In a fast world, Sippsi Good Tea invites Mississippi to slow down —one intentional sip at a time.
By The People’s Paper MS Staff
In a quiet, light-filled space at 100 E. Capitol Street, Suite 106, something intentional is brewing. Sippsi Good Tea is not just a tea shop; it is a reflection of Southern hospitality, wellness, and the power of slowing down in a world that rarely encourages it.
Founded by Simpson County Native Christina M. Berry, Founder and Chief Tea Officer, Sippsi Good Tea was born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Berry made a conscious decision to take her health and her calling seriously.
“I was being very intentional about my health,” Berry shared. “I started with boxed teas in my pantry, but I didn’t enjoy the blends or how they made me feel.”
That curiosity led her to loose-leaf tea, and soon, to blending her own. The results were immediate and personal: better flavor, better wellness, and a deeper connection to ritual and care. What began as a personal practice quickly became something more.
With a natural entrepreneurial spirit, Berry launched Sippsi as an online and cottage-food business, spending nearly two years traveling to festivals and pop-ups across Mississippi. Those conversations with customers about flavor, access, wellness, and community shaped the brand’s direction.
“At first, I wasn’t sure Jackson was ready for a tea shop,” she said. “So I listened.”
She started with five blends. Customers asked for more caffeine-free options, wellness-focused teas, bottled teas for convenience. Eventually, the question she heard most was simple: Where can we buy this?
That question answered everything.
Why Jackson?
While Berry has deep ties to Simpson County, Jackson offered the room needed for a niche concept to grow. As a metro area, it provided access, visibility, and a broader audience for something still unfamiliar to many.
“Tea is still a niche market,” Berry explained. “But I absolutely believe Sippsi models can thrive beautifully in rural communities too.”
Today, Sippsi offers:
• Loose-leaf teas sourced from traditional tea-producing countries
• Herbal blends made from dried fruits
• Apothecary herbs that support sleep, pain relief, inflammation, focus, and everyday wellness
• Bottled teas for on-the-go lifestyles
Notably, Sippsi also carries a Mississippi-grown black tea, grounding the shop firmly in place, tradition, and regional pride.
A Name Rooted in Place and Purpose
The name Sippsi is a play on Mississippi and on the act of sipping slowly. But, its meaning runs deeper.
“It reflects Southern grace, hospitality, and intentional living,” Berry said. “Success isn’t just about productivity. It’s about caring for your health, honoring people, and creating room to pause.”
Many Sippsi blends are inspired by Southern memories and family stories. The shop’s most popular tea, Berry Southern, is a tribute to Berry’s grandmother and her wild blackberry pies.
“It tastes like memory,” she said.
Another blend, Shade Tree Mechanic, honors the self-taught brilliance found in rural communities — those everyday engineers and problem-solvers whose ingenuity often goes unrecognized.
Tea as a Vessel for Wellness and Community
For Berry, tea is not the point. It’s the pathway.
“Tea just happens to be the vessel,” she explained. “Everything I care about (wellness, connection, intentional living) naturally comes together through it.”
Inside Sippsi, customers are guided through conversation, not intimidation. Staff members ask what flavors people enjoy, how they want to feel, and what their day looks like. From there, tea becomes personal.
Berry is intentional about what Sippsi is not. The shop does not serve “loaded teas.” Instead, it focuses on real plants, real ingredients, and sustainable wellness.
A Space That Feels Human
Berry describes the feeling she wants Sippsi to create in three words:
Calm. Welcoming. Deeply human.
“We want people to feel seen,” she said.
That philosophy extends to partnerships as well. Sippsi carries pastries and snacks from local, women-owned, and Black-owned businesses, making community support part of the shop’s foundation not an afterthought.
Looking Ahead
As Sippsi approaches its first year as a brick-and-mortar café, growth is already underway. Events are planned, including fundraisers, scrapbooking meetups, and Blend Bars where guests create their own custom teas.
“This space belongs to the community,” Berry said.
When asked how Simpson County residents can support Sippsi, her answer was simple: show up.
“Host meetings here. Order tea for events. Share our posts. Bring a friend. Support takes many forms.”
And for those who may feel intimidated walking into a tea shop for the first time?
“Don’t be,” Berry said. “Sippsi was created to be welcoming whether you’re a lifelong tea drinker or completely new. We’ll meet you where you are.”
Sippsi Good Tea is located at 100 E. Capitol Street, Suite 106, Jackson, MS. Tell them The People’s Paper MS invited you to take a Sippsi.
