Big Heart Tea Co. Minty Blue was just featured on Whole Foods Market 2025 Trend Report! And I can’t even begin to tell you what this means to me, but I’ll try. In 2016, I was at a real crossroads with my tea business. Back then, it was still called Retrailer Tea (horrible name in hindsight, but hey, we sold tea out of a trailer, so it made sense to nobody but me). The world felt so divided, my social feeds were filled with negativity, and on top of that, I had a 2-year-old at home. Farmers markets weren’t cutting it anymore as a revenue stream, and I saw two options—close the business or go big. That’s when I saw Whole Foods’ 2017 Market Trend Report featuring tulsi and turmeric—two key ingredients in our Cup of Sunshine blend. I thought, “We’re on trend. Maybe I know what I’m doing.” So, I began crafting a plan to take my small, local tea company national. I renamed the company Big Heart because of tea’s natural power to bring people together and started doing some very DIY market research—literally hanging out in the tea aisle at Whole Foods. I spent hours observing the brands on the shelves and quickly realized that while all the teas were high-quality and value-based, none of the packaging spoke to me as a millennial who loves beautiful branding. So, I decided to create a tea company that spoke directly to its customers through both the quality of its ingredients and the design of its packaging. Here’s where the doubts came in. I told all my friends and family that our value prop was brand, and while they supported me, nobody fully understood what I meant. They couldn’t quite see the vision, but that was okay, because I did. I went all in, and in March 2017, we launched Big Heart Tea Co. Almost immediately, we started filling orders from early market adopters, specialty retailers, and small businesses. In a crowded tea market, our brand set us apart. Buyers constantly complimented our packaging, which got their attention first, but once they tasted the tea—simple blends made with whole, natural ingredients—they’d say, “And it tastes good, too!” Dare I say, we became the total package. As the company grew, we onboarded national accounts that further validated our position in the market. Every year, I reviewed Whole Foods’ market trend reports for continued validation and inspiration. For us, that report became a North Star, since the Whole Foods customer was always our target. Many of the herbs, flowers, and spices we use have been featured over the years. Now, to be featured in the 2025 report with our Minty Blue tea feels like a full-circle moment. I’m so honored and proud of what we’ve built—a company that has so much of my heart and soul wrapped up in it. Thank you for seeing us, the little Big Heart that could.
Excited and happy for you! I remember meeting you in the 2016-17 years at our facility when you visited Angie. (which at that point was an old house converted to a factory. lol). I don’t remember well any longer but I do remember “She gets it”.
This is so awesome!
What a full circle moment! Congrats!! ❤️
That's amazing Lisa! Congratulations 🫶🏽🫶🏽
Well deserved Lisa Govro and team! So honored to be just a little part of that amazing tea journey! Keep on rocking!
So great!
Congratulations! You deserve this win so much. Let’s go! 👏🏾
Yass Queen!!
Congratulations! What an accomplishment!
Sheena Bates Photography
1moWhat an amazing story! I loved being part of the collab you did with Nature Nate’s honey a while back. That was the first I’ve heard of your tea and love it. The branding truly sets you apart and is so fun!