Columbus beverage company signs deal with Trump’s Freedom 250 organization
Columbus-based Star Spangled Tea & Coffee, located in Highside Market, has entered into a three-year deal with Freedom 250, an organization launched by President Donald Trump to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
Roger Owens, who served in the Army National Guard and did two tours in Iraq, began the company, initially called Star Spangled Tea, with his wife, Aimee, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.
After launching their United States-themed teas, with unique flavors for the states, Owens worked to get his products sold in Georgia state parks. As officials in Washington, D.C., began preparing to celebrate the United States’ 250 years of independence, Owens wanted his products to be involved.
America 250, a nonprofit organization established 10 years ago through an act of Congress, is also preparing birthday celebrations for the nation. Owens reached out to this organization first.
“But since Coca Cola was the primary beverage, we were basically locked out because they were the official sponsor and had a no-compete clause,” he told the Ledger-Enquirer.
About three months after contacting America 250, Owens received a phone call from the chief partnership officer for Freedom 250.
“It’s like two brands doing the same thing but in different ways,” Owens said. “They both work in cooperation with each other, so there’s really no competition.”
New blends for the celebrations
As part of the deal, Star Spangled Tea & Coffee has developed new tea and coffee flavors for Freedom 250.
One of the flavors is the Liberty Tea, Owens said, which is a re-creation of what people drank during the time of the Boston Tea Party.
Owens was initially taken aback by the request for a version of this tea.
“Why?” he asked. “We dumped tea in the Boston Harbor.”
Nevertheless, his and Aimee’s love for history took on the challenge.
“Right after the Boston Tea Party, with the tea tax and the Stamp Act, we realized that a lot of places and local areas had their own tea,” Owens said. “They would make their own tea from the local things that were produced. So, some places would be sassafras, some would be dandelion, some would be pine needles.”
In the Southeast, yaupon was a key ingredient, Owens said, and is a true Georgia-grown product.
“One of our major suppliers is from Georgia,” he said. “So, that’s why we chose it.”
In that era, the teas were called “liberty teas,” Owens said.
“That’s why we named it Liberty Tea,” he said. “It’s an American Raspberry Yaupon.”
Star Spangled Tea & Coffee made two blends for the White House. This includes a Cherry Blossom tea blend, featuring cherries and rose pieces. A Christmas blend will be released in the fall, Owens said.
“Some people, they feel a certain way about the White House or who’s in the White House,” Aimee told the Ledger-Enquirer. “But we’re not about that. It’s like, ‘Look how beautiful the White House is.’ It’s not about who’s in it. It’s our nation. It’s all of our house. It’s not political. It belongs to everybody.”
Along with the White House blends, they also are making their first coffee blend for the country’s renewed focus in space travel.
“We’re doing one for astronauts,” Owens said. “It’s called Apollo Instant, and it’s part of the Lunar Legacy series.”
The Freedom 250 flavors, along with other Star Spangled Tea & Coffee products, will be sold to state parks, museums, gift shops and coffee shops.
Growing presence in Columbus and the state
Star Spangled Tea & Coffee has continued to grow, opening a shop in Highside Market this past January.
Growing in the beverage industry is difficult because of so much competition, Owens said.
“It’s kind of like David versus Goliath,” he said. “You’re the little guy trying to make it. It’s always a struggle trying to break out.”
He and Aimee have worked with business incubator StartUp Columbus and participated in the RetailLab., which offers storefront space in Highside Market for rent below the market rate. They have also worked with semipro soccer team Columbus United and created a special roast for the organization.
Local customers can shop for tea and coffee blends at the Highside Market location, along with other Georgia-based products and brands.
Along with opening the shop in Highside Market, Star Spangled Tea & Coffee has also begun operating a mobile barista cart local residents can book for events, Owens said.
“We are actively looking for baristas for the mobile barista cart,” he said.
Their deal with Freedom 250 is through the National Parks Foundation, Owens said, and he envisions continuing working with them past this administration.
They also have begun working with another organization affiliated with a different U.S. president.
“We’re in the process of finishing up a deal with the Carter Library,” Owens said. “We’re trying to close everything up to do a Carter coffee for President Carter.”
This deal isn’t finished yet, he said, but they’re looking forward to potentially working with the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
“We want to celebrate great Americans,” Owens said. “We want to celebrate all Americans. If you have political leanings, that’s fine. You can do that, but love where you live. Love your country. Love your community. That’s all we’re saying.”
