Editor’s Note: This feature is presented by our partners at Laird Superfood.
Laird Hamilton’s Superfood Creamer, like the man himself, has achieved legendary status in the surf world, and with good reason. A hearty blend of plant-based fats and other nutrients, it, along with his morning coffee, is often all that Laird consumes until the early afternoon, somehow keeping him fueled through all of his morning activities. In 2015, Laird and his wife, Gabby Reece founded Laird Superfood to share that super-powered concoction with the world.
The company has been astonishingly successful, making its way into the morning routines of people the world over. In the years since, LSF has expanded its offerings from coffee creamers to hydration powder, power bars, baking mixes and more, all with the core mission of getting people the nutrients they need to perform at the highest level. A staff favorite here at The Inertia is Laird’s Instafuel – pre-mixed coffee and creamer that just requires hot water to make a delicious latte. We asked Laird a bit more about how he came up with the superfood concoction, his favorite ingredients, and more.
Laird, on-site at one of his favorite coffee farm suppliers in Peru. Photo: Laird Superfood
When did you start tinkering with your coffee?
I started adding plant-based ingredients to my coffee years ago as a sort of daily ritual that could enhance my performance. I made it into a creamer simply because I couldn’t find anything on the market that met my needs – every creamer out there had certain ingredients I didn’t want to consume. Pretty quickly, I noticed my coffee not only tasted delicious, but also kept me full and energized for hours throughout the day. When I shared my coffee recipe with friends and family, everyone experienced similar results. My wife Gabby also had a few of her own superfood recipes to add that she used to boost her daily smoothie routine. I joke that she still doesn’t really drink coffee. It’s more like a hot chocolate with shots of espresso!
After perfecting our recipes, Gabby and I created Laird Superfood in 2015 on the belief that the foods you drink or eat should nourish and fuel you. Our mission is to offer high-quality products with plant-based ingredients to help elevate and fuel everyone’s daily routine without sacrificing enjoyment.
Laird, at Chicama, on that same trip to Peru. Photo: Laird Superfood.
What was the process you went through to decide on the current LSF recipe?
Developing my “personal recipe” resulted from a lot of tinkering. It wasn’t so much about trying out of the box ingredients as it was about sourcing simple and quality ingredients with few to no additives. In my kitchen, that was much easier than when we scaled up as a company, but we have held firm to our strict ingredient guardrails, even if they create extra challenges. In both sports and in business, I believe there is a way to do things the right way. Typically it can present more obstacles, but it pays off in the long run. We’ve always sourced our functional ingredients responsibly and sustainably from the beginning. We believe the foods we consume should be good for both people and the planet.
Any strange or interesting ingredients you’ve tried that worked?
I’d say the most breakthrough ingredient we used that really worked is Turmeric. I believe in the ingredient and use our Superfood Turmeric Creamer in everything from my coffee to savory dishes. People are always surprised at how amazing it can taste in their morning cup. Turmeric is a superfood that has been used forever and is an essential part of so many cultures’ favorite dishes. Putting it in the creamer and having it taste so great was a wonderful surprise, too.
Other superfood ingredients we use include cacao, coconut, and functional mushroom blends. Inspired by our active lifestyles and quest for the best, cleanest foods, all of our products are made from functional, all-natural ingredients. None of the ingredients we use are out of the ordinary, we simply focus on using only clean, natural ingredients. Simple can oftentimes be the most challenging place to land on.
Laird and Gabby take a moment from their busy lives to share their morning coffee ritual. Photo: Laird Superfood.
How much of a difference does correct nutrition make for performance?
Everything in life is interconnected – nutrition, breathing, fitness, mental health – and we want to support nutrition with foods our customers can trust. Good nutrition enhances athletic performance, but it’s also essential to fuel anyone’s day. Let’s not kid ourselves. The “everyday person” may be working the hardest with the least amount of support! The balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in food provides calories to fuel performance and energize your body, so it’s important to get it right.
Besides the original superfood creamer, you have lots of new flavors and products coming out, any personal favorites?
We just launched our all-new Plant-Based Protein Bar with Adaptogens, which is so cool – it’s functional fuel in the palm of your hand. Our bars are made with 10 grams of plant-based protein from peas, hemp seeds, and pumpkin seeds, six grams of dietary fiber, and all nine essential amino acids at naturally occurring amounts. Plus, we added adaptogens, chaga, and lion’s mane extracts for an added boost of nutrients. Obviously no natural or artificial flavors and they taste great. These bars have been a fun labor of love.
Of course, coffee is at the core of our brand, and our coffee blends are a personal favorite of mine. From our Peruvian blends to our Focus blends with functional mushrooms, we have a wide variety of coffee options. Our coffees range from K-Cups to ground coffee, whole bean coffee, and instant coffee mixes. My first passion was great coffee, so we have always made sure to use best-in-class blends.
Laird Superfood Instafuel is a staff favorite here at The Inertia. It also comes in chai, matcha, and unsweetened varieties. Photo: Laird Superfood.
What’s your favorite benefit of adding functional mushrooms to your diet?
Functional mushrooms are incredible. They contribute to overall wellness and performance, and also help keep you fueled throughout the day. They’ve been used in Eastern medicine for hundreds of years and in a variety of ways. My favorite benefit is their contribution to my total wellness – not just one specific physical need – which is why they are prevalent in many of our products across the board. When looking for a specific benefit, I particularly like to use our Mushroom Botanical Blend “Stress Less.” We all have a lot coming at us during our days, and for me, it’s about compiling the best habits I can to support myself and my health.
I can’t share riding a wave with everyone, but being able to share any of the Laird Superfood products with the world gives me a lot of satisfaction. There’s something fun about people telling you how they like or use a product you created. It’s truly expanded my community.
To learn more about Laird and Gabby’s mission, or to try some of their awesome products yourself, visit LairdSuperfood.com or find them on Amazon.
