Our Southern Fruit Tea Story
Come on in, sit back, and listen to our southern fruit tea story. We may have started selling Mimi Jo’s Fruit Tea in 2016, but our fruit tea story goes back much further than that, all the way back to when I was only knee-high to a grasshopper.
When I was a little girl, I loved helping my grandmothers make tea. Back then, making tea for your family was a huge part of family Sunday dinners. We didn’t buy it from the store; we made it at home. In fact, we sunned our tea right on the porch. I cherish those moments I spent with my grandmother more than anything.
Now, let’s fast forward a little bit to the fall of 2016. My family just moved into a new home and decided to participate in the annual neighborhood garage sale. When we told our neighbor, they said that no one ever came down to our side of the neighborhood. So, my precious kids and I came up with the idea of having a fruit tea stand to entice them to walk a little bit further to our house.
Boy, did that work! Soon, the whole neighborhood was wandering over to find out what the fuss was all about. And weren’t they surprised when they realized it was for southern fruit tea! Well, one thing led to another, and before you knew it, we had people asking to place orders of our family fruit tea recipe so they could share it with their families. That’s when we knew that the world was in need of a delicious and refreshing homemade fruit tea.
And that’s it. That’s how Mimi Jo’s Fruit Tea was born. It’s a beautiful story when you think about it. A family tradition that turned into a female and minority-owned business. It’s an idea that was inspired by my own children, that I am blessed enough to get to share with the world. Now, how beautiful is that?
Our Mission
At Mimi Jo’s, our goal is to supply the most flavorful and refreshing fruit tea imaginable. We aim to share the sacred, southern tradition of a cherished family recipe, passed down from generation to generation, while we supply the freshest and most expertly balanced flavors the south has to offer.
Our Vision
Dream – We dream of a world where Mimi Jo’s Fruit Tea is a household staple across the country.
Aspire – We aspire to share the bold and refreshing flavors of a timeless, southern legacy with those that have not yet experienced the beauty and grace that can come from a bottle of fruit tea.
Community – We strive to help and enrich our community with jobs, support, and love.
Teach – We teach the next generation that anything is possible in this world as long as you dream big and work hard.
Legacy – We work to leave a legacy for those that come after us in hopes that they remember that life is all about honoring your roots to help grow your wings.
Southern Fruit Tea Values
Tradition
Mimi Jo’s Fruit Tea is built upon generations of tea making. The love we have for our family is the foundation for the recipe. It’s the reason we do what we do. We know that by passing down the timeless traditions learned from our grandparents, we are helping them live on forever.
Quality
It’s no secret that we aim to make the best fruit tea that has ever existed. That’s why we use only quality ingredients. We make sure that every batch is something we would be proud to serve at our next family cook out. Why on earth would we do anything else?
Transparency
We won’t be happy until you can see through us like an old screen door. That’s why Mimi Jo’s promises to be transparent in every aspect of the way we conduct business. There is nothing worse than being led on or lied to. As a matter of fact, that’s something we just won’t stand for.
Community
Love your neighbor as yourself; sure, it’s in the Bible, and it’s something that we take to heart. We believe in living for one another and supporting each other. Only through a sense of community will we gain true fulfillment and happiness.
Meet the Woman Behind Our Southern Fruit Tea
You’ve heard our southern fruit tea story. So now you’re probably wondering, “Who is the woman behind Mimi Jo’s Fruit Tea?” Well, meet Nerissa Rollins, the powerhouse behind the best fruit tea you’ll ever taste.
As a Nashville native, Nerissa never imagined that her cherished childhood memories of making tea punch and sun tea with her grandmothers would lead her to an exciting future as a female and minority owned businesswoman. And yet, here she is. She’s chasing her dreams and making the world a better place, one glass of fruit tea at a time.
As a working mom, Nerissa knows the value of a hard day’s work. She has turned a family recipe into a business, all while working her usual day job and taking care of her husband and three children. The love that she has for her family is present in everything she does. In fact, the name Mimi Jo’s comes from the first two letters of her three children’s names!
It’s no surprise that Nerissa was raised by strong and amazing women. She fondly looks up to her grandmothers and mother. They instilled in her the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and tenacity. They demonstrated the importance of operating in your truth and reassured her that she can achieve anything that she sets her mind to. It’s no wonder that Nerissa grew into such an enterprising and brilliant woman.
When Nerissa isn’t working hard as a ‘mompreneur,’ she can usually be found cooking for her family, watching documentaries about fun travel destinations, learning new and interesting things from podcasts and books, or relaxing near the water.
You've read our story. Now try some Southern Fruit Tea.
Now that you know why we do what we do, why don’t you try some delicious Mimi Jo’s Fruit Tea for yourself.
Go on, you know you want to.