An Unexpected Gem

Sea moss, waist beads, bracelets, and other jewelry pieces. These are the unique items you’ll find at Kimberlalei Co., one of the stalls facing the splash pad on Sunday mornings at the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller. The woman behind the products, Kimberly Jenkins, is as charming and intriguing as what she offers.

Waist beads have adorned women in many West African cultures for centuries as a way to reclaim culture and connect to heritage; they also promote body positivity. The waist beads at Kimberlalei are colorful and distinctive, as are the other jewelry pieces, all made by Jenkins with care. She also sells a product you may not be familiar with: sea moss.

More Than Meets the Eye

Sea moss, also known as Irish moss or red seaweed, is an algae that grows in the Caribbean, off the coast of Ireland, and in parts of Vietnam. Jenkins discovered sea moss while seeking health solutions; she found it to be a powerful supplement.

“My business began in 2021 when I was using sea moss for my own health journey,” she says. Born with sickle cell anemia, Jenkins says sea moss improved her health significantly. The most noticeable change was a reduction in pain that allowed her to stop daily pain medication and decrease hospitalizations. “During the mid-pandemic, I was a teacher too immunocompromised to return to school, and the district I worked for didn’t allow work accommodations for people with disabilities. I had no choice but to pivot.”

Because sea moss had improved her quality of life, Jenkins wanted to help others access it. “I wanted to make it available to as many people as I could, so the idea came to me to put it in the markets in Austin,” she says.

As a former teacher, Jenkins takes an educational approach, since many customers have never heard of sea moss. If you stop by her stall, she’ll happily explain how it helped her. Jenkins says sea moss contains 92 of the 102 minerals the body needs to function optimally. She notes it can help with high blood pressure, diabetes, pain, and inflammation; it also has antibacterial and antiviral properties and may aid skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as gut and thyroid health.

Jenkins began selling at Mueller when the market moved to Branch Pavilion in summer 2021. “There was a waiting list, but no one at the Mueller market—or any market in Austin at the time—was offering sea moss products. I took that opportunity to introduce it to the market directors and then to the market community.”

Her timing paid off. She’s been at Mueller ever since, selling to customers who trust her firsthand experience. In addition to Mueller, she sells at events across Central Texas and online nationwide at kimberlalei.com. She offers four wildcrafted sea moss varieties: gold, purple, green, and a blend of all three. Caribbean sea moss naturally grows green and purple, but prolonged sun exposure can fade those colors to gold. Green and purple sea moss are harvested from deeper water and shade-dried to preserve color. Green sea moss contains chlorophyll; purple sea moss contains anthocyanins (antioxidants found in darker fruits and vegetables); gold sea moss retains essential minerals and vitamins but has fewer plant compounds due to sun exposure.

On her business name, Jenkins says, “My name is Kimberly, and I was on a hit television show in the early 2000s called “The Parkers.” In one episode, the main character, Kim, called herself Kimberlale. I made it my Instagram name, and it became my identity. I guess you can say it stuck.”

Jenkins is also the founder of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Killeen and Fort Cavazos. She has worn many hats and continues to pursue better health. We’re fortunate to have her distinctive products available at Mueller.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a retired teacher, published author, and freelance writer.