Investors recently provided a $2.5 million boost toexpand distribution and development of Boulder, Colo.-based Cusa Tea.
The Series A round, led by Break Trail Ventures and S Cap, brings total financing to $3.6 million. Cusa organic tea uses real fruit and spices to cold-steep tea before it is transformed into powder that is packaged as 10 single sticks. Packs sell for $9.99.
Flavors include traditional teas such as organic oolong and organic green tea as well as blends that include English breakfast, mango green, lemon black, chai and peach.
“Cusa Tea is innovating in a huge, but stagnantcategory,” said Jim Lamancusa, founder and CEO of Cusa Tea. “The tea categoryhasn’t seen anything new for a very long time. With our patented cold-brew,evaporative dehydration process, we can deliver a premium cup of tea in secondswith any temperature of water, anywhere, all without sugar or artificial flavourings.We only use organic tea and real fruit and spices.”
In a release he said, “Retailers love the fact thatwe’re bringing something new to the tea aisle and allowing tea drinkers to makepremium tea wherever they go, without the need for hot water, steeping a teabag and then finding somewhere to dispose of the wet, soggy bag.”
Cusa is sold at 1,400 locations including Sprouts,REI, King Soopers, Safeway, HEB and Cost Plus World Market.
“Cusa Tea is a breakthrough in the tea category andoffers the potential for disruption across the broader healthy beveragemarket,” writes S CAP founder Jim Cali. “We have found it to be a superior cupof hot tea, winning medals at the Global Tea Championship versus the bestloose leaf and bag competitors in the world. It also mixes quickly in coldwater, transforming a bottle of water into a superior iced tea drink.”
“Given its taste, versatility and clean label, thereis nothing like it on the market. We see huge potential for Cusa as a platformextending its reach in the broader functional and refreshment beverage space. SCAP is thrilled to part of the Cusa Tea team,” writes Cali.
Lamancusa said the funding “comes at a perfect time.Adding this many new retailers and new products in such a short period of time isvery expensive.”
He said the company will used the funds to “expandour team, support our existing retailers, grow into new retailers, as well aslaunch some exciting new products. Our technology can be used for allbeverages, not just tea, so we look forward to bringing other healthy andconvenient beverages to the market very soon.”
Cusa launched in 2017. New investors in the latestround include Organic X Labs, Smart Capital and Service Provider’s Capital. JayHirsch of Break Trail Ventures and James Cali of S Cap will join Cusa’s boardof directors.
Source: Cusa Tea