Our Story

Brothers Jan and Miles Menafee co-founded Ruby Fine Hibiscus Tea, a Black-owned and Chicago-based beverage brand, in the Summer of 2025, after two years of experimentation and feedback from family and friends.

Specifically, Jan’s wife Symone played a special role as the primary taste-tester for Ruby’s soon-to-be signature recipe of hibiscus tea, brewed with ginger, local honey and pink salt. As soon as she felt that the flavor was perfect, Symone encouraged Jan to start selling the drink around their neighborhood.

One thing led to the next, and Ruby made its debut at the Juneteenth Freedom Market at the Salt Shed on June 17, 2025, where Jan and Miles sold out of all the bottles they brought to share with Chicagoans for the first time ever.

Ruby Fine Hibiscus Tea is named after Jan and Miles’s great-grandmother Ruby Wright, who first taught them that you can taste the love in anything that you make. It’s that love that the brothers pour into every bottle of Ruby in honor of their great-grandmother.

Since Ruby’s first day in business, the brand has self-produced nearly 20,000 bottles and distributed them across 15 retail locations and 200 pop-up events, markets and celebrations.

Going into the Summer of 2026, Ruby is looking forward to scaling its production capacity, presence in city-wide retail locations, and collaborations with local creatives, brands, and storytellers.

Want to connect or collaborate? Email us at: info@experienceruby.com