There is no greater gift in life than the gift of tea… can’t figure out what to gift your life-long friend? Tea. Your friend who just became a new mom? Tea. Your thrice removed cousin? Tea. Your greatest nemesis? Tea, so they are always forced to remember you for your exquisite taste. Tea can carry an intimate sentiment or remain as a neutral gift.

You can ring in the new year just right with blooming teas or marvelous options in loose-leaf varieties. Forget the champagne and sparkles, there’s nothing quite as fancy as the perfect cup of tea… I wouldn’t know though because I simply refuse to drink tea unless it’s out of an oversized themed mug (this month it’s in the form of a thermal-changing Vangogh mug).

Therefore, it is with a thank goodness that a new tea shop opened in Beacon, Misstea, a tea shop offering organic loose leaf teas, herbal infusions and other plant based wellness goodies handcrafted in New York, from owners and best friends: Mor Tzivoni and Revital Shoua. They settled the shop into Main Street on the east end of town near Mount Beacon right by the waterfall and blinking traffic light known as the Dummy Light. Founded by two best friends, Mor Tzivoni and Revital Shoua, who over the course of 5 years traveled trips around the world sampling tea from all over such as chai from India and green tea from Japan.

Misstea has long established roots in New York City prior to a permanent residence in Beacon. In 2008, Misstea began as a pop-up booth at the Union Square Holiday Market. Despite the Recession, the right place, time, opportunity, and partner appeared - a moment Mor Tzivoni refers to as “serendipity”. Mor and Revital were attracted to what they describe as Beacon’s “diverse and warm community” especially as this small city mirrors Brooklyn’s liveliness but offers a chance to appreciate the surrounding nature.

Original Tea Blends Are Made At Misstea

The teas and herbs come from all over the world with blenders that work with Misstea’s recipes before being packed at the Beacon shop. Initially, Misstea began with 15 different teas and have since expanded to 40. The first tea flavor produced was a relaxing herbal infusion, appropriately named “Serenitea”. Misstea wanted to provide New Yorkers with a natural way of relaxing at the end of busy days. A quick glance at their collection confirms their specialty remains in herbal infusions.

Grand Opening To Come…(But Is Already Open!)

Misstea hopes to create a lively and cozy atmosphere where people can “enjoy the view, the scents, the flavor, and give a great memory for every customer.” Though the shop opened on October 7th 2020, a grand opening still exists on the horizon. The beginning of the pandemic certainly postponed a grand opening and caused adjustments in planning events and weekend brunches, but never formed a doubt in opening the shop in Beacon. As for concerns of a second wave, Misstea reassures us that with 12 years of experience in making tea, they are not worried about going anywhere as “tea is timeless”. Plus, there is always an option to order online through their shop or select a pick-up in store option.

The tea shop plans to serve pastries, gluten-free snacks, and pairings with different teas… a surprise Misstea promises we can look forward to experiencing. We can expect information on the benefits of tea, teapots served at tables and sets ready-made for special events and holidays. Information on the benefits of their tea as well as products they sell can easily be found on their website here.

It’s always a perfect time to treat yourself with a little self-care tea package. Aren’t sure what to purchase? You’re in luck because Misstea offers daily different samples and the owners are incredibly helpful in narrowing down your search. I left the shop with blooming teas to gift my loved ones, bark tea, their Beautitea, and aspirations to go back for their enigmatic white blossom tea.

Shop their website and follow them on Instagram.

It’s as if there is a Winter Break *just* for getting sick. Right when you have the week off to celebrate the holidays and go wassailing to visit friends, someone or everyone in each family has a stomach bug or bronchitis. So before that pesky tickle cough turns into pneumonia - call your doctor of course in case you need an inhaler - but brew this tea and drink up daily. You can find everything you need to make it right on Main Street in Beacon:

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

a few shavings of fresh ginger

a clove of freshly chopped garlic (optional, if you have extra inflammation)

a slice of freshly squeezed lemon

a teaspoon of honey

your favorite sick-day mug

You might have an old bottle of apple cider vinegar in your cupboard, but do yourself a favor and pitch it. If it’s old, it most likely looks unappealing to you and you’ll skip this recipe. Take yourself to the olive oil store, Scarborough Fare Olive Oil and Vinegar Tap Room, on Main Street, next to the building construction and across the street from Homespun Foods. There you will find a deliciously refined bottle of apple cider vinegar that you’ll actually want to drink.

Next, cross the street to Homespun and select local honey, or the “Super Special” honey from France. Those who go deep with nutrition may prefer the local honey to get more local flower pollen into your body, but if you’re partial to pretty cans and French flowers, try the Super Special honey! That’s what they call it at Homespun, so just ask for it by name. I just bought it for the first time, and I’m an allergy barometer, so I’ll let you know if the foreign flowers make me sneeze. Probably not.

Then, shred a bit of that ginger into the mug with a knife or a cheese grater. Slice up the lemon and squeeze into the concoction.

My favorite sick-day mug is one that I picked up at Wickham Studio’s pop-up Holiday Sale three years ago, as it always fits just the right amount of this tea.

Finally, smell the tea for a while. The aromas will start working immediately on blasting out the unpleasant feelings.

Bonus round! For achy bodies, get thee to a bath right away, and soak in Epsom salts. If you go the route of unscented and un-anythinged, you’ll have only the magnesium sulfate to draw out the toxins from your body and relax muscles. Epsom salt baths are a frequent Mom-recommended thing, and an Internet-recommended thing. Vogel Pharmacy, right next to Homespun, is the place to buy straight up Epsom salts. Your total cure and sickness miracle tea, all in a three-shop radius. Well, save for the ginger and lemon, which are just down the block at Key Food.

Feel better!