Carolyn Poncato, café owner, is now selling teas and juices on East Main Street. Photo: Katie Blasl

Downtown Riverhead’s newest tea café is officially open for business.

Vital-A-Tea on East Main Street is serving up more than 30 varieties of tea, along with 12 ounce freshly prepared juices and juice shots.

Customers can relax in an airy sit-down café with their beverage or take home the teas in loose-leaf packages.

Juice shots are prepared fresh from a juicer in the café. Photo: Katie Blasl
Juice shots are prepared fresh from a juicer in the café. Photo: Katie Blasl

“I want everyone to feel like this is a peaceful space where they can sit and relax,” said owner Carolyn Poncato at a ribbon cutting this morning celebrating the café’s grand opening.

Poncato also offers free meditation and yoga sessions at the café every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at noon.

Everything about her café and its beverages, Poncato says, is established in her practice of Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Read more about the story behind Vital-A-Tea here.

Vital-A-Tea is located on the south side of East Main Street, near the Roanoke Avenue intersection.

Family, friends and elected officials attended a ribbon cutting this morning to celebrate the café's opening. Photo: Katie Blasl
Family, friends and elected officials attended a ribbon cutting this morning to celebrate the café’s opening. Photo: Katie Blasl
Poncato has close relationships with both of her children. Her daughter works with her at the café. Photo: Katie Blasl
Poncato has close relationships with both of her children. Her daughter works with her at the café. Photo: Katie Blasl
Photographs from East End Arts' current artist-in-residence, Dawn Daisley, are displayed throughout the café. Photo: Katie Blasl
Photographs from East End Arts’ current artist-in-residence, Dawn Daisley, are displayed throughout the café. Photo: Katie Blasl

The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.