A dangerously good new trailer is serving up caffeinated teas just off of Perkins Road.
TNT, founded by recent LSU graduates Shaylee Covill and Nick Demas, opened over the Fourth of July weekend. The pair purchased the trailer empty and refurbished it entirely on their own.
“It was a lot of work,” Covill said. “Just to have one little trailer took a year.”
The idea began during a trip to Covill’s hometown of Austin, Texas, when she couldn’t find a loaded tea anywhere. The very next day, the two purchased a trailer and began building the stand from scratch.
Covill, with a background in accounting and digital marketing, manages the creative directions, while Demas, who studied bioengineering, handles operations and more hands-on tasks. The couple describes TNT as a passion project nearly a year in the making, fueled by their shared interest in health and business.
“Nick is super health conscious, so we always try to pick the healthiest options,” Covill said.
Each drink at TNT is fully customizable and designed to be an alternative to traditional energy drinks. The teas contain zero grams of sugar, only 15 calories, and are loaded with vitamins. Prices range from $5.99 to $8.99. A signature drink menu is also available for those who are unsure where to start.
Among the signature options is the Cherry Bomb, a delicious blend of berry, sour dark cherry and blackberry flavors. The drink balances sweetness and tart notes, offering a fruity mix without being overwhelming.
The bright, colorful drinks are intended to be both refreshing and functional, offering an energy boost without the sugar crash. Covill and Demas hope to eventually create their own powders to ensure TNT’s customers have the cleanest and healthiest choices available.
According to Covill, running the tea trailer has allowed the couple to experience entrepreneurship firsthand. She emphasized how much they enjoy having their own business and how the process has allowed them to learn more about the business world together.
Since opening, TNT has extended its reach into the LSU community. The business partnered with LSU’s Panhellenic Council, most notably Phi Mu, to bring drinks to those participating in sorority rush this year. They hope to further expand student outreach in the future.
Though the business only opened two months ago, TNT has already exploded into the Baton Rouge drink scene with a healthier way to stay energized.
TNT is open Wednesday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can find the trailer on 3653 Perkins Road, in the parking lot between The Purple Cow and Jubans.
