We met some lovely folks on our learning journey in June where we spent four to five days in the Applegate Valley of Oregon coming together with dozens and dozens of like-minded companies to tackle the challenges of biodiversity, climate change, poverty among others. There we met Jessie Dean and Aviva Weissman of the Asheville Tea Company. Earthy, focused, intentional by day, tambourine-grooving back-up singers by night. Joy filled every minute of every day on the learning journey. I can only imagine that they settled in upon their return to Asheville and got back the business of making tea before Hurricane Helene swept into town and literally lifted up their building, which sat by the Swannanoa River and carried it away. With everything but their spirt wiped out, they are rebuilding step by step.
When we returned, we were so inspired by our connection that we decided to purchase one hundred boxes of their 15-pack Tulsi Rose tea to share with our friends around the holiday season. Now that holiday is here, we’re thinking this: Rather than gifting friends why not sell the teas and provide 100% of the funds to Asheville to help them rebuild. As an added means of supporting our friends, we’re asking you to pay $19.99 rather than $15.95 per box. In that way we can raise $2,000 over the next few months.
Donate here and purchase some tea.
We invite you to add a purchase of Asheville Tea Company’s Tulsi Rose Tea available right here for a limited time.
Jessie Dean, founder, (right)
Here’s Jessie Dean, the founder of Asheville Tea Company sharing a little of her story:
We work directly with farmers in the Southeastern US who use sustainable and regenerative growing methods for as many of our herbs and botanicals as possible.
Growing up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, I remember drinking freshly-brewed iced tea with my grandmother, brewed hot and poured over ice. You could hear the ice cubes cracking as we added our slice of lemon and enjoyed this glass alongside the ripest freshly-picked tomato sandwich.
In the fall, I’d watch autumn apples being cooked in huge cast iron vats in the mountains with cinnamon and cloves, for the freshest apple butter. I’d smell baked, malty tobacco curing in the fields of Eastern North Carolina and salt air, cedar and myrtle leaf on the coast. There’s this evocative sense of place right here in those simple memories and experiences of food, herbs and plants that has always both inspired and grounded me.
As I traveled to other parts of the world, I became fascinated by new flavors and the way that they connect us to the places we inhabit. Unique botanicals and teas in particular fully fascinate me. Like drinking Yerba Mate in Argentina, Coca tea in Peru, milky black tea in England, Australia and New Zealand and fresh fruit or cacao and chili infusions in Mexico.
Drinking tea and herbs is a deeply rooted part of daily life in so many parts of the world. And often, the botanicals brewed were grown in that region and hold a distinct terroir, a compelling sense of place.
The mountains of Southern Appalachia around Asheville are so rich with plant life, pristine water, herbal traditions and local small farms. This inspired us to create Asheville Tea Company! We launched with a mission to work directly with farmers right here in the Southeast to celebrate the rich flavors of our mountains in the same way that tea and herbal infusions are enjoyed around the world. We create, blend and produce our craft teas right here in Asheville, NC with an amazing TEAm of passionate folks, infusing love and care into every product. And we now partner with over twelve regional farmers to highlight incredibly fresh local ingredients in every cup of Asheville Tea Company tea.
We work with over a dozen incredible farms in North Carolina and Virginia for many of our tea ingredients, and this list continues to grow as we build new relationships. Click this link to find out more about the regional farms that we work with to source ingredients for your favorite teas. Our growing focus is on working with farmers utilizing regenerative agricultural practices so that we are not only sourcing sustainably but also helping make a real positive impact on the land around us
There are so many botanicals growing right here in our collective backyard that allow us to celebrate local flavor. We blend with ingredients like marshmallow root and leaf from Kestrel Herb Farm in Leicester, NC to create super fresh Farm-to-Teacup blends. We let the real herbs shine through by never adding fake flavorings to our brews.
In the long-term, we believe that building a shorter supply chain right here by sourcing ingredients directly from regional farmers builds value and wealth in our community, reduces carbon footprint within the tea industry, preserves farmland and brews a uniquely delicious cup of tea.
We hope every single cup of tea will be an experience of real local flavor and the vibe of Blue Ridge Mountains.
~ Jessie Dean, founder