Meet Rocco Quaranto of Tama Tea

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocco Quaranto.

Hi Rocco, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
A little about us: When the pandemic hit our 3 cafes (in Wilmington, Raleigh, and chapel hill) were forced to shut down, we knew we had to adapt to survive. We shifted our focus to our ready to drink teas that could be sold online and in stores, using the same high-quality ingredients and brewing methods that had made our cafes so popular. Today, we’re proud to offer a range of delicious and energizing tea drinks that are good for you. Despite the challenges we’ve faced, we’re more passionate than ever about sharing the joys of tea with the world. All our drinks are brewed with 5 organic ingredients or less.  And our yerba mate line has 120 mg of natural caffeine which is more than a red bull but actually good for you!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic threw a wrench in our plan to operate a chain of tea-focused cafes. We were forced to adapt. It has been incredibly tough. There are 3 original partners Myself (Rocco Quaranto III), Wells Struble, and Kelly Struble.  Wells and I were freshman roommates and teammates on the UNCW track team. Wells met Kelly sophomore year, and now are married. I have 3 young kids, Wells and Kelly just had their first. Tama has been like another baby for all of us for the last 8 years, growing it and giving it all of our energy. The pandemic was a massive setback to our plans. Then getting into the ready-to-drink industry has been even crazier. It’s very competitive, but our line of natural energy drinks made with organic ingredients is unlike anything else on the market. Customers are finding it and loving it.

We’ve been impressed with Tama Tea, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Open up your fridge or look at the shelves of the grocery store, and look at the the ingredients of any beverage (and most food) natural flavors, concentrates, extracts, weird chemicals, fake sugars etc. We brew all of our products with organic tea, fruits and herbs. It’s nature’s energy drink!  Our line of Yerba Maté has quickly become very popular. Yerba Maté is a South American tea that is known for its sustained energy boost and alertness.  Perfect for anyone who needs peak performance or sustained energy for long periods of time.  With 120 mg of natural caffeine per can (that’s more than a cup of coffee at 80mg) it will energize your mind and your body.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Clean ingredients. Most other beverage companies fill their drinks with junk like natural flavors, extracts, concentrates, and other because it’s cheaper and easier. We take the difficult and expensive path, but the result is that TAMA TEA is second to none and incredibly good for you!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tamatea.com
• Instagram: @tamateaco
• Facebook: @tamateaco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10435680/admin/feed/posts/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TamaTeaWilmington

Image Credits
Tama Tea