Downtown business serving up tea, coffee, spices

SALUDA  —  The room is soft and quiet, exuding a sense of a more elegant, genteel time.

Plush, comfy chairs and couches take advantage of sunlight filtering through lace curtains, and the walls are lined with shelves of old cut glass and organic teas.

Mewdlic’s Time Out in Saluda is just that.

It is a chance to stop in the middle of shopping. It is a chance to repose and reflect at the end of a busy workday. It is a chance to take a moment to one’s self, or spend some quality time with friends.

Mewdlic’s owner, Gail Slaughter, describes the new business as a “tea lounge” rather than a tearoom.

“We don’t do high teas,” she said. “We’re not a stuffy tearoom. It’s more like a coffee shop, but with tea.”

At Mewdlic’s, customers can purchase organic teas by the ounce to take home or to give as a gift. They can sit and enjoy a cup of tea and a pastry, play a game of chess or access the free Wi-Fi. For those who prefer it, Slaughter even sells a simple cup of Pisgah Roasters coffee.

“We do sell coffee, but we don’t do the whole barista thing,” Slaughter said.

In addition to the organic teas and pastries, Slaughter offers exotic spices such as garam masala, used in Indian food, or star anise, which she uses to make a creamy carrot soup. The shop also sells sprouting seeds and tea accessories, such as teapots, tea towels and infusers.

Slaughter said some of the most fun items for sale are the children’s tea sets.

“They’re adorable,” she said.

Slaughter, who also owns The Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Saluda, said she decided to open the tea lounge because she has always loved tea.

“Saluda just seems like a place you could relax in a comfy chair, hang out for a while and enjoy a cup of tea,” she said. “People should stop by and find out what a mewdlic is.”

Slaughter plans to hold special events, such as open mic poetry, Moth Stories and educational sessions about the health benefits of drinking tea. The space is also available for private events, and already has an after-hours book club meeting scheduled.

Mewdlic’s had a soft opening last Friday as Saluda business owners stopped in to wish Slaughter success and sample some organic tea.

Slaughter said people can keep in touch through the Facebook page, or for more information, call 828-769-9100 or visit Mewdlic.com.

Slaughter also hopes people will simply stop by the shop, at 66 E. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.