Welcome to Compass & Kettle Tea Co.

Hi there, and welcome! I’m so glad you’ve found your way to Compass & Kettle Tea Co., a little corner of the world where tea, travel, family and nature all come together.

A little about me (but not too much, because mystery is fun, right?): I went to college in the Virgin Islands, which gave me plenty of sunshine and inspiration, before serving 8 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. Along the way, I’ve zig-zagged across the U.S. and even hopped across the pond for international adventures like wandering the green hills and cozy pubs of Ireland. Each stop has connected me more deeply to nature, different cultures, and of course, tea and food.

I’m the kind of person who can spend hours experimenting in the kitchen. Tea blends, sourdough starters, hot sauce that makes you question your life choices, kimchi, sauerkraut and more. If it can bubble, brew, or ferment, I’ve probably tried it (and usually convinced my husband to taste-test it). Food and tea are my favorite ways to explore flavor and creativity, and they’ve become my daily rituals.

When I’m not in the kitchen or blending tea, you’ll usually find me tucked into the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. My husband, son, yellow lab and I spend as much time as we can in the Smokies and Cherokee National Forest. These places are wild, grounding, and humbling and inspire much of the Compass & Kettle collection. Each tea and sugar I craft is a love letter to a place I’ve explored, whether it’s a national or state park, a forest trail, or a windswept coastline.

Beyond flavor, I’m deeply fascinated by how plants can support our health and spirit. I’m currently working toward a certificate in naturopathy and spend far too much of my free time reading about the benefits of herbs, barks, roots, and leaves. Right now, my focus is tea but in the future tinctures and broths are also ways I hope to connect people back to the earth and the simple, nourishing things it provides.

The heart of Compass & Kettle Tea is simple: to share the beauty and ritual of tea. A steaming mug can be calming, centering, and even a little magical. My hope is to offer blends that bring comfort during cold and flu season, ease allergies, calm stress, and celebrate the everyday moments that make life meaningful.

As for the blog, my goal is to share posts a few times a week—about tea, food, and the wild, beautiful world outside my front door. But let’s be real: life with family has a way of setting its own schedule. So, I’ll write when I can, and hopefully each post will bring you a little warmth and inspiration.

Wander lightly, steep deeply,
Jess