Jennifer Brennan is Centro Tea Co. She makes all the teas, she bakes all the pastries—in short, she does it all.
As one of the few vegan shops in downtown DeLand, Jen takes pride in all the products she brings to her counter. All pastries are vegan and a significant amount of them are gluten-free. Additionally, she values bringing organic ingredients into her pastries and teas, and many of her ingredients are sourced locally. In her own words, “I like being able to give a child who has extreme food allergies the best birthday cake ever.”
In 2015, Jen created Centro Tea Co. and managed to snag a spot at the Deland Friday Night Market in Artisan Alley, and again a couple of days later at the annual Indie Market. She sold out of everything at these events: pastries, baked goods, dry tea, and brewed tea. People were happy, and Jen knew she had to keep making tea and baking.
Tea Tasting and Rating
As a disclaimer, I’m a picky eater––I know what tastes and textures I like, and I usually stick to those things. But for this review, I stepped out of my comfort zone. Take all of these reviews as you will… or go try the drinks for yourself!
Coquito Chai Latte: House-made organic toasted coconut chair, sweetened with cinnamon and vanilla with choice of mylk (non-dairy alternative milk, i.e. soy, almond, etc.). Can be served hot or iced.
Review: I got the Coquito Chai Latte iced. The coconut, chai and vanilla flavors blend together really well! I don’t usually do foam on my lattes, but the sprinkled cinnamon gave the drink a nice spiced aftertaste. I’m also usually a 2% or a whole milk drinker, but those who need or want a milk substitute will likely enjoy this latte. 3 out of 5 mugs.
Green Lagoon: Natural mango and pineapple juice, topped with organic matcha.
Review: I have not had fantastic experiences with matcha in the past. Often, it tastes way too green for my liking and the powder makes each sip… well, powdery. The Green Lagoon, though, has the perfect mix of sweetness and greenness, and despite the powder settling after a couple minutes of sitting, a quick mix left no trace of powder on my tongue. 4 out of 5 mugs.
French Flamingo: Limeade and J’aime Berries Tea (Organic Hibiscus, Organic Rose Hips, Organic Cranberries, Organic Apple, Organic Lemon Verbena, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Raspberry Leaf, Organic Blackberry Lead, Organic Lavender).
Review: The best word I can use to describe this drink is “pink.” J’aime Berries tea is sweet and floral, and the limeade adds just a little bit of bitterness to the drink. It’s a little bit lighter than the Disco Lemonade and tastes almost like a sweeter, smoother hibiscus tea. This is absolutely my favorite tea from Centro Tea Co. 5 out of 5 mugs.
Disco Lemonade: Natural limeade topped with shaken Butterfly Pea Flower cold brew tea.
Review: A sweeter, smoother Hibiscus tea. Also described as a Unicorn Arnold Palmer. Disco Lemonade is actually one of Jen’s favorite teas to make for people, especially those who have never had Butterfly Pea Flower tea before. I won’t spoil the magic, but if you get a chance to order this… Definitely ask Jen if you can watch her pour it. 5 out of 5 mugs.
While Centro Tea Co. is only officially open for pastries on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (9:00-5:00, 9:00-10:00, and 9:00-5:00, respectively), you can still purchase tea anytime Sidecar Market is open during the week. So, if any of these teas sound like something you’ll love, head down to Sidecar Market on the corner of New York and Woodland. Take a minute to peruse Jen’s selection of stickers, goodies and more, and enjoy some of the best teas and treats DeLand has to offer.
