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In October 2023, Ricky, owner of Appalachian DiviniTEA, caught up with Canvas Rebel for an interview for their series of articles highlighting local business owners. Check out the full article – click here!

Meet Ricky Van Warner, October 2023.

“We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ricky Van Warner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ricky, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea came to me while backpacking through Asia and exploring tea houses. I have always had a love for tea thanks to my Grandma, however, on this trip something clicked which told me to pursue this as a career. In my 20’s I spent some time traveling around the country and working on various farms and homesteads. Here I learned about herbalism and started making herbal remedies for different aliments. I began to dive deep into plant medicine and came up with a variety of teas. This was the beginning of my business starting to take form.

Ricky, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

What started as a hobby quickly grew and took over a good part of our house. Last year I decided to share this passion of tea with others and began selling some of our teas at local farmers markets. The local community was very receptive and things started gaining traction much more quickly than I had ever anticipated. This lead me to be able to quit my “day job” this year and pursue this full time business. I now do 4-5 farmers markets a week in the Asheville area as well as travel out of town some weekends to Plant & Herb Festivals. We have an online store and also sell our teas in other small businesses around town.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social Media has never been one of my strong suits or something I particularly enjoy. Luckily my partner and wife, Nikki, is extremely talented and understands that aspect of business well. She has really done wonders for our social media and online store presence. Her advice would be to remain true to who you are and consistency is key.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what helped my reputation in our market is having a positive interaction with every customer. Really making connections and having meaningful conversations about our products has gone a long way. Another aspect is having a solid product that is approachable and delicious. Being open to suggestions from others has helped us formulate products and bring them to the standard they are today.”

Thank you so much to Canvas Rebel for shining the spotlight on our small business!

In September 2023, local news station WLOS13 covered the Enka-Candler Tailgate Market. This local market serves as a cornerstone for community members to connect with local farmers and small businesses, keeping our local economy strong and providing access to fresh healthy foods to the community. Check out the full news article – click here!

Farmers Face Growing Challenges As Latest Farm Bill Set To Expire, September 2023.

“Ricky Van Warner with Appalachian DiviniTEA tells News 13 markets like this are important to the area.

“I feel like these communities need these local farmers markets to have an alternative to big corporate grocery stores to be able to support and buy local,” he said.”

Thank you WLOS13 for highlighting local markets in our area and addressing challenges that our local farmers face!

We’ve been featured by About Asheville in their article “Tea Time: The 9 Best Tea Shops in Asheville”
Check out the full article – click here!

Tea Time: The 9 Best Tea Shops in Asheville, May 2023.

“So maybe you’re looking for tea to take home, but you want to make sure it’s as local as it gets. While many local companies use as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible, supporting a local tea blender is a great way to make your mark on our local economy. 

Featured at a variety of farmers markets, Appalachian DiviniTEA is a small business inspired by a trip to Asia, where the owner learned a lot about the history and culture of tea and came home ready to turn a new-found passion into a business. With blends like the [Rose Chai] organic tea, … a Jasmine Green organic tea, or a Spiced Peach organic tea, you’re sure to find something that fits your flavor profile while using the top available ingredients sourced for peak freshness. Check the Appalachian DiviniTEA website for upcoming markets or to buy online.”

Thank you to About Asheville for featuring us in their article!

Ricky, owner of Appalachian DiviniTEA, caught up with Voyage Raleigh in May 2023 for an inspiring conversation about being an entrepreneur and starting our small tea biz. Check out the full article – click here!

Inspiring Conversations with Ricky Van Warner of Appalachian DiviniTEA, May 2023.

“Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricky Van Warner.  

Hi Ricky, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Tea has been a part of my life for as long as I remember. As a kid, I would sit at the table with my grandmother and sip various teas as she told me stories about her travels. This instilled two things in me from a young age; a love for tea and a wanderlust. Fast forward to 2019, when my partner, Nikki, and I took a one-way flight to Asia. Backpacking around the countryside, we explored many tea houses, and this deepened my passion for tea. We wandered through vast tea fields, learning about the cultivation and processing of the leaves. In these moments, my past and future collided – I could feel my passions coming to fruition. Upon returning to the States a few months later, I had the revelation to share this passion for tea with my community. I began seeking out the best quality ingredients, diving deep into herbalism to find which herbs resonated with my intention for each tea and perfecting my blends. I launched an online store soon after and became a vendor at local farmers’ markets across town. This connected me with the community and gave me an opportunity to talk about tea and share my blends. We currently sell our teas at 5 different markets each week as well as in select retail stores. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Although the vision for my business has always been clear, the road to get here has not always been easy. It’s been a lot of time, money, and sacrifice to get to the point I’m at today. Working 7 days a week between the markets, restocking products, and my “day” job has been quite a lot to juggle. I had some doubts in the beginning but continued to preserve to follow my dreams and make it happen. The hardships all pay off when I get to do what I love and share my creations with the world. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Appalachian DiviniTEA. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
We’re based in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in Asheville, NC. The unique and biodiverse Appalachian region combined with our travels east to Asia has inspired us to share the everlasting tradition of tea with our community. We strive to help you nourish your mind, body, and soul with our organic tea blends. 

Our teas are handcrafted with organic and sustainably sourced ingredients. By combining the highest quality teas and herbs in our small batch blends, we create magic in every cup. 

Each tea is intentionally blended with ingredients that are traditionally believed to promote overall well-being. Our focus is herbal blends with holistic healing intentions, but we also source white teas, green teas, black teas, oolong teas, and more. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite childhood memory was walking to a meadow across from where I lived and laying down on the grass looking up to the sky. I always enjoyed watching the clouds pass by as the wind swirled through the trees. I remember all the flowers in spring coming up and how beautiful that was to witness. Nature has always been so inspiring to me, and I feel that this has lead me to the path I’m on today with my Tea business.”

Thank you to Voyage Raleigh for giving us this space to discuss our vision and the start up of Appalachian DiviniTEA.