What began as a lifelong routine has grown into a purpose-driven wellness brand rooted in culture, community and care.
Basking Ridge resident Sarai DeLeon is the founder of Glow From Within, a specialty tea company that blends Colombian home-remedy traditions with modern formulation and intentional sourcing. Launched in January 2025, the brand reflects more than two decades of personal tea study and daily practice, along with DeLeon’s professional background in marketing and brand development.
In addition to leading her tea company, she supports marketing and brand efforts for her husband Travis’ business, Sparkle Floors & Carpet, and credits his steady support as a driving force behind the brand’s launch and growth.
“Tea has been part of my life for more than 20 years,” DeLeon says. “Growing up in a Colombian household, tea was how we soothed discomfort, supported our bodies and took care of each other.”
That foundation shaped Glow From Within’s mission: to create functional, flavorful blends that support everyday wellness while encouraging people to slow down and reconnect with themselves.
Tradition Meets Intentional Formulation
Each Glow From Within blend starts with ingredients tied to traditional herbal use and cultural practice. DeLeon shares she researches plant properties and historical applications before finalizing any formula. She is also pursuing herbalism certification to deepen her technical understanding of herbs and holistic wellness.
Her first blend, hiBLISScus, centers on hibiscus, a botanical widely used in Latin American traditions. After experimenting with combinations at home, she developed a formula that balances hibiscus with spices, fruits and botanicals to soften its tartness while preserving its character.
A second blend, VibranTEA, is built on green tea and includes botanicals such as calendula, nettle leaf, licorice root and rose petals, along with tropical fruit notes. The goal, she emphasizes, was to create a smoother, more approachable green tea experience without added sweeteners.
“I wanted blends that taste good as they are,” DeLeon says. “No sugar, no extras required. Just a balanced, enjoyable cup.”
DeLeon began by hand-blending loose-leaf teas before partnering with a New York manufacturer to scale production while maintaining ingredient standards and certifications. She continues to experiment with new formulations and is always working on developing new brews that reflect both tradition and innovation.
Effortless Brewing for Busy Lives
While she values loose-leaf tea, DeLeon designed the retail line around convenience. Glow From Within uses plant-based, biodegradable tea bags made with polylactic acid derived from renewable sources, rather than conventional plastic-based sachets.
She calls the approach “effortless brewing,” built for people who want quality and function without added steps.
“Wellness should fit into your life,” DeLeon notes. “It should not feel complicated.”
Looking ahead, DeLeon is expanding beyond tea blends and will begin offering custom teapots along with tea cups and saucers, creating a more elevated, at-home tea experience that reflects the brand’s aesthetic and intention.
A Family and Community Brand
Glow From Within is also a family-supported venture. DeLeon works closely with her husband and shares the power of consistent support at home has been essential to building the brand. She credits Travis as a key part of the company’s foundation, from operational support to day-to-day encouragement behind the scenes.
Her parents’ influence is central to the company’s story. Her mother, Sara Nuñez, founder of the Dream to Succeed Foundation, encouraged her entrepreneurial goals and purpose-driven leadership. Her father, Rodolfo Espinosa, a wood artist, modeled discipline and creativity through his craft.
“From my mother, I learned belief and leadership. From my father, I learned work ethic and creativity,” DeLeon says. “Glow From Within carries both.”
The brand has established early retail placement across northern New Jersey, including:
Rebecca’s Collection, Bernardsville
BHome, Bernardsville
Blue Cafe, Basking Ridge
Soho Nails, Bernardsville
Cryo Contouring Studio, Bernardsville
East Coast Organic Coffee Bar, Rockaway
Allison Handler Design Studio, Ridgewood
Cris Correa Esthetics, Wharton
Direct online sales at glowfromwithintea.com
More Than Tea—A Wellness Philosophy
At the center of the brand is a guiding phrase, “Rooted in Radiance,” defined by DeLeon as staying grounded in identity, purpose and authenticity while cultivating inner strength and self-respect.
She describes each cup as a reset moment, a daily pause that supports both physical and emotional well-being.
Glow From Within is also launching a monthly “Moment of Peace” initiative, donating tea to community-serving professionals, including teachers, nurses, first responders and health care workers, as a gesture of appreciation and stress relief.
Looking Ahead
Future plans include additional blends focused on sleep, liver support and stress balance, along with expanded wholesale partnerships with cafes, spas, boutiques and hotels. DeLeon is also developing pop-up wellness events featuring tea mocktails, collaborative tastings and local business partnerships.
“Glow From Within is more than tea,” she explains. “It is tradition, education, creativity and community coming together. It is a reminder that your glow starts inside.”
Readers can follow @glowfromwithintea for updates and ordering information. The company is also offering a SOMERSET code for 20% off orders of two or more teas through May 31.
For a women-focused issue centered on purpose, partnership and well-being, the message is simple and steeped in intention: wellness can begin with something as small and as powerful as a daily cup.
Website: glowfromwithintea.com
"Growing up in a Colombian household, tea was how we soothed discomfort, supported our bodies and took care of each other.” - Sarai DeLeon