Frequently Asked Questions

Nature is abundant with foods that nourish the body, and shelves are lined with supplements formulated to improve your health. Functional foods are the best of these two worlds – foods made of real and effective ingredients that benefit body and mind BEYOND their nutritional value. These include ingredients that stimulate digestion, calm the nervous system, increase energy and enhance cognitive function.

Adaptogens are a group of powerful botanicals (including certain herbs and fungi) that work with your body to help increase its resistance to – or “adapt” to – the effects of physical, mental and emotional stress.

Adaptogens also help keep the body operating in "homeostasis" (an optimal, balanced state) by supporting organ and system function. When one or more systems in the body are either weak or overactive, adaptogens “adapt” their actions: either upregulating or downregulating the affected system as needed to help bring it back into a balanced state (much like a thermostat helps bring room temperature back to an optimal level).

Persistent stress can wreak havoc on your body, notably on energy levels and your digestive, immune and reproductive systems, which are in large part controlled by your adrenal system.

Think of adaptogens like a thermostat that regulates important hormones (instead of temperature). As modulators, they help manage the body’s stress response by bringing adrenal hormone output back into balance, much like a thermostat regulates temperature, keeping it from dropping too low or going too high. Because of this moderating effect, it’s beneficial to consume adaptogens daily to strengthen the body’s resilience, and not just when you’re experiencing a high level of stress.

Learn more about stress and adaptogens here.

We are proud to use some of the highest quality certified organic or wildcrafted medicinal mushrooms available on the market. They are carefully sourced from mountain regions of China, where growers have been cultivating mushrooms for generations (in fact, China is responsible for over 85% of worldwide mushroom production).

The mushrooms in our products are produced by real people on a farm, not in a lab. They’re grown sustainably without agricultural chemicals, in greenhouses with natural lighting and fresh air flow, and using substrate materials native to each particular mushroom -- no sterile laboratories, and no unnatural substrates made of cereal grains or rice.

Note that many products produced in North America are not made from mushrooms but rather mycelium, the mushroom’s root system, which is grown on grains. Since the grain can’t be separated from the mycelium, mycelium products are significantly comprised of starch while containing far less of the active compounds, including beta-glucans. We only use the mushroom (fruiting body) in all our products rather than using the mycelium.

Mushrooms are tested prior to being exported from China for toxins, pesticides, heavy metals, mold, yeast and other microbes, and again by third-party laboratories in North America for these compounds and for medicinal compound levels of beta-glucans.

For example, our sustainably grown organic mushroom extracts are sourced from farms in the mountain regions of China, where growers have been cultivating mushrooms for generations. Our wild-crafted Pine Pollen is gathered in the remote Yunnan Province in Southwestern China at the edge of the Himalayan Mountains. Our Mucuna Pruriens extract, Ashwagandha extract and Moringa, key herbs in Ayurvedic medicine, are all from India. And our sourcing practices extend right across our product lines, including our Chocolates. The delicious, organic Cacao used in our bars is directly traded from farmers in the Dominican Republic.

Find out more about the benefits of our superfood and functional ingredients here!

It’s important to remember that as with any good habit, the benefits of adaptogens are generally experienced after consistent, prolonged use, as the powerful ingredients in our functional chocolates nourish your body over time. People do experience certain calming, energizing and other sensations when consuming our chocolates even for the first time, but note that these physiological effects may be due to the other nutrient-dense and functional ingredients in our blends (for example, calming cacao).

Our Chocolates are not certified organic, but that are made with only certified organic or wild-crafted ingredients.

Nuts, Sesame, Gluten, Wheat, Soy, Dairy

All of our products are considered vegan, and the ingredients used to manufacture our products do not contain nuts, sesame, gluten, wheat, soy or dairy. Some of our products contain coconut.

Our Chocolates are made in a facility that is not free of the foregoing allergens.

Mushrooms

People with mushroom allergies should be cautious when consuming our Superblends that contain mushroom extracts. These extracts could contain very small amounts of salicylates & glutamate. You should talk to your healthcare provider before trying functional mushrooms if you have a mushroom allergy.

Our products are all made with ingredients that are permitted to consume if following the principles of Kashrut. However, our ingredients and products are not certified kosher.

Our products are all made with ingredients that do not contain gluten; however, they are not certified gluten-free. Our Chocolates are made in a facility that is not free of gluten.

Our Chocolates are vegan-friendly. None of our ingredients are derived from an animal.

Our Chocolates are made in a facility that manufactures other products using dairy.

While we cannot make any guarantees, we do take steps to avoid cross-contamination, including full clean-up of the areas and equipment used for our production before running our products.

Never!

Chocolates have a shelf life of 18 months from their production date.

For all products, please check the “best before” date stamped onto your pouch.

We recommend storing in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. While chocolate naturally has an excellent shelf life, keep in mind that we do not use any preservatives and the environment and conditions in which you store your chocolate will affect its stability and freshness.

JOYÀ’s Functional Chocolates are expertly formulated to maximize both flavor and the bioavailability of the adaptogens and other superherbs used. We use carefully sourced ingredients, modern science, herbal medicine and the deep-rooted knowledge of ancient traditions (including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda) to create synergistic, potent products.

Each product is also formulated using a unique, two-step approach that we call “Functional Squared”. We combine carefully chosen adaptogens with other functional ingredients that together, support wellness holistically:

Step 1 - Adaptogens: each product's adaptogenic foundation helps balance your hormonal & nervous systems. Because we can't think, digest, move or function at our best when we're out of balance.

Step 2 - Complementary Functional Ingredients: these ingredients deliver additional functional support by nurturing, stimulating or strengthening specific systems, as the body requires.

Read more about functional ingredients and adaptogens here.

Great question, as using pure ingredients — and even ingredients with functional benefits — doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be effective!

Our chocolates are:

• formulated by health experts- guided by centuries-old principles of herbal + traditional medicine
• crafted with concentrated, potent botanical extracts (rather than simply whole ground herbs) that work synergistically to provide each blend’s benefits
• contain an effective dose of each medicinal ingredient

It's important to note that just like you need to exercise consistently in order to get fit and see results, similarly, functional herbs have a cumulative effect in the body and require consistent use in order to reap maximum benefit!

JOYÀ’s Functional Chocolates are expertly formulated to maximize both flavor and the bioavailability of the adaptogens and other superherbs used. We use carefully sourced ingredients, modern science, herbal medicine and the deep-rooted knowledge of ancient traditions (including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda) to create synergistic, potent functional blends.

Each product is also formulated using a unique, two-step approach that we call “Functional Squared”. We combine carefully chosen adaptogens with other functional ingredients that together, support wellness holistically:

Step 1 - Adaptogens: each product's adaptogenic foundation helps balance your hormonal & nervous systems. Because we can't think, digest, move or function at our best when we're out of balance.

Step 2 - Complementary Functional Ingredients: these ingredients deliver additional functional support by nurturing, stimulating or strengthening specific systems, as the body requires.

Read more about functional ingredients and adaptogens here.

Discount codes can be entered at checkout in the discount code section.

Only one discount is valid per order. If you forget to enter your discount code at checkout, just email us at support@joya.ca and we’ll be happy to apply the code retroactively!

Note: if you are using a discount code, make sure that the total order value after entering the code is at least $45 (before tax) in the US or $85 (before tax) in Canada to avoid shipping costs.

Details on how to track your online order will be included in your order status email. This is sent when your package has shipped, typically within 1 business day after you place your order. If you can’t find your order status email, please contact us at support@joya.ca and we’ll send you your tracking information.

Whoops! Contact us immediately at 1-833-477-7387.

We can’t guarantee that your shipping information will be updated before your package has shipped, but we’ll do our best to catch it in time.

Support calls are not always answered on weekends. We will contact you as soon as possible once we receive your request for support.

If your package gets shipped with an incorrect address and gets lost in transit, we are not responsible for shipping a replacement package to you.

If your package gets shipped with an incorrect address and is returned to our warehouse by the carrier, it is your responsibility to pay for shipping costs if you would like the package to be resent. Alternatively, we are happy to refund the order, minus a 5% restocking fee.

Please ensure to enter the complete and accurate shipping address. For example, include a unit number if applicable, and include either a street address OR a P.O. box number.

JOYÀ is not responsible for shipments that are lost, delayed or returned to us as a result of incorrect or incomplete shipping information, failed delivery attempts or being unclaimed from a postal outlet or other mail holding centre.

Unfortunately, we’re unable to add items once your order has been placed. If you wish to remove an item in your order or cancel your order, please contact us at 1-833-477-7387 and we’ll do our best to make the change before the order has shipped.

Please note that orders cannot be changed or cancelled once shipped.

Shipping rates are calculated as a flat rate based on the weight of your package, the shipping method selected, and the region where your package will be shipped.

Yes! In Canada, for all orders over $85 (before tax) you will receive free standard shipping.

Note: if you are using a discount code, make sure the total value after entering the code is at least $85 (before tax) to avoid shipping costs.

Our average standard (ground) shipping time within Canada is 1-7 business days. All orders $85 and over (before tax) within Canada receive free standard shipping. When checking out, you will also have the option of selecting expedited shipping for an additional cost if you just can’t wait to get your goods!

Yes, we do ship to P.O. Boxes! Orders will be shipped via Canada Post.

At this time our products are only available for shipment to Canadian addresses.

We want you to be completely satisfied with your JOYÀ products. If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, please contact us at support@joya.ca and we’ll find a solution that works for you, whether exchange, refund or otherwise!

We’re sorry to hear this! Please get in touch with us at support@joya.ca .

We're incredibly proud of our products and we want them to bring you everyday JOY always. If for whatever reason you're not satisfied we'll refund your order (or replace it with another product if you prefer)