Letters in Legacy: Heritage In Every Sip

Written By: Andrea Sanchez-Mendoza ​​​

The Face Behind The Company ​

Laura Jean-Jacques is a Haitian-American entrepreneur, community advocate, and business consultant living in Brooklyn, NY. She’s also a graduate for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Laura was a fellow in Represented Foundation’s Spring 2021 cohort, where she grew the idea for her company Zansèt Tea Co. Looking back, considers her time in Represented’s incubator Vision. Execution. Results. (V.E.R.) to be a transformative period for her, thanks in part to to instructors like Precious, Nakia, and Noel who helped her flush out her ideas and create Zansèt Tea Co.   

“I had this burning feeling in me that I needed to be creating something... I knew I wanted it to be a healing tool in the holistic space. And it happened to morph, over a five month period into a tea product.”

The story behind the Tea

Zansèt which means Ancestor in the Haitian Creole, goes far beyond just selling tea. When asked to speak a little about the origins of her company, Laura said 

“Zansèt Tea Co. was created as a tool to help communities heal and embrace joyful moments, like building an intentional tea practice. I use my Haitian-American upbringing, my Holistic Health & Nutrition training and my healing abilities to create the tea blends and other botanical products.  I want my customers to feel joy in every cup, to feel a little more connected to their heritage with every sip.”
​
Laura’s inspiration and love for creating different teas came from her mother and her grandmother. “I grew up in a family that believed in the healing powers of herbs. My mother and grandmother instilled in me and my sisters that staying connected to the earth was the key to staying healthy and thriving”, explains Laura over the phone. 

Her Legacy

When asked how she’d like to be remembered in this lifetime,  Laura noted that she wants to be recognized as a connector; someone who was able to bridge together different people and communities. 


“It's always been either I'm the common denominator that's bringing those two together … whether that's over a cup of tea, or  through me doing conflict resolution, mediation, or navigating community economic development. I feel like that's who I am. When people meet me they always say, ‘Oh, my God, how do you know everyone?’

Celebration and Reflection

When asked what her plans for the future of her company, Laura said “There has been so much growth and success in such a short time. I am currently in the process of pausing, so I can be present and take it all in” states Laura. 

We here at Represented Foundation would like to pause, reflect and congratulate Laura and on impacting 3,000 people in 8 months who said ‘yes’ to starting their own healing journey with Zansèt Tea Co. 

To keep up to date on our V.E.R. alumni and all things Represented Foundation then sign up for our newsletter today!