Mikaila Ulmer got her start through Lemonade Day Austin (Credit: Josh Huskin)
Her long lashes accentuate bright eyes that radiated one word, happiness. Sporting a plaid skirt, white button down blouse and a pair of Nike tennis shoes, the young woman sitting opposite me exuded a vibrant energy that was contagious!
I’m not sure which was sweeter, Mikaila Ulmer, the founder of BeeSweet Lemonade, or the liquid in my glass that tasted like summer. Mikaila bounced in her seat with excitement as she explained a recent trip to Los Angeles where she was invited to swim with the sharks, though not the kind that slice through the Pacific. She was invited to appear on a recent episode of Shark Tank, a TV series where entrepreneurs pitch their business idea in hopes one of the judges will financially back their creative endeavor.
Mikaila’s request: $60,000 to expand her lemonade empire. And she got it!
What makes Mikaila’s story unique isn’t that she went on national TV, or that one of the judges chose to put money into making her expansion dream a reality. What makes this Austin Queen of Lemonade unique? She’s only 10 years old.
The Goodness of Granny
10 year old Mikaila Ulmer, founder of BeeSweet Lemonade
A flurry of animated honey bees help to explain Mikaila’s motivation and inspiration behind each refreshing beverage,
“BeeSweet Lemonade with flaxseed and honey, is a very special lemonade. I found the yummy recipe in my great granny Helen’s 1940’s-era cookbook. I love honey, and as a social entrepreneur, I love educating families about the importance of bees in our ecosystem. A portion of my profits go to organizations working hard to help honeybees. Buy a Bottle. Save the Bees!”
Mikaila’s goal is simple and has been a compass guiding her to success, to create a delicious glass of lemonade that combines the health benefits of her grandmother’s recipe, while also helping honeybees prosper by using locally sourced honey.
BeeSweet Lemonade has four flavors to choose from: mint, ginger, prickly pear and iced tea. As a bonus, you won’t find: added sugar, caffeine or preservatives. Each offers only natural ingredients.
BeeSweet Lemonade’s four flavors (Credit: Sanders/Wingo)
I’ve sampled two flavors so far, mint and ginger (prickly pear and iced tea arrive in May). My taste buds were delighted and my thirst quenched!
The Sweet Taste of Nostalgia
Sipping my ice cold lemonade offered something I wasn’t prepared for, a fresh gulp of nostalgia. I recalled a time when dreams were simple and didn’t stretch beyond the driveway, like having a lemonade stand. The taste reminded me of days when the sting of a bee was the worst of fears, and when sharing a glass of lemonade with my grandmother was an option. I tasted summer youth, and it was sweet.
While it’s nice to reflect on the past, growing up has its benefits too. For a little indulgence, try mixing equal parts of prosecco with your glass of BeeSweet. It’s a pleasant way to ease the occasional sting of adulthood…and it tastes really good!
Whatever stage of life you’re in, it pays to BeeSweet.
Visit BeeSweetLemonade.com to find a retailer near you.
@theAustinot wants to know:
Have you tried 10 year old Mikaila’s BeeSweet Lemonade?
What a wonderful story of a dreamer. I think you have heard the saying, “If you can dream it, you can do it”. I can’t imagine what she will be like by the time she is 20. Maybe she will be one of the hosts on “Sharktank”!! You captured her perfectly.
What a sweet story! 🙂