jC’s Sweet Tea
jC’s Sweet Ice Tea was born out of a desire to share a little piece of Southern life with those who aren’t lucky enough to experience it on a daily basis. Ohio resident Jacquelyn Chapman is a Southerner at heart. She was born, raised and educated in South Carolina and Alabama. After relocating to Ohio, she would often go back home to Greenville, South Carolina for holidays, family reunions, and other special occasions. Great food and drink were staples of these gatherings. Her family’s authentic, Southern-style sweet tea made a big impression on Jackie and she decided that this tea was too good not to share with the world – at least her portion of it. And so the idea was born and Jackie began formulating her own unique recipe.
Jackie started modestly. She would make her rendition of the tea for church gatherings and special occasions. Then one day her pastor, Rev. Dr. Charles E. Booth, said to her, “Sister Jackie, you should be making this tea and selling it!” This was just the encouragement Jackie needed to start the process of producing her tea for distribution.
After ordering a sandwich at Creole Kitchen in Columbus, OH, she remarked to the restaurants owner and chef, Chef Henry Butcher, that the sandwich “would taste even better if I could wash it down with some of my sweet tea!” Chef Butcher asked Jackie to bring in some tea so he could try it. She did, and he loved it. Chef tested the tea with customers, and they loved it too. So jC’s Sweet Ice Tea became available for purchase at the Creole Kitchen.
jC’s Sweet Ice Tea has since gone through all the typical hurdles of becoming a small business – compliance testing, branding and marketing. It has been a lot of work, but our tea is now available in additional retailers and restaurants around Central Ohio. We are constantly growing with more products on the way, and availability planned at more locations. Despite this growth, jC’s Sweet Ice Tea remains true to its roots and its original purpose – to make a pure, all natural, taste of the South available to the masses .
JC’s Sweet Tea is now in the Columbus Division of Krogers, all Columbus Meijers, Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, Hills, Lucky’s, Wolfs Ridge Brewing Co., Creole Kitchen, Market 65, Angry Baker, Giant Eagle Market District and The Yard.
