JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<p>
    <a href="#">option1</a>
    <a href="#">option2</a>
    <a href="#">option3</a>
</p>

<select  id="select"></select>

JavaScript

var selectbox=$("#select");//cache our slectbox, so jquery doesn't have to look for it in every loop.

$('p > a').each(function(){
    var text=$(this).text();
    alert(text.val)
    selectbox.append($('<option>').text(text).val(text));
})