International Comfort: Earth and Tea Cafe

{Photo courtesy of Earth and Tea Cafe}

Earth and Tea Cafe offers a unique experience: dozens of tea options in the comfort of an authentic Indian-inspired atmosphere.

Staycation Ratings:
Food: ★★★★☆ (Unique teas, but small food menu)
Price: ★★★★★ (Really cheap!)
Uniqueness: ★★★★★ (Not many authentic international restaurants around Harrisonburg.)
Comfort: ★★★★★ (Cozy atmosphere with a Moroccan flare)
Overall Experience: ★★★★☆ (Service can be a little slow)


What?

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

The Earth and Tea is the only restaurant of its kind in Harrisonburg. It offers an extensive tea menu, as well as small-portioned meals, that give Harrisonburg dining an international Moroccan flare. The tea menu offers everything from light teas, such as rooibos, or heavy teas, such as their Masala Chai. All of the teas are homemade and natural. Each tea is around $3.00 for a small pot, for $5.00 for large if you feel like sharing with a friend. You can sit at table, or relax in one of the many vintage-styled couches that line the walls.

Why? 

Why is this restaurant worthy of your stay-cation? It is one of the few places in Harrisonburg that offer an authentic international experience. Harrisonburg is a diverse area, so you mine as well learn about the cultures you are immersed in everyday.


Who?

If you are a student, this is the perfect place to bring your books and study. Forget about Carrier Library; go to Earth and Tea and relax with a huge pot of tea. But, if you are family, don't hesitate either. They offer many kid friendly options, such as decaf tea, smoothies, and hot chocolate. And, for the parents, they have a beer and wine menu.


When?

Earth and Tea Cafe is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. every Monday through Saturday, and it is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays. However, it's menu is primarily breakfast and lunch, so plan to go to Earth and Tea Cafe if you are looking for a hefty dinner.


Where?

If you are interested in trying Earth and Tea Cafe, just head to Downtown Harrionsburg. It is located right on South Main Street, next to Cat's Cradle.

My Experience?

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

I am a huge tea drinker; so imagine my excitement when I opened up the menu. There are over thirty different tea options, and almost all of them are loose-leaf tea. They are brewed on the spot, and given to you in your own personal tea pot; you can the tea pour into your cup as you please.

I tried the Masala Chai. This tea is a bit more expensive than the rest; $4.00 for a small pot. But, it was worth it. The tea is thick and creamy, and has just the right amount of spice for a chai tea. My friend, who tagged along with me on this excursion, decided to purchase a Rooibos Vanilla Cream, and that was equally as tasty. It's light with a small hint of vanilla, which gives it an extra flare compared to most Rooibos teas.

I also decided to try one of the food options, and decided upon the Monte Cristo Sandwich. In short, it's a ham, turkey and swiss sandwich battered in an egg and milk mixture and deep-fried. Anything fried is delicious, but this sandwich didn't even taste like it was friend; which is a good thing! It was so lightly battered and fried that it was still soft (like a sandwich should be), but warm with a little bit of crunch. I'm not a fan of heavily fried foods, so that was a pleasant surprise.

My only critique is the service. Our waiter was kind and polite, but the restaurant was a little understaffed. There were only two employees there, and with about half of the restaurant full, it was hard for them to attend to everyone well.