manifesto is "the art of unadorned essentials." Founder Nadine Artemis has created a range of bodycare formulations that are truly one of a kind—with poetic names, enchanting descriptions, and an uncompromising commitment to the highest purity possible. While the premium price point reflects the exceptional care and quality of the ingredients, Living Libations has a devoted following who swear by both the ethos behind the brand and the transformative results of using these products. Living Libations say, "Celebrating the beauty of diversity in people, plants, animals, ideas, and ecosystems is one of our core creeds. As we revere the numinous nuances of nature, we also esteem each individual and community with openness and dignity. We love this beautiful planet, the altar of our existence, and we appreciate creating respectful relations and enjoyable experiences for our beloved clients, dedicated distillers, superstar suppliers, and dream team of employees that bring their best and bring it all together each day. Our hope is for all people who grace Living Libations to thrive." More Than Just Skincare—A Conversation with Nature Living Libations products aren’t just creams and oils—they are an intimate connection with the natural world. The spirits of flowers, herbs, and trees are alive in every drop of serum and pinch of powder. When you apply them to your skin, face, mouth, or hair, your cells respond with gratitude—awakening a radiant, natural glow that doesn’t mask or interfere with your body's biome, but enhances what is already beautifully yours. The Largest Selection Outside North America We currently stock over 100 Living Libations products—118 at the time of writing! This makes us the largest retailer of Living Libations products outside of Canada and the US. 🌍✨ But with such an extensive range, there are still many more to discover. 💌 If you have a favourite that isn’t in stock, let us know—we’re happy to order it in for you! Check out the entire Living Libations range here.
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Ubud: A Raw Vegan Paradise
Nowhere in the world is the raw vegan food scene thriving quite like it is in Ubud, Bali right now! 🌿✨ What makes Ubud such a magnet for holistic health seekers? With world-renowned restaurants like Alchemy and Zest, an abundance of fresh local produce—think coconuts, cacao, and fresh spirulina—plus kind and welcoming local people, and of course, the stunning natural landscapes, it’s no wonder Ubud has earned its reputation as a vegan paradise. 🌏💚 👉 Click here to read Kate’s full article on the history of Ubud’s raw vegan scene and why it’s the ultimate destination for conscious food lovers. Tempted to visit? 🌴✨ Check out our offerings here:🏡 The Magic Villa🧘♀️ The Bali Magic Retreat (January 2026)🌟 Or book your own VIP 1:1 retreat with Kate!
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Making An Impact Together
Together, we are making an impact! Thanks to your support over the past few years, we’ve achieved some wonderful milestones: 🌳 Planted 99 trees in our grove in the Scottish Highlands with Trees for Life.💧 Provided clean water annually for 43 people through Charity: Water.🍽️ Donated 298 healthy vegan meals to those in need via Made in Hackney's community food service. But we’re not stopping there. This year, we’re making an even bigger commitment: we’ll match every donation you make, doubling the impact of your generosity! In these challenging times, it’s clearer than ever how precious it is to have a stable roof over our heads, a fridge full of food, and access to clean air and water. Yet, for so many around the world, these basic necessities remain out of reach. Here's how your support for Made in Hackney transforms lives, "I was in a desperate situation, going to food banks and struggling so much. Living in temporary accommodation with my son, I couldn’t believe I’d receive six meals a week delivered to my home. These meals have helped me not just financially but also mentally." Our hope is for a world where no one has to worry about these essentials. That’s why we’re committed to:🌱 Planting trees to improve air quality.💦 Providing clean water to communities facing water poverty.🥗 Distributing healthy meals to those in need in our local community. Join us in making a difference. Add a Tree or a Plate to your basket whenever you feel able, or visit our Spring at Charity: Water, and together, let’s create lasting change. Thank you for helping us build a healthier, more compassionate world!
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Anima Mundi Herbals Apothecary, Venice Beach, Los Angeles
Kate recently visited the Anima Mundi Herbals Apothecary in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. It's situated on Rose Avenue, just ten minutes from the beach, and is a haven for tonic herbalism. They stock the full range of Anima Mundi products, as well as loose herbs, incense, crystals, jewellry, and mugs. They have a beautiful outdoor space where you can sit and enjoy your adaptogenic brew, and where they hold regular events. And there's a qualified herbalist on hand to consult with if you're not sure which products are right for you. It's a very inspiring space to be in, and epitomises everything we love about the Anima Mundi brand. Creativity - the formulas are so popular, because they uniquely blend herbs from the Chinese, Ayurvedic, and South American traditions into potions specifically tailored to meet our modern day health challenges. Beauty - everything about Anima Mundi is exquisitely presented, with the loving care that has gone into creating it all very apparent. Purity - the purity of intention that goes into the products is reflected in the purity of the ingredients themselves. Abundance - just like Mother Nature, they embody the infinite spring of wellbeing that is available to us when we learn how to tap in. Education - the educational element is an integral part of the brand. Anima Mundi are all about empowering their customers with the knowledge and wisdom to be the healthiest version of themselves possible. Check out more photos on our Instagram, and let us know, which are your favourite Anima Mundi Herbals products? We stock the full (legally permitted) range - just click here to explore.
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Summer Solstice Retreat 2024
We took some of our favourite brands with us to our Summer Solstice Retreat at the Avebury stones, June 2024. Raw Halo and 8 Foods provided the snacks, Olives et Al and Loving Foods shared their delicious drinks, and Clearspring supported on the salads. Here is Kate's weekend menu:Kale Caesar - Magic Kitchen Beetburgers - Raw Living Buffalo Cauliflower - Raw Living Turmeric Butter - Raw Living Blue Lemonade Pie - Raw Living Chia - Magic Kitchen Broccoli Sushi - Magic Kitchen Zucchini Marinara - Raw Living Pop up Cake - Magic Kitchen https://www.rawliving.co.uk/collections/kate-magics-books We hope you can join us at a future retreat. Gourmet raw foods, inspirational content, beautiful locations, and good company always guaranteed!
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Meeting The Cacao Farmers
At the end of my three week trip to Peru, one of the highlights was visiting some of the cacao farmers who produce our raw cacao. There are very few companies in the world who are committed to raw, organic, cacao, and having gone to the Amazon region and understood the logistics better, it's easy to see why. The company we work with has over 300 farmers in the Amazon region working with cacao. Often these farmers have only very basic literacy, they don't have their own vehicles, or even access to electricity and hot running water. Co-ordinating production and then being able to transport the cacao beans across the country to be processed into liquor, butter and powder is a Herculean effort. Even before it's shipped all the way to us in Europe! It was amazing to see the cacao growing in its natural habitat, and I ate a lot of the raw fruit and crunched on the raw beans. I particularly loved the beans in their semi-dried state, they were almost gooey in the centre and not as bitter as fully dried beans. You can read more about it and see more pictures on KateMagic.com.
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Peruvian Super Food Factory Visits
I visited two factories during my stay, one in the Cajamarca region and the other in the Jauja region. These are two of the biggest superfood facilities in the country (so I guess by default, in the world!), and it was a real privilege to get a sneak behind the scenes, and to learn about the incredible amounts of work that go into producing our superfoods that we take so casually off the shelves and spoon into our smoothies. One of the most difficult feats I think, is the co-ordination of the process. These companies work with uneducated people in remote regions, and are often supporting them into transitioning out of the standard crops like potatoes, corn and rice, that they get a very low income for, and into these higher value crops like maca and yacon. It’s a massive logistical operation to work with the farmers and ensure they are following organic procedures, and then to transport the harvested crops to these central facilities, and to make sure that there are customers who want to buy them at the other end. Especially considering many of these crops only have one harvest in a year, so demand has to be carefully managed to make sure that farmers aren’t out of a job and retailers aren’t out of product! The other thing that blew my mind was the scale of the machinery. I have heard it so often from small businesses, that you have to invest huge sums in getting the correct machinery to be able to scale up, but then it's not always reliable and when it breaks down, so does your whole chain of production. It takes a lot of skill to be able to firstly source the right machinery in such a niche industry, and then maintain it when its dealing with such high capacity volumes consistently. At the first factory, I saw the golden berries and the cacao being processed. They are first inspected and prepared by hand, before they go into the machines. The workers can sort through 100kg cacao beans in one hour, and 20kg of golden berries. I liked that they take the waste, and compost it outside. Then when they go to collect the crops from the farmers, they return the compost to them, thus creating a circular economy. Hygiene procedures are followed strictly, and everything is tested thoroughly, to ensure a product that meets international standards. In the second factory, most of the workers had already stopped for the day, but we saw the women scraping the dried camu camu berries off the industrial drier, ready to grind to a powder. I also saw the biggest amount of maca and cacao I’ve ever seen in my life – one tonne of maca powder, and ten tonnes of criollo cacao beans! They had a new state of the art machine that they were just installing, so they could up production of cacao butter and powder. Peru is the biggest exporter of organic cacao in the world; the total value of cacao exports from Peru in 2022 was estimated to be $22million USD. This is big business!
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Algamar Win Spanish Food Award 2023 For Best Organic Production
We want to take a moment to congratulate one of our favourite brands, Algamar, on winning the award for best organic production in the Spanish Food Awards 2023. This award was for the conservation of biodiversity and respect for the environment, the enhancement of rural development and local resources and technological innovation. Algamar are committed to working with native seaweed, making sea vegetables more accessible in order to improve the health of the population, and promoting these very special local resources, with sustainability and respect for the environment as a core objective. The winners of the 2023 edition were chosen from more than 100 nominations. For the deliberations, the Ministry had a jury made up of people with extensive experience and knowledge of the agri-food and fisheries sector. The judges said, "ALGAS ATLÁNTICAS ALGAMAR wins the Organic Production Award. It is a leading company in the promotion of seaweed as a resource of high nutritional value and is considered one of the first bio-based companies in all of Europe." The jury highlighted ALGAMAR's long evolution in the development of an innovative product of which there was no precedent, based on the collection of seaweed in an environmentally friendly way, as well as the creation of a new market for a food that today is demanded in many food sectors. Both the harvesting and its delicate subsequent handling have yielded exceptional results. The jury valued the constant scientific activity and work in R+D, in collaboration with different universities and the Spanish National Research Council, to research and create new products. Check out Algamar sea vegetables here, and see for yourself why this is an award-winning brand.
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Meeting The Maca Farmers
Kate recently went to Peru, and met some of the farmers that grow our Raw Living Maca. It's grown in a remote region of the northern highlands of Peru, five hours drive from the nearest major city, and at an altitude of 3,500m. Being able to farm and sell the maca provides a valuable source of income to farmers who have very limited education and opportunities. You can read all about it on her post here. There's more photos on our Instagram here. Buy Raw Living Maca here.
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Farmacy Giveaway!
Farmacy is our favourite restaurant in London. As well as being fully vegan and organic, they try wherever possible to source their fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers from their own biodynamic farm in Surrey. These are principles that are key to us here at Raw Living - not just eating plant-based, but organic and seasonal wherever possible. Fresh fruits and veggies should always be the mainstay of a healthy diet; all the lovely dried goods, pills and potions that we sell here are just the icing on the cake. So we are pleased to partner with Farmacy for a book giveaway. Go to @katemagic on Instagram for your chance to win two recipe books - the Farmacy book and Kate's newest book, The Magic Kitchen. Competition closes 22nd Aug 23. To celebrate the collaboration, Kate visited the Farmacy farm to learn more about biodynamic farming, and help harvest courgettes, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. Check out Kate's new book here. Visit Farmacy in Westbourne Grove for some of the best organic and vegan food in the UK!
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