After test-tasting over 100 teas from across the globe, 42 are served on the Nirvana Tea House & Caf's menu, all researched by Shift Manager Kelly Harris. The caf only sources from tea farms that are environmentally-friendly and pay their workers fairly, said Owner Ed Williamson, and its teas have traveled from places like South Africa, India, Argentina, Indonesia, Taiwan and Rwanda.

MILLIS Thirteen thousand feet up in the Himalayas, Franklin resident Ed Williamson, his hiking guide, a horseman and a cook set up and broke down tents across the mountain for 10 days last year. They never had to worry about finding a stranger living in a tent on that mountain in Bhutan who wasn't willing to invite them in for a cup of tea.

That welcome over a cup of tea, remind Williamson of his childhood.

The tea was just a way to talk, said Williamson who grew up in Cork, Ireland, with a mother who lit a burner for the teapot whenever company was invited over.

Anyone that came to visit the tea pot went on," he said."I grew up drinking tea, coffee was not something we drank. That whole (experience drinking tea with strangersin theHimalayas) reminded me of home.

Its a concept and a feeling hes infused in opening his own vegan caf and tea house in Millis. He opened Nirvana Tea House & Caf, at 969 Main St., in late June with the help of his three managers - General Manager Keith Maher and Shift Managers Tamra Saegh and Kelly Harris, who came up with the cafs name.

The word nirvana is really about being in a happy place, said Williamson.

Williamson said the vegan and plant-based caf was slated to open earlier this spring, but halfway through completion, the coronavirus pandemic hit.

But if we can survive in this, well do alright, said Williamson, who also owns the Pathways Wellness Center next to the tea house where he teaches tai chi, meditation andmindful living classes. The space where the caf sits was once his studio where he taught classes.

From "meat and potatoes tolentils and quinoa

Growing up in Ireland, Williamson was raised on a meat and potatoes diet, he said, and rarely ate any pasta. He moved to the United States at 23 to find work as a carpenter, first living in Westwood for a week then moving out to Medway in 1985 for a job.

About half a year later he moved to Franklin, where hes lived for the last 35 years. He has his own construction business in town - called Impressions Building Corp. and these last few months during the pandemic haveresulted in lots of work, he said.

Its been crazy busy, everyone that I know in the construction business is doing fine, he said, working mainly on remodeling and home additions. He became a vegetarian 11 years ago when his then 12-year-old daughter,said she waswanted to become avegetarian, and that her father should too.

I thought Id miss (animal products) but I dont, he said. Theres so much good stuff to eat thats vegan.

Veganism was a rare topic of conversation in Ireland when he left in 1985, he said. But last October, he returned to the country and there weremore vegan eateries in his hometown of Cork than in the Milford region.

Satisfying cravings

He wondered if a local vegan placewould ever open in the area.

Because then I dont have to worry about what Im choosing, said Williamson, also an avid tea house customer. He especially loves the Dobr tea franchise, butits closest location is in Northampton.

The caf offers a range of vegan bowls, salads and wraps, from the baba buddha wrap, which features hummus, baba ganoush, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, kalamata olives andred onion with a side of dressed mixed greens, to the lentil love bowl, made with organic white rice, stewed lentils, carrot saut, celery, golden raisins, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, purple cabbage, radishes and coconut curry dressing.

Some of its ingredients travel from Tangerini's Farm in Millis, which also makes treats for the caf based off recipes from Mahar. Currently, those treats include lemon poppy seed matcha bread, chai cakes and blueberry ginger scones.

But thecaf isnt just for vegan customers, Williamson said regular meat-eaters will also enjoy what they have to offer.

His non-vegetarian accountant came in to try the cafs Mediterranean platter the other day, which is served with baba ganoush, a mashed eggplant blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. It was the first time he had tried the concoction.

Hes hooked on it now, said Williamson.

Many individually selected teas

After test-tasting over 100 teas from across the globe, 42 are served on the cafs menu, all researched by Harris.Those teas include black, green, chai, Earl Grey, herbal, oolong, purple, rooibos, white, yellow, iced and tea lattes.

The caf only sources from tea farms that are environmentally-friendly and pay their workers fairly,said Williamson, and itsteas have traveled from places like South Africa, India, Argentina, Indonesia, Taiwan and Rwanda.

In some of those places in Africa, a path for elephants to pass through the farm has been constructed by workers to make space for them as they migrate through. Williamson said they even know some of the names of workers on these farms.

Tea is served to customers at their tables, and at full capacity, seating is offered for about 25 to 30 people,he said.Currently only about half that much seating is available during the pandemic, with another dozen or so seats outside.

Inside is a hand-painted mural of a tea farm by Norfolk-based artist Jason Sawtelle of BlackBeak studios, who also designed the cafs logo. On the floor are two colorful rugs with swirling dragons that once sat inside the king of Bhutans office, a country located near Nepal and above Bangladesh.

Williamsonwas given them by his Himalayan guide who said the rugs were being tossed out of the office because they were too small.

Workersdont accept tips at the caf, said Williamson, stating that he paysthem more than minimum wage at $17 an hour. For those who want to tip, himself and managers are narrowing down three charities for customers to donate to one for hunger relief, another to support the environment and the other to promote human justice. Customers can choose which charity they want to donate to.

The Nirvana Tea House & Caf is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lauren Young writes about politics, social issues and covers the town of Franklin. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenatmilford.

Excerpt from:
Franklin resident opens the vegan-focused Nirvana Tea House & Caf in Millis - MetroWest Daily News