Saturday, June 10, is National Iced Day. So, it’s the perfect time to visit HTea0. Whether you are a regular customer or it’s your first visit, it’s always the right time to enjoy their tasty iced tea. If you’ve been there before, you know there are endless flavor possibilities. If you haven’t tried it yet, be ready to sample as many of the delicious brews as you like before making your choice. 
People have been drinking tea for thousands of years. However, the first instance of serving iced tea is believed to be when Richard Blechynden tried to sell hot tea at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. The weather was hot, and no one wanted a hot drink. So, he added ice to the tea and invented a new refreshing drink. Many people in the south dispute this theory, believing that iced tea originated in one of the southern states. It doesn’t matter to most. They’re just happy that someone thought of it.
HTea0 was started by Gary and Kim Hutchens in 2009 under the name of Texas Tea. As they noticed an increase in flavored tea sales at their hamburger restaurant, they decided to devote a location to tea sales. The name was later changed to HTea0, and since the opening, 60 locations have sprung up. Most are in Texas, but there are a few stores in Oklahoma, Kansas and Florida.
The Garland location opened in October 2021. Jansen Smith, the general manager of the Garland store, moved to the Dallas area while the building was under construction. He had been feeling that it was time for a change. So, he trusted the Lord to let him know where he was supposed to be, and he’s certain that he landed in the right place.
“The company is great to work for, and the people at corporate are genuine and caring,” Smith said.
“What sets HTea0 apart is that we start with the highest quality ingredients,” he said. “We use reverse osmosis water, which means that it has been triple filtered. It is the cleanest water available. And that’s what gives our tea that super fresh taste.”
Another reason for the high quality of their tea is that they do not use artificial sweeteners. All the fruit is natural, no flavored syrups are added, and they only use pure cane sugar.
“That’s what gives it that fresh, brisk taste,” Smith said.
However, there is a choice for customers who do not want to consume sugar. It’s called Sweet Zero, and it is brewed with Stevia. They also offer stir-in artificial sweetener packets for people who prefer those.
According to Smith, tea offers some health benefits. He said that a cup of sweet tea has 1/3 the sugar of a soft drink, and there are other ingredients in soft drinks that are unhealthy. An example of that is high fructose corn syrup. HTea0 tea avoids those extra ingredients.
“I like that we can offer people a healthier choice that tastes great,” Smith said. “Tea is also good for hydration, and if you drink unsweet, then it’s pure hydration with no calories. It can also increase energy levels and help your mood.”
Customer service is also important at HTea0. They know that people can get a glass of tea anywhere, so they strive to provide the best customer experience possible. The staff engages with customers and sincerely wants to make connections with them.
“You never know what someone else is going through, so coming to a tea place and having a good interaction may be the only good interaction they get all day,” Smith said.
They want to create an impact on people, and they accomplish that by empowering the employees so that they can empower other people.
“We want people to come in and get their tea and visit. Then go and enjoy the outdoors,” Smith said.
“Customers that go through the drive-thru are encouraged to come in and visit so the employees can get to know them.”
HTea0 also feels strongly about giving back to the community. The two main ways they do that is by giving back to all first responders and teachers. They offer free tea to first responders and go out to the schools and take tea or free tea cards to the teachers.
“Teachers and first responders give way more than they receive. So, we try to thank them for what they are doing in the lives of other people. We want them to know that we see what they do for the community,” Smith said.
Stop in at HTea0 and try the free samples – But don’t expect to find a single favorite! There are too many delicious flavors for that.
Visit HTea0 at 3428 Buckingham Road in Garland or call (972) 805-5082.