The Asheville Tea Company, based in North Carolina, is preparing to reopen a new facility this autumn, two years after its original building was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The business was kept alive through a cross-border partnership with Sarjesa, a tea company located over 2,300 miles away in Calgary, Canada.
Jessie Dean, who co-founded Asheville Tea Company in 2016, and Alexandra Sangster of Sarjesa, made a pact in the summer of 2024 to support each other's businesses if needed. This promise became crucial when Hurricane Helene caused the Swannanoa River to rise more than 20ft, washing away the Asheville Tea Company building in September 2024.
Within a month of the disaster, Sarjesa's factory in Calgary began blending, processing, and packaging all of Asheville Tea Company's tea. This arrangement continued for nearly two years, navigating challenges such as tariffs and an uncertain economic environment.
The Asheville Tea Company lost all its inventory, equipment, and materials in the hurricane. As they were leasing the facility, insurance did not cover their flood losses, and they have not received federal relief funds. However, community donations and grants covered approximately 50% of their losses.