4 Tea Companies Founded by Black Women

Starting a tea ritual is an excellent way of incorporating meditation into an everyday task. The process of waiting for your water to boil, watching your tea steep, noticing the gentle herbal and floral aromas that spill out from your cup, and feeling the warmth on your hands when you’re pulling it closer for a sip add intentionality and awareness to your routine. Tea rituals encourage you to sit in stillness and appreciate the delicacy of your brew. This February, we encourage you to support small businesses and the women behind them by purchasing from one of these Black-owned tea companies.

Ivy’s Tea Co.

Add flare to your tea with a Hip-Hop inspired blend from Shanae, an herbalist who is looking to make the tea industry more inclusive and accepting. Choose from loose leafs like a cool peppermint blend called C.R.E.A.M and a spicy and warming turmeric teasan called Yella, and pair them with an infused honey to make your tea time pop. They’re as good for your body as they are fun, which could give you the energy you need for an invigorating vinyasa class after your meditation.

Just Add Honey

While looking around for the perfect tea, Brandi Shelton settled on making it herself. She takes ingredients from around the world to give a delicious twist to the south’s tea tradition. Whether you’re looking for a kick of caffeine in the morning with the All Black Everything Gift Set, starting a detox with Calm Cleanse, or want a fruity cold brew while you’re having a meal, Just Add Honey has got you covered.

KimBees

Kimberly Brown set out to make the finest drinks at affordable prices. She’s been successful in that endeavor, winning both the North American Tea Championship award in 2009 and the Supplier of the Year award in 2013 with a recommendation from Maya Angelou. Shop collections of bottled and boxed teas to find the beverage that you’re looking for, and pair it with a gourmet peanut brittle made by her mom, Avenell Brown.

Lady Rose Specialty Teas

Dr. N Battle created herbal teas for a wide range of self-care practices. Sip blends specific to boosting your immune system or fortifying your hair, or treat your body with an herbaceous yoni steam or bath soak. These natural teas are for the mind, body, and soul. Plus, a portion of every sale goes to local and national scholarship efforts that support Black girls and girls of color in underrepresented academic fields and underserved communities.