JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="mySelect1">
  <option></option>
  <option>Banana</option>
  <option>Monkey</option>
  <option>Fritter</option>
</select> 

<select id="mySelect2">
  <option></option>
  <option>Cream cheese</option>
  <option>Mushroom pie</option>
  <option>French toast</option>
</select>

JavaScript

var text1 = 'Monkey';
//$("#mySelect1").val(text1);

var text2 = 'Cream cheese';
$("#mySelect2").val(text2);


$("#mySelect1").find("option[text=" + text1 + "]").attr("selected", true);