This is basically a Chef Spike blog site now! 🙂
Just Ice Tea, the Bethesda-based organic tea brand from Seth Goldman and DC chef Spike Mendelsohn (Insta@), launches Awaken, a cold brew tea line with 120mg of caffeine per can, at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide starting November 13, 2026. A smart grab for anyone who wants an afternoon lift without a sugary coffee.
Three Fruity Flavors Ride on Yerba Mate and Green Tea
Each can blends organic yerba mate with green and white tea leaves, cold brewed for a smooth finish. Strawberry Spark adds organic strawberry juice, Tropical Takeoff leans on mango, tangerine, and lemon, and Honeydew Lime Lift pairs watermelon and lime with notes of honeydew and cucumber (the one I would reach for first).
A Local Team Built the Brand After Honest Tea
Goldman co-founded Honest Tea, and Just Ice Tea reached shelves in 2022 soon after Coca-Cola discontinued it. Mendelsohn, the Top Chef alum behind several DC restaurants, serves as co-founder and chief brewmaster. Awaken keeps the brand’s organic, Fair Trade Certified ingredients and skips artificial sweeteners.
Know Your Caffeine Before You Crack a Can
That 120mg matches about two espresso shots, so it suits commuters, students, and long workdays. Caffeine-sensitive sippers should treat one can as plenty, and Awaken is sold only at Whole Foods for now.
Find Awaken at Whole Foods Market stores beginning November 13. Use the Just Ice Tea store locator to find its other flavors nearby.
Follow The Washington Lobbyist for informed coverage of Washington DC travel, hotels, restaurants, and events, and read how Chef Spike Mendelsohn is staying busy in 2026.
