ARKANSAS MADE · DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK
Fennel & Fire Tea & Spice Blends in Little Rock
Discover loose-leaf tea and small-batch spice blends from a Little Rock maker with Arkansas Delta roots—now available at Mash & Vine Market, just across E. Third Street from the Fennel & Fire Crafting House.
A LITTLE ROCK MAKER WITH DELTA ROOTS
The story behind Fennel & Fire
Fennel & Fire was founded by Tay Stratton, who grew up on a farm south of Pine Bluff in the Arkansas Delta. Stratton has described an early fascination with a patch of Kentucky mint beside the family farmhouse; the kind of sensory memory that later helped shape a business built around herbs, spices, aroma and flavor.
The company traces its beginnings to 2015, expanded into public retail around 2018, and opened its Little Rock Crafting House in 2019. Fennel & Fire develops and blends its products locally in small batches, with an emphasis on making spices and tea approachable rather than intimidating.
Fennel & Fire is also listed in the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Arkansas Grown / Arkansas Made directory for spices, rubs and tea.
FROM IDEA TO CRAFTING HOUSE
A local company built one batch at a time
2015
Founded in Little Rock
Fennel & Fire traces its beginnings to 2015, before the brand reached a broader public audience through markets and specialty retailers.
2018
Public retail growth
By 2018, the brand was reaching more customers through farmers markets and independent retailers around Arkansas.
2019
Crafting House opens
The Fennel & Fire Crafting House opened in downtown Little Rock as a home base for development, blending, retail and experimentation.
TODAY
Across the street today
Mash & Vine Market at 409 E. Third Street stocks a rotating selection from its neighbor at 402 E. 3rd Street.
LOOSE-LEAF TEA IN LITTLE ROCK
Fennel & Fire teas at Mash & Vine
The selection can change, but the Mash & Vine shelf currently features several Fennel & Fire loose-leaf blends that work especially well over ice. Product availability may vary, so check the shelf or contact the store when you are looking for a particular tea.
TEA
Hibiscus Ginger
A bold, tart and zesty caffeine-free herbal blend built around hibiscus and ginger. Serve it hot, pour it over ice, or use a concentrated brew as a colorful base for zero-proof drinks and cocktails.
TEA
Strawberry al Limone
A fruit-forward strawberry-and-citrus tea that fits naturally into the warm-weather, iced-tea side of the Fennel & Fire lineup.
TEA
Porch Swing
A relaxed, fruit-forward iced-tea blend from the Fennel & Fire Sweep Away collection—an easy fit for an Arkansas porch, patio or summer table.
TEA
Sweet Mint
A refreshing mint-centered loose-leaf blend for serving chilled or hot, especially when you want a clean, cooling tea profile.
Want to see more Arkansas products? Browse our Arkansas & Specialty Foods collection.
SMALL-BATCH SPICE BLENDS
Fennel & Fire seasonings for the kitchen and grill
Tay Stratton built Fennel & Fire around the idea that spices should make cooking easier, not more confusing. The packaging offers practical uses, and the blends are designed to add layers of flavor without turning every meal into a complicated project.
SPICE
Veggie Heaven
A versatile herb-forward seasoning that works well beyond vegetables. Mash & Vine has highlighted it as an easy way to wake up even a simple pan of frozen vegetables.
SPICE
Perfect Salmon
A seasoning developed with salmon and seafood in mind. Keep it near the stove or grill when you want a straightforward blend built specifically for fish.
SPICE
Black Garlic Salt
A finishing salt positioned around deep, savory umami flavor. It is an easy pantry option for vegetables, meats, potatoes and dishes that benefit from a richer garlic note.
SPICE
Front-of-package product photo; square or 4:5 crop.
Steak
A bold garlic-and-cracked-pepper blend made for steak and other grilled meats, while still being versatile enough for potatoes, vegetables and hearty sides.
WHY THE BLENDS STAND OUT
Flavor designed to be used, not just admired
01
Small-batch production
Fennel & Fire says it blends in small batches so ingredients can move through the operation while they are fresh and aromatic.
02
Organic ingredients
The company says its blends are made with organic ingredients and without artificial flavors or additives. If formal certification matters for a specific product, check that package label.
03
Built for real kitchens
Fennel & Fire emphasizes practical suggestions on its packaging so customers know where to start, whether the blend is destined for vegetables, fish, steak, tea or a drink.
04
Blended in Little Rock
The products are developed and blended in Little Rock even though ingredients can be sourced from around the world. Arkansas-made does not mean every ingredient is Arkansas-grown.
TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES · ONE BLOCK
Fennel & Fire is literally across the street
Fennel & Fire Crafting House
402 E. 3rd Street
Little Rock, Arkansas
Mash & Vine Market
409 E. Third Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
That proximity makes this one of the simplest forms of supporting local: a Little Rock retailer featuring tea and seasonings from a Little Rock maker on the same downtown block.
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER — Across-the-Street Story
Ideal: exterior photo showing the 400 block of E. Third, Fennel & Fire storefront, or Mash & Vine with neighboring context. Recommended crop: landscape 4:3.
FROM TEA GLASS TO COCKTAIL GLASS
Loose-leaf tea can do more than make tea
Fennel & Fire publishes drink ideas that use tea as a flavor base. A concentrated hibiscus or fruit tea can bring color, acidity and aroma to sparkling water, citrus drinks, zero-proof serves and cocktails without relying only on bottled mixers.
That makes the tea shelf a natural fit inside Mash & Vine: it sits comfortably alongside wine, spirits, cocktail ingredients, specialty foods and gifts.
Explore our new and limited wine & spirits releases, or see the Arkansas-made Elrod’s Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup for another local approach to the home bar.
KEEP EXPLORING ARKANSAS
More local and Arkansas specialty foods at Mash & Vine
COFFEE
Onyx Coffee Lab
Arkansas-roasted specialty coffee from Northwest Arkansas. Explore Onyx Coffee Lab →
SEASONINGS
Casks-n-Que BBQ Rubs
Arkansas barbecue seasonings created for smoke, grill and kitchen. Explore Casks-n-Que →
PRODUCE
Driftwood Farms
Arkansas-grown gourmet mushrooms, available as harvests allow. Explore Driftwood Farms →
LOCAL FARM
Field & Feather Farm
A genuinely local source for fresh eggs in Little Rock. Explore Field & Feather →
BAKERY
K. Sweets Bakery
Custom cakes, cupcakes and specialty desserts from a Little Rock maker. Explore K. Sweets Bakery →
COMMON QUESTIONS
Fennel & Fire in Little Rock: FAQ
Where can I buy Fennel & Fire tea in Little Rock?
Mash & Vine Market carries a rotating selection of Fennel & Fire teas and spice blends at 409 E. Third Street in downtown Little Rock. Fennel & Fire’s own Crafting House is nearby at 402 E. 3rd Street.
Is Fennel & Fire an Arkansas company?
Yes. Fennel & Fire was founded in Little Rock by Tay Stratton and is listed in the Arkansas Grown / Arkansas Made directory for tea, spices and rubs.
Are Fennel & Fire teas loose leaf?
Yes. The tea products featured on this page are loose-leaf blends. Mash & Vine’s selection can change, so contact the store if you are looking for one particular blend.
What Fennel & Fire products does Mash & Vine carry?
The current shelf has included Hibiscus Ginger, Strawberry al Limone, Porch Swing and Sweet Mint teas, along with Veggie Heaven, Perfect Salmon, Black Garlic Salt and Steak seasonings. Inventory may change.
Are Fennel & Fire products organic?
Fennel & Fire says its products are made with organic ingredients. That statement is different from saying every finished product carries USDA organic certification, so check the individual package if certification is important to you.
Can I use loose-leaf tea in cocktails or zero-proof drinks?
Yes. Strongly brewed tea can add fruit, herb, spice, color and acidity to mixed drinks. Hibiscus and citrus-forward teas are especially useful in sparkling zero-proof drinks and cocktails.
SHOP LOCAL IN DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK
Find Fennel & Fire at Mash & Vine Market
Browse the current tea and spice selection, discover more Arkansas-made products, and ask us what is new on the shelf.
Mash & Vine Market
409 E. Third Street · Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Learn more about Fennel & Fire at fennelandfire.com.