JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8/themes/dot-luv/jquery-ui.css">
<ul id="mycustomid">
    <li><a>Item A</a>
        <ul class="children">
           <li><a>Child1 of A</a>
               <ul class="children">
                 <li><a>Grandchild of A</a>
                    <ul class="children">
                       <li><a>Grand Grand child of A</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </li>
               </ul>
           </li>
        </ul>
    </li>
    <li><a>Item B</a></li>
    <li><a>Item C</a></li>
</ul>

JavaScript

$(document).ready(function() {
 var arri = $("#mycustomid>li").text();
 alert(arri);
});