Tea Nook

A wellness-minded family opened a dedicated tea room at 106 Wimberley Square, and it's already slinging blooming tea and grandma's sleep blend

Wimberley has coffee shops on every corner and boutiques to match, but until this year nobody on the square was pouring loose-leaf tea the way Tea Nook does. The new shop opened on the Wimberley Square this spring and has settled into its spot as a quiet alternative to the usual coffee run.

The story. Teanookshop was created by Chris Valdez, Joe Valdez, Charlie Valdez and Avery Cox, who all have a background in the health and wellness industry. It grew out of another local business of theirs, Nature's Choice Wellness, and the owners describe opening a tea shop as a natural extension of that mission, continuing their focus on plant-based, functional and wellness-driven products. As co-owner Avery Cox put it, "There's been kind of a need for tea in Wimberley. There's a lot of coffee shops [and] there's a lot of boutiques, but there's nowhere that has loose leaf tea." The shop officially opened Sunday, March 15.

The vibe. This isn't a grab-and-go counter. The cozy interior offers a place to gather and sip, with tables for two and a communal table to trade tea talk with other enthusiasts, plus books to pick up and read, homemade scones and cookies, and plants from Blooming Basket. Knowledgeable staff and free tastings let visitors leave with a better understanding of premium tea culture and what the shop offers. It's the kind of place you duck into after walking the square and end up staying twenty minutes longer than planned.

What to order. As the newest shop on the square, Tea Nook offers premium handcrafted loose leaf teas sourced directly from tea estates, including black teas, white teas, oolong, rooibos and green teas, several types of spiced chai, floral and herbal blends, and unique iced tea blends. The showpiece is the blooming tea — artisans from the Yunnan Province in southwestern China hand-tie a bundle of dried tea leaves around an edible flower, and once steeped in hot water, the ball gradually opens to reveal the flower. For something to take home, the shop's own-blend herbal lineup runs Mother Gaias, Sunkissed Meadows, Crimson Grove and Lover's Lust, each $34.99 for a bag off the shelf. Bagged classics like Bombay Chai ($34.99) and Apple Cinnamon or Chamomile ($29.99 each) round things out. Four one-of-a-kind herbal blends are reportedly a grandmother's recipe handed down for their efficacy, and the popular "Serene Tea" blend is effective for initiating sleep — ask for it if you're having trouble winding down.

Good to know. Owner Chris Valdez says the teas are "very potent because they come directly from established estates and do not have syrups and other artificial ingredients." The shop is kid-friendly, family-friendly and wheelchair accessible, and it's veteran-owned.