Photos by Jamie Alexander
Crashuanya Hartsfield said Hart & Soul Beverages started off when she was a kickboxing coach and cardio instructor who noticed her students were having a difficult time staying hydrated both in and outside of class. From there, she started crafting infused waters and other drinks to help her students even when they weren’t in practice.
Eventually, she started to trade the waters for her cold-pressed juices and herbal teas, which have made their way around town at different events and restaurants. One of her first partnerships in the community came with Matt Weafer at Niko’s Bakery and Cafe. There, Hartsfield keeps juices stocked for people to enjoy during their stay at the restaurant.
Hartsfield said that the thing that she thinks keeps people coming back is the fact her drinks supply a unique, all-natural experience. The drinks include infused teas, blends and some waters that are all naturally sweetened with agave. In addition, she includes natural herbs and dehydrated fruits while trying to consider how the drinks affect the body holistically. And she tries to educate her customers about the different effects the drinks have on the body and how some foods are better than others. “My blends they’re different. I don’t think they’re being offered in certain locations. But it’s different, and I love seeing my customers return. And not only returning, but they’re spreading the word and other people are coming in and buying something different,” Hartsfield said.
And the word has spread throughout town and surrounding areas as she’s often heading out of town for jobs and events, as well. Since summer has hit, she has plans for a very packed and busy season with events and personal orders. This marks her second year with Hart & Soul Beverages. The last two years in review have been two things for her: rewarding and challenging. She said that as a single mom, juggling jobs and operating a business with no official location yet has been difficult to overcome. “Sometimes I’m going to multiple stores because something’s not at a particular store that I usually shop at, and I’m staying up all times of the night,” Hartsfield said. The rewarding part comes where people are able to enjoy the juices and learn more about healthy alternatives, but that’s not the only rewarding part. It’s the way that God has continued to show up to her throughout her time. Little moments across the entirety of the two years she has seen God provide moments of solace in her stress. “He provides. He literally does, every time I’m at the Farmer’s Market, He provides. Every time I’m at an event,” Hartsfield said.
Hartsfield detailed a moment when she traveled to Paris, Tennessee where she arrived with no money in the cash box. Worried she wasn’t going to be able to break change or be prepared for the day ahead, she said she took a moment to reflect. And by the time the event was over, she left with a box full of money and much less worry than she arrived with. These lessons she not only pockets for herself to learn from, but she also shares them with her children as they see her continue to pursue her dream. Ultimately, that’s one of the biggest takeaways Hartsfield has for the company. While she is thankful to continue to provide a unique all-natural experience for her customers, she hopes the exposure she’s providing to her children is effective long-term. “I teach my kids not even to have faith in the things that we think are allowing us to feel blessed. Have faith in God first because that’s the one was blessed us with those things,” Hartsfield said. In the future, she looks forward to continuing those ties she’s made in the community, but also expanding beyond the area, potentially expanding just over the river. To learn more about her and order drinks, she said head to her Facebook page or her website.
