Meet Fielesia Kuykendall | Co-Founder – Narvie’s Sweet Tea Ltd Co

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fielesia Kuykendall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fielesia, how do you think about risk?
Throughout life, we’ve learned to adapt and thrive in environments society would deem risky: this process was cultivated young. Born in Waco, TX, I relocated with my family to Dallas, TX, hoping for a new life in a big city. Confronted with a hostile environment, I took a risk to demonstrate to my kids that fear is solely an emotion and not a roadblock. Through adversity, I found solace and inspiration to continue my family’s legacy by creating a tribute to my late mother: this was the catalyst for Narvie’s Sweet Tea. Reflecting on our journey, it’s clear that I would not be where I am today if I had never decided to alter my perspective regarding risks. While risk is uncomfortable, a wise man once said, “Life starts right outside your comfort zone.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Narvie’s Sweet Tea is a family-veteran-owned business. We are proud that our tea is free of preservatives and natural ingredients, with an enticing taste that’ll leave you hooked! It is surreal to hold a bottle of Narvie’s Sweet Tea. I can recall the countless hours spent making each bottle. Witnessing our first production run was exhilarating! It solidifies that persistence that pays off.

This was no easy feat; it required emotional maturity to handle rejection, setbacks, and naysayers. We’ve learned that sacrifices were required to transition our company to the next level, even if that meant selling our product in extreme weather conditions. The past several years have shown us the importance of work/life balance and self-care.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We reside in Spring, TX, so our first stop would be the Historic Old Town Spring. From there, we’d drop by the Mercer Arboretum to enjoy nature trails for self-care. After working up an appetite, we’d head East to Humble and enjoy a mouthwatering lunch from Mean Burger, paired with an ice-cold Narvie’s Sweet Tea. After a siesta, we would usher our guests South toward Downtown H-town to enjoy a savory dinner with breathtaking views of the Buffalo Bayou at Brennars on the Bayou. As H-town is the melting pot of selections, we’d wrap up the evening at POST to allow our guests to experience the mesmerizing skyline of the best city in America.

Our guests asked to stay for a week, but we take our work-life balance seriously and are currently preparing for our second production run.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I am deeply grateful to God, who provides me the strength to continue pursuing my dreams. My family, for their unwavering encouragement and support, even during those last-minute orders. Pam M., a loyal friend and customer, has been with us from the beginning, enjoying our product at various vendor locations. We’d like to give a huge shoutout to our current vendors:

Mean Burger – 9441 FM 1960 Bypass Ste. 200, Humble, TX 77338

Georgia’s Catfish Kitchen – 9441 FM 1960 Bypass Ste. 160, Humble, TX 77338

Brother’s Seafood – 523 E. Louetta Ste. D, Spring, TX 77373

I would like to give a shoutout to my middle son, Stretch, who believed in me. He stood behind me during the late nights, tailoring the flavor profile in preparation for our commercial production. Without you, my dreams would not have materialized.

Website: https://www.narviessweettea.com

Instagram: @narviessweettea

Facebook: @narviessweettea

Image Credits
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