Savannah Tea Cocktail Co - Vernell Stewart

January 2026: Rising Tide Issue 12

As we enter "dry January", we interviewed Vernell Stewart of the Savannah Tea Cocktail Co. to learn more about how to enjoy this popular drink - both with and without booze. 

Savannah Tea Cocktail Co. started out of a love for Savannah itself—its hospitality, its creativity, and the way this city shows up hard for craft cocktails, craft beer, and memorable experiences. Watching the bar scene evolve and seeing how much visitors want something that feels local and intentional sparked the idea: tea doesn’t have to stop at the cup.

What we offer are tea-forward cocktail mixers and blends designed specifically for cocktails and zero-proof drinks—layered, balanced, and built to work behind the bar or at home. Each blend is inspired by Savannah’s flavor, mood, and rhythm, giving people a way to taste the city in a glass.

What makes us unique is that we sit at the intersection of tea, cocktails, and experience. We’re not just selling a product—we’re creating a moment. Whether it’s a tourist looking for something distinctly Savannah or a local bartender wanting a fresh twist, Savannah Tea Cocktail Co. brings something unexpected, rooted in place, and easy to enjoy.

What’s your REAL JOB title?
Mad Hatter-in-Chief - steeped in all the roles right now: blending flavors, building the brand, handling ops, telling the story, fixing what breaks, and occasionally playing bartender. If it touches tea, cocktails, or getting the idea to market, that’s my hat to wear.

What would surprise us about your business?
What surprises people most is realizing how young tea culture still is in America, especially when you look globally. Some of the world’s biggest conversations and decisions have happened in tea houses abroad, yet here tea is often treated as an afterthought. Running this business means helping shift that mindset—showing tea as something social, layered, and worthy of a seat at the table, especially in modern cocktail and hospitality culture.

What’s the most FUN thing about your day job as a business owner?
Getting to experiment. I love playing with flavors, testing new blends, and seeing someone’s reaction when they taste something unexpected and it just works. That moment when tea meets cocktail culture and clicks, that’s the fun part.

How does your business align with innovation, sustainability, or community engagement?
Innovation for us is rethinking how tea shows up, moving it beyond the mug and into cocktails, mocktails, and experiences. We focus on small-batch production, intentional sourcing, and creating products that reduce waste by being versatile behind the bar or at home. Community-wise, Savannah is the inspiration and the heartbeat; local bars, events, visitors, and creatives all shape what we do.

At Salacia, we’re all about relaxation. What does relaxation look like for you?
Relaxation is a well-made drink at the end of the day, good conversation, and not rushing the moment. It’s sitting back, taking a sip, and letting the day slow down, preferably somewhere with a breeze, smooth music and good eats.

This month Vernell is offering a tea cocktail sampler to all of our Southern Charm Subscription Box subscribers. Check it out here.