ECA TEA SHOP STORY
-
ECA TEA SHOP WAS BORN
Katarina, a health coach with a knack for nutrition and autoimmune issues, and Kyrstyn, a former correctional officer from Nevada, met and tied the knot in 2021. Fast forward to June 2022, this adventurous (and broke!) couple founded the ECA Tea Shop. With their last $300 and overdue bills, they bought 40lbs of herbs and teas—and ECA was born! Their mission? Crafting teas that are as tasty as they are effective.
-
TELL ME MORE!
Katarina and Kyrstyn's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Katarina, with her expertise in nutrition and autoimmune health, and Kyrstyn, bringing resilience and strength from her time as a correctional officer, combined their unique backgrounds to create something truly special.
After meeting and marrying in 2021, they faced the same financial challenges many couples do. But instead of letting it hold them back, they decided to chase their dream. With just $300 left to their names and bills piling up, they took a leap of faith. They invested everything they had into 40 pounds of herbs and teas, fueled by a shared passion for creating something beneficial and delightful.
Their hard work and determination paid off. The ECA Tea Shop, born in June 2022, quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality, delicious teas that don't sacrifice effectiveness. Each blend is carefully crafted to not only taste amazing but also to support health and well-being.
-
The Moment That Changed Everything!
On December 26th, 2022, Kat posted a TikTok of her reaction to trying out a combo one of their customers suggested. It was her reaction to combining two herbal teas, Zombie Tea and Rise & Shine, to create an "Herbal Adderall" effect. This customer swore by the combo, and she was desperate to try something since she recently lost access to her Adderall prescription. The TikTok went viral, reaching almost 2 million viewers and generating over $200k in sales! Over 10,000 packs of tea were sold in days!
Fast forward two years, and they've gone from a garage to a warehouse, selling tea online in all 50 states and currently two countries (USA and Canada). Hopefully expanding soon!
-
Customers rave about the flavorful teas, enjoying the benefits without compromising taste. Kat and Kyrstyn, enthusiasts of energy drinks and sober living, found traditional teas unpalatable despite their benefits. This led them to create teas that even non-tea drinkers can enjoy daily, whether hot or as a chilled mocktail.
Their teas are reported to provide relief for those with anxiety, PTSD, PMS, insomnia, inflammation, and more. While they don't claim these teas cure or heal, they believe they can drastically improve quality of life.
-
Katarina and Kyrstyn's story is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and a little bit of risk-taking. They've built more than a business; they've created a community around a love for good tea and better living. So, whether you're a tea enthusiast or someone looking for a tasty way to boost your wellness, ECA Tea Shop has something for you. Cheers to Katarina and Kyrstyn for proving that with a bit of grit and a lot of heart, you can brew up something incredible!
Online Community
Kat and Kyrstyn are actively growing their community on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, sharing the power of plants, self-love, acceptance, and sober living. The shop frequently sells out as they rapidly expand.
'Care Packs for Recovery' Program
We are COMMITTED to offering those in recovery effective and safe remedies, providing relief during a critical period. Sending Herbal Tea Essentials Care Packs to Recovery/Detox Centers nationwide, nominated by customers. Make a difference and choose from donation options for a positive impact.
Meet The Haunted Herbalists
Tea Magic for Haunted Minds & Tired Bones Since 2022
Kyrstyn Scott – Co-Founder, Operations Queen, Brand Alchemist
Kyrstyn Scott is the co-founder of Emerald Coast Alternatives and the artistic force behind the brand’s hauntingly unforgettable aesthetic. A tattoo artist with a passion for bright, bold, and beautifully weird art, Kyrstyn brings color, character, and creativity into everything she touches, from herbal tea blends to spooky sticker sheets.
Originally a correctional officer in Nevada, Kyrstyn moved across the country to Florida in search of a new beginning. Just weeks later, she met Kat and their love story became a tea-sipping, spell-crafting business venture that now serves thousands of haunted and healing humans across the country.
At ECA, Kyrstyn is the engine behind the operation. She formulates most of the shop’s tea blends, designs all of the product art and packaging, and oversees every step of production from crafting each small batch by hand to managing warehouse operations and shipping logistics with precision and care. While Kat is the voice and face of the brand, Kyrstyn is the one who brings the vision to life, physically, visually, and magically.
Her work ensures that every ECA order is more than just a package, it’s a potion of purpose, beauty, and intention. Her art and behind-the-scenes mastery give Emerald Coast Alternatives its distinct identity: a place where weird is welcome, magic meets science, and plants help the living thrive.
💀 10+ years sober
🎨 Tattoo artist & branding visionary
🫖 Creator of ECA’s tea blends
📦 Oversees all product creation, fulfillment & shipping
👻 Designer of all ECA artwork, branding, packaging & spooky visuals
🌊 Based in Gulf Breeze, FL
Katarina Scott – Co-Founder, Mindfulness Expert, Ritual Creator, Tea Fairy
Katarina Scott is the co-founder of Emerald Coast Alternatives and the creative mind behind its signature blend of mindfulness, magic, and herbal rebellion. A certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, positive psychology practitioner, and lifelong neurodivergent, Kat helps haunted and healing humans reclaim their nervous systems through intentional tea rituals, mocktails, and science-backed self-love.
Kat is the creator of all ECA’s tea rituals, mocktail recipes, and wellness resources, each one carefully crafted to blend function, flavor, and folklore. She is also the head of all things tech and marketing, designing the entire ECA website, building email and SMS campaigns, and producing every piece of content; from viral TikToks to weekly YouTube meditations (coming soon!).
With years of experience leading retreats, guiding workshops, and working with high-level clients, Kat’s approach to wellness is deeply grounded, radically compassionate, and defiantly magical. She specializes in emotional regulation, mindfulness for neurodivergent brains, and transforming overwhelm into ritual.
At ECA, Kat is the face and voice of the brand - writing every caption, casting every tea spell, and building a community for the weirdly wired, the overstimulated, and the chronically misunderstood. Her work makes nervous system care feel accessible, empowering, and just a little spooky...in the best way.
When she’s not teaching or brewing potions, she’s raising four wildly magical sons, dancing through her emotions, and reminding people that healing doesn’t have to look pretty, it just has to feel real.
💀 Certified mindfulness & meditation instructor
🧠 Certified positive psychology practitioner
🫖 Creator of all ECA tea rituals, mocktail recipes, and mindfulness resources
📲 Head of ECA Tech & Marketing
🎥 Weekly meditations on YouTube coming soon
🌊 Based in Navarre, FL
⭐️ 500+ 5-star reviews & a thriving, haunted community