A bit over 200 years ago, a group of guys made a pretty big splash about their tea. They made history. Revolutionary, to say the least. Even before then, tea has been a soul soother the world over.
Whether sipped from dainty cups, pinkies out accompanied with giggles; or whispered secrets or on hot, sunny days over ice, lazing on a front porch; or as spiritual satisfaction after an elaborate ceremony steeped in tradition, tea offers a quiet revelation.
Christina Berry, owner and chief tea officer of ‘Sippsi Good Tea in Jackson, has a desire to be a revelation.
“When I decided to start the business, I went to a tea conference to learn all that I could. At first, drinking tea out of my cup was just something that I did daily. But I wanted an understanding of the business of it,” said Berry, as she sipped a blended brew in her tea shop, located in the Pinnacle Building in downtown Jackson.
“I met this really great network of women in the tea industry. I knew I wanted to attract different consumers and bring us all together with tea. So one lady that I really connected with was willing to be my mentor. She encouraged me in naming my business and making it Mississippi-related, (and) even though seemingly everything in the state is sip this or sip that, I stuck with it.”
‘Sippsi Good Tea offers a wide variety of teas, from herbal to apothecary teas for wellness. There are green and black teas as well as bottled favorites with catchy names like Shade Tea Mechanic, a cranberry and orange flavor, and Berry Southern, a blackberry flavor. Add a locally baked pastry with your tea.
The selection includes Southern Hospitali-Tea and Wild Strawberry Fields, a caffeine-free Mississippi Blueberry and a green tea, among others. You can even blend your own.
The teas can be purchased in-house or online, and also at the 2 Mississippi Museums.
Berry said she’s pondering another kind of tea as well.
“I’ve had input from some customers that suggested I should do strawberry-raspberry lemonade, and also a blueberry. We’ll see. I invite everyone to come in, take your time and ‘Sipp deeply. You’re home.”
‘Sippsi Good Tea is located at 100 E. Capitol Street, Suite 106 in the Pinnacle Building in downtown Jackson.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Online: sippsigoodtea.com
