Brooklyn Tea

Brooklyn Tea is a non-alcoholic beverage business co-founded by married couple Jamila Wright and Alfonso Wright. Jamila Wright, a Spelman College graduate, pursued a master's degree in early childhood education and worked as a Dean of Students before co-founding Brooklyn Tea. Alfonso Wright, a lifelong entrepreneur, grew up in a Jamaican household where tea was culturally significant, and he later became a certified tea sommelier. He also worked in retail sales and marketing and gained experience in a tea shop. Both founders had entrepreneurial aspirations from a young age. The business originated as an online retailer in 2017. Its first brick-and-mortar tea room opened in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in late 2018 or early 2019. The motivation behind Brooklyn Tea was to make high-quality tea more accessible, particularly to communities often underserved by wellness spaces, and to celebrate tea's healing properties while reflecting the vibrant culture of Bed-Stuy. The company also aims to connect people through tea rituals, promote wellness, and embrace diversity. Brooklyn Tea offers over 50 to 60 varieties of tea, including loose-leaf teas, pyramid sachets, and ready-to-drink beverages. Their teas are responsibly sourced from global regions such as Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Kenya, South Africa, and Taiwan. The product range includes black, green, oolong, white, pu-erh, herbal, and rooibos teas. Popular flavors include Cream Earl Grey, Kyoto Cherry Rose Sencha, Ginger Turmeric, Vanilla Rooibos, Well-kanda, All A Dream, and Golden Chai. They also offer teas specifically curated for purposes such as sleep, calm, energy, and focus, and sell teaware. Their tea rooms provide pastries and a vegan menu. Brooklyn Tea has expanded its distribution beyond its initial online presence and flagship Brooklyn tea room. It operates a second brick-and-mortar location in Atlanta, which opened in 2021 as the company's first franchise. Its products are sold at major retailers like Target and Wegmans, with availability in over 100 Target stores as of September 2026. A significant milestone occurred on January 30, 2026, with the opening of a new concept at JFK Airport's Terminal 4, marking the first time a Black-owned tea brand has operated within any airport in the United States. The business received an SBA Community Advantage loan and won $10,000 at the Brooklyn Public Library