Precious Jones is the owner of MEplusTEA, a dispensary she founded in 2017 to integrate culture, spirituality, and wellness into a line of over 30 thoughtfully crafted loose-leaf tea blends.
Jones sells her tea on her website, Bear Hug Honey Company in downtown Athens, and at the Athens Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon starting March 2. Her teas can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to drink a blend of exquisite flavors. Anyone who wants to incorporate tea into their spiritual life.
Jones holds the quality of each blend to a high standard. All ingredients are grown by her and either locally sourced or organically purchased. The process of blending these ingredients to make tea is meticulous and measured.
“So a lot of people think they just gather the ingredients, sample them, and have a tasting party,” Jones said. “Not really, no. Proportion is important.”
The process for Jones to perfect his new blend takes about six months.
Her passion for perfection has garnered attention throughout Athens, especially at the Athens Farmers Market.
A customer challenged Jones when he requested a tea that could be smoked instead of CBD. As a result, she created the “Spirituality Tea” blend late last year.
This blend is loaded with soothing ingredients. It consists of spearmint base, chamomile, blue lotus, rose petals, and mugwort, a plant often used for medicinal purposes. This blend is intended to aid relaxation and meditation, which fits perfectly with her spirituality theme.
“Spirituality came about because that’s also how I give. Using tea in a more spiritual way than just a drink, more than just a drink, and just bringing people together,” Jones said.
She wakes up at 5:30 every morning, makes a cup of tea, and does a “tea meditation.” At this time, Jones spends time practicing her gratitude and planning her day.
“I’m a spiritualist,” Jones said. “Although I am completely outside of organized religion, rules, regulations, and all that, I believe…God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the foundation of our faith. Something like that.”
Cultural influences from around the world also influence MEplusTEA’s blends. Jones starts with loose-leaf tea bases from different cultures around the world and combines them with herbs she grows, locally sources, and organically purchased.
She sources her loose-leaf bases from family farms around the world. For example, rooibos tea is made on a family farm in South Africa, green and white tea are both made on a family farm in Japan, and chai is made on a family farm in Sri Lanka. is.
In addition to his line of loose-leaf teas, Jones has created a “TEApothecary” line that includes 12 teas with unique health benefits. “Herbal Pain Relief” blends are teas used to relieve arthritis and back pain.
Our “Peace and Love” tea is popular with our customers. Made with CBD and Kava for stress relief and relaxation.
Jones’ favorite teas include jasmine and “Creamy Earl,” both of which are rich in antioxidants and make the transition from coffee easier.
Looking to the future, Jones wants to focus more on the goals of the business she’s built rather than expanding MEplusTEA.
Since his Q&A with Red & Black in 2023, Jones has turned his one-acre backyard into a medicinal herb garden and is ready to start planting seeds this spring.
“Besides spirituality, I’m not really expanding at the moment, I’m just trying to build a foundation and go down the path of growth, like, what do I really want to do?” Jones said. Ta.