“Seeking my purpose through healing.” That’s how IrieWatas Wellness founder Jermaine Lawrence describes the inspiration behind his business. Founded in 2021, IrieWatas Wellness grew out of Lawrence’s deep cultural and personal connection to natural healing. As the child of Jamaican parents, he grew up in a household where food and drink were seen as life-giving. “Roots, herbs, fruits, and teas were part of everyday wellness — not just for taste, but for balance and vitality,” he shares. “That heritage is the foundation of IrieWatas Wellness. We see juicing as a modern extension of those traditions: bringing natural, plant-based healing to today’s lifestyle while keeping the cultural spirit alive.”

IrieWatas Wellness brings something unique to Baltimore — cold-pressed juices infused with Jamaican culture and wellness traditions. The business serves fresh, raw, nutrient-dense juices with bold tropical and herbal flavors. Drinks like Beetiful (with beets, berries, and burdock root), Likkle Green (with apples, cucumber, kale, and cilantro), and Turks Lagoon (with spirulina, coconut water, and soursop) stand out not only for their taste but for their health benefits. “We’re not just selling juice,” Lawrence explains. “We’re offering an authentic cultural wellness experience.”

Like many in the Caribbean and Black communities, Lawrence’s family has experienced diabetes and high blood pressure, and those experiences influence every recipe he creates. “We intentionally create juices without added sugars or artificial ingredients,” he says. “We focus on natural herbs, fruits, and vegetables that support heart health, balance blood sugar, and energize the body. It’s a way to honor our family’s experiences while helping others live healthier.”

Several of IrieWatas’s blends are crafted with those needs in mind. “Beetiful is a heart-healthy blend that supports circulation and natural detox. Likkle Green is refreshing and blood-sugar-friendly, and Turks Lagoon revitalizes the body with tropical ingredients that hydrate and boost overall wellness,” Lawrence explains.

In the coming years, Lawrence plans to expand IrieWatas Wellness from bottled juices to a full wellness brand. That includes opening a juice bar, offering wellness workshops, and partnering with local health and cultural organizations. “Growth for IrieWatas Wellness isn’t just about selling more juice,” he says. “It’s about deepening our impact and becoming a hub where culture, health, and joy intersect.”

Lawrence was also one of eight entrepreneurs selected for the Greater Baltimore Urban League’s Restaurant Accelerator Program (RAP), sponsored by the Pepsi Foundation, where he received a $10,000 grant from the National Urban League to help strengthen his business operations and expand community outreach.

“Our message is simple,” he adds. “Wellness is vibrant, cultural, and joyful. Every sip of IrieWatas is designed to nourish the body, uplift the spirit, and celebrate heritage. We want people to know that choosing health doesn’t mean giving up flavor or culture — it means embracing them more fully.”

To contact Owner Jermaine Lawrence, email iriewatas.wellness@gmail.com.

This feature is part of a collaboration between The Baltimore Times and the Greater Baltimore Urban League. Over the next few months, The Baltimore Times will spotlight businesses that participated in GBUL’s Restaurant Accelerator Program (RAP), sponsored by the Pepsi Foundation. Through the program, eight businesses were awarded a total of $80,000 in grant funding and received free business coaching to strengthen their operations and community impact. For more information about RAP, visit GBUL.org.