Newly opened
A new little place serving teas and healthy foods just opened in September 2012 in Fort Lauderdale near the Gateway Theater and Sunrise Blvd.
Maureen Ruggeri
is the woman behind the cafe and she is a true tea aficionado.
In upstate NY she started doing tea parties in the early 90’s. These eventually grew into larger events (English costume parties and Showers) and then ultimately a catering business and a “parlorish” Tea Room, as she explains.
Tea Bar
Here in Florida she has kept her teashop more laid-back.
The cafe has a very personal decor with welcoming atmosphere and is decorated with all sorts of tea paraphernalia, like the tea pot collection on one wall.
Most of these pots are for sale, except for a few on top, like the cute fish tea pot.
Back to the teas
“It is a passion” Maureen says, “I love to blend teas and help with ailments and I also love people”.
She offers her customers various brewed teas, elixirs blended with herbs, tonics with green tea, and several teas in loose weight, as well as a few healthy dishes.
eat the tea – Tea Bar & Super Foods
is what the sign says. Her concept is that tea, the common tea leaf, Camellia Sinensis, is edible. For instance, when you order her fruit based rooibos tea, you drink the beverage and then eat the fruit and herbs, whatever is left.
Besides she uses other super foods like gojiberries, pomegranates, kale and sprouts. Some she puts in her tea blends and some in her food. You will find tea in all her foods as well.
Special teas
She recommends the house blend for Florida weather. This tea is also full of fruits and herbs, which you eat once you have finished the beverage itself. “Do you have any personal favorites?” I ask her. “It all depends on the mood I am in.” Maureen replies. In the future she wants to get more of the rare teas, the higher end, but which are also more expensive.
The foods
“I love what I do”, Maureen states “and I make everything fresh!”
When I visited she had Lentil Soup, Kale Salad, Sandwiches –Not-Tuna, Kale, Avocado
– and for dessert a raw torte, Chocolate “Cheesecake”.
Events
Maureen wants to start doing monthly events. The first one she arranged was known as “Tea Club” and the next one coming up is called “No-tech Tea”. The speaker’s theme is how to get off the tech – texting or checking your emails constantly. The tea blend Maureen will then serve is going to be equally nice and relaxing.
Coffee
And for those of you who wonder, what about coffee? Yes, she serves coffee and organic it is.
Stop by
and check out Maureen’s Tea Bar.
Relax and drink a cup o’ tea
– and remember to say hi from me!
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise Blvd, a couple of blocks west of Galleria Mall, but east of the Gateway Theater.
Address: 900 NE 20th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Phone: 754-200-8355
Hours: Tue, Wed, Thurs. 11AM – 5PM, Fri & Sat 11AM – 7PM, Sun 12PM – 4PM, Mon closed.
By Åsa Paul-Johansson
On the Lime – Raw Foods
Fort Lauderdale area, Florida, USA
