Greenwood Soul Mates — Kenny Tate
What is “soul?”
For us, “soul” represents that unique essence each person contributes to their community, weaving a colorful tapestry of stories, talents, cultural experiences, and more. In Greenwood, this tapestry is formed by numerous unique individuals who embody the city’s mantra – “Delta Spirit, Southern Soul.” Their captivating stories and deep connections to the region’s food, music and history define our identity as a town and make Greenwood such an extraordinary place to visit. These remarkable individuals are our “Soul Mates.”
Today’s Soul Mate is LaKendric “Kenny” Tate. He is the Chef and Owner of “Mrs. Tate & Grandson Southern Style Teacakes,” a booming baking business shipping teacakes and more around the country. Thanks to Kenny, delicious southern sweets are being enjoyed not only by the people of Greenwood but all across the United States!
Kenny Tate talks about teacakes like an art historian would describe the Mona Lisa.
“Teacakes have been around me for my whole life. They’re a culture. The earliest teacakes come from our ancestors in the 1700 and 1800s – before the sugar cookie, before the oatmeal cookie, all of those – there were teacakes.”
When listening to Kenny describe the cornerstone of his business — teacakes made from his grandmother’s family recipe — it’s hard not to get swept up in his excitement. Even without a taste, you know that you want to take a bite — a sentiment Kenny is more than inclined to agree with, considering he initially founded his business due to an apparent lack of teacakes in his hometown of Greenwood.
One day in 2013, Kenny Tate was hungry for teacakes and noticed he couldn’t find them anywhere — at least, not as readily available as other, more popular cookies. Even if he could find them, he knew deep down nothing would match the singularly delicious flavor of his grandmother’s home-baked teacakes. This realization led him straight to the source: Mrs. Tate herself.
Kenny called his grandmother, who had just moved to North Carolina after years of selling her teacakes in Greenwood and asked her for the family recipe. Mrs. Tate did him one better — she had a class reunion to attend in Greenwood that very same year — so she came down, taught Kenny the family recipe, and even bestowed upon him the family cooking pot she used to make teacakes with her entire life.
The torch had been passed, and the rest was history.
Kenny started making teacakes straight out of his kitchen, officially establishing “Mrs. Tate & Grandson Southern Style Teacakes” in 2019. Today, his kitchen supplies teacakes to more than 19 states, including Hawaii!
What’s the secret to Kenny Tate’s success? One could assume strong word of mouth, but he’s confident it’s that one-of-a-kind flavor.
“There’s a taste to my Grandma’s teacakes, a smell. Even if you can find teacakes these days, others just can’t match my Grandma’s.”
Despite his ever-expanding audience, the people of Greenwood have always supported Kenny.
“Even though my business has expanded across the United States, it never would have been possible without the people of Greenwood. They supported my passion from day one, and they have never stopped.”
Kenny is so confident in his teacakes that he believes it would only take one sample to turn first-time visitors into loyal customers, but he doesn’t claim all the credit for such popularity.
“My teacakes always keep people coming back, but Greenwood itself also plays a part in that. This community wraps its arms around you the second you walk into town. It brings a feeling of love and care that’s hard to forget.”
For Kenny Tate, his business isn’t just about making people happy. It’s also about sharing the teacake culture he’s so passionate about.
“There’s something special about watching your own passion open up a dialogue between people of different backgrounds, generations, and more. Those conversations and connections are much bigger than me, and I have Greenwood to thank for that legacy.”
Kenny believes his legacy in Greenwood will be the impact of his business – what started as a craving for a teacake and a shared passion. The “soul” that he brings as a Greenwood Soul Mate, as well as his teacakes, will forever be remembered by the people of our city.
Of course, Kenny is most thankful for his grandmother and her teacake recipe that got him to where he is today. He takes special care to mention that he hasn’t changed the recipe since receiving it. Underneath Kenny Tate and his grandmother’s loving bond and his delicious teacakes, Greenwood is at the heart of it all. That’s why if Kenny had to describe Greenwood in a single word, it would be “home” because there is no Mrs. Tate and Grandson Southern Style Teacakes without it.
“I’m so proud of my teacakes, but I am even prouder to have started my business in Greenwood. This place is unlike anywhere else, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people and place, I call home.”
If you’d like to order some of Kenny’s incredible teacakes for yourself, just visit the official Mrs. Tate and Grandson Southern Style Teacakes Facebook page!
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For more information about Greenwood and our Soul Mates, please visit our Facebook page & follow us on Instagram.