JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-1.11.1.min.js"></script>
<select>
    <option value="">Default</option>
    <option value="1">First</option>
</select>
<button class="def">Default</button>
<button class="fir">First</button>

JavaScript

$("button.def").click(function() {
    $("option[value=]").prop("selected", true);
});
$("button.fir").click(function() {
    $("option[value=1]").prop("selected", true);
});