Though Americans are known coffee-guzzlers, a respite from that morning (or afternoon, or evening) cup o’ joe can be found at You, Me & Tea, a quaint tea bar located in Port Jefferson.
Owners Rob and Susanne Schaffer had always enjoyed drinking tea and collecting teapots, but it was during a trip to Tasmania that they really fell hard for the country’s tea, scones and clotted cream. Upon their return to the states — “when we least expected to reinvent ourselves,” they say — they stumbled upon a tea shop for sale in Port Jefferson. Taking it as a sign of good fortune, they bought the shop and have operated You, Me & Tea ever since.
“We rather impulsively — but instinctively — knew this could work for us,” says Susanne.
You, Me & Tea specializes in premium loose tea, pots and tea accessories such as strainers and steepers. Guests can order their favorite flavors — everything from the classic Earl Grey to the exotic Jasmine Dragon Tears — at the shop’s tea bar, and during nice weather can relax on the shop’s porch. You, Me & Tea also offers a Tea of the Month club, which allows customers to sample various teas over a period of four, six or twelve months.
Susanne notes that the high-stress environment we often find ourselves in makes that time to recharge with a cup of tea all the more important.
“Taking a few minutes forces you to unwind,” she says.
Benefits of drinking tea
If you’re looking for a health boost, tea has been shown to lower blood pressure, encourage weight loss, help in dental hygiene and reduce the risk of stroke, certain cancers and heart disease.
“But if you want the true health benefits of tea you have to drink the loose leaf,” says Suzanne Schaffer.
The brewing process is simple and only “takes a matter of a couple of [extra] minutes,” she assures.
