Special Leaf
Tito’s Handmade Vodka Entrepreneur Grant: $5,000
Brimming with antioxidants and Vitamin C, Special Leaf is the first-to-market bottled, locally sourced olive leaf iced tea. Developed by longtime San Antonio chef Chris Cook after a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the brew provides a healthful alternative to commercial beverages spiked with sugar and additives.
A key figure in Alamo City’s recent culinary scene, Cook also uses the company to boost the city’s local food systems through Chef Cooperatives — a local organization dedicated to promoting the health and prosperity of South-Central Texas farms through an innovative approach to the farm-to-table movement. Special Leaf will use grant funds to increase distribution through a strategic marketing plan and equipment expansion.