Tea shop opens in Downtown Rutland

Article originally published as “Tea shop opens in downtown Rutland” by Gordon Dritschilo

September 25, 2023

Rutland Herald

It’s teatime in Rutland.

Loose Loona Gifts and Tea House opened over the weekend at 11 Center St., filling the storefront vacated when Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum moved around the corner to Merchants Row.

“I’m a tea enthusiast,” said proprietor Michelle Cordeiro, who previously had a career in hospital administration. “I wanted to go to a tea shop downtown but I also thought we needed a gift shop downtown. I thought that those were a good fit together. ... I’ve lived in Rutland County since 2004. There weren’t a lot of places for us to go near here that offered different types of gifts. We had Truly Unique. They retired — good for them — but it left a hole.”

Pieces for sale in the shop range from glassware to candles to felt flowers to painted seashells. Cordeiro said she tries to work with area craftspeople, including a jeweler in Wallingford and a glassblower in Stowe.

On the refreshment side, Cordeiro said 87% of millennials are tea-drinkers. They have 70 types of tea available by the cup or the pot and tea leaves may be bought in 4-ounce or sample-size bags. Offerings range from familiar choices like Earl Grey and English Breakfast to the strong, smokey-tasting lapsang souchong to flavored teas, like a watermelon oolong.

“Tea lovers are like people who are into fine wine,” she said. “There are all sorts of different flavors. Depending on what mood you’re in, you might want a different tea.”

A menu of small plates allows patrons to mix-and-match snacks, such as prosciutto and blue cheese crostini, blueberry streusel, stuffed dates, biscotti and shortbread.

“We really wanted to have a very comfortable, warm atmosphere,” she said. “On the menu we have the definition of ‘fika,’ which is a Swedish word. It is a break from activity with friends. ... Everybody takes a break and they’ll have tea and some light food.”

Cordeiro said she may host tea-tastings and other events.

“I just spoke with a local yoga instructor who asked about doing a yoga event before we open in the morning — tea and yoga,” she said.

The shop will be open every day but Tuesday. She said they got off to a strong start, though business dropped off some on Sunday.

“I think people still aren’t used to anything being open on Center Street on a Sunday,” she said.