Public relations senior Michael Heibel watches the rain and enjoys a sandwich in the Cutty Sark Room of Wanderer’s Teahouse, 547 E. Grand River Ave. MSU alumna Elizabeth Marazita and her husband Michael Spano opened Wanderer’s Teahouse and filled it with inspirations from their own experiences with various tea from around the world. The business closed in May 2013 and will not be reopening.
Students have a new option for everything from hangover cures to midterm stress in the recently opened Wanderer’s Teahouse and Café.
The teahouse, located at 547 E. Grand River Ave., opened Wednesday by married couple Elizabeth Marazita and Michael Spano.
“The idea is to have community groups, MSU groups or local groups come and have afternoon tea or snacks or meetings,” Marazita said.
Tea blends designed to calm nerves, help with hangovers and other ailments will be developed, she said.
The teahouse features 32 types of organic tea, as well as coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads, Spano said. There are areas designated for meetings as well as a ride board, book exchange and children’s play area.
Wanderer’s Teahouse and Café is a manifestation of both Spano’s and Marazita’s interest in healthy living and herbal Chinese medicine, he said.
As a banker, Marazita travelled through Europe, South America and Asia for 25 years and ended up in China, she said.
“That’s when my life really got out of balance because it was a lot of stress,” Marazita said. “To cope with my stresses, I learned Tai Chi, (a Chinese meditative exercise), and then from there I decided to move (to Seattle) and study Chinese medicine.”
Marazita met Spano in medical school and from then on China was an integral part of their lives, she said.
“We adopted our daughter from China and we go there regularly,” Marazita said. “For our honeymoon, we traveled the Silk Road, and while we were travelling the Silk Road we stopped at every teahouse on the way, and we learned about these teas.”
The couple hopes to share their combined knowledge about the health benefits of tea and organic foods with the community, Spano said.
Spano and Marazita were both certified as master Chinese herbalists by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
“We provide an excellent variety of teas that are all handpicked,” he said. “We also hope to provide classes and be interactive with the community.”
Marazita said she will offer a “Tai Chi and Tea” class this fall to teach community members about the benefits of drinking tea and practicing the ancient Chinese meditative exercise.
Other local study hubs such as Bubble Island, located at 515 E. Grand River Ave., also serve tea and snacks, but do not attract the same business, said Ariana Warfield, Bubble Island’s general manager.
“Most of our teas are more flavorful, and they go to broader base community,” she said. “Bubble tea is more fun. When you have different gummies and jellies, it perks peoples interest.”
Features of Wanderer’s Teahouse such as the children’s play area and calm atmosphere are aimed at attracting MSU students, Spano said.
Study spots are always in high need, plant biology junior Alex Corrion said.
“Especially during exam week, it’s nice to get out of your house or apartment,” he said.
Students with children face a special challenge when studying, Spano said.
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“When we talk about what we provide for students, we forget that a lot of them are parents, and they are shut out from a lot of places,” he said.
Ideally, the teahouse would become a community place for both students and East Lansing residents, Spano said.
“I didn’t move here to run a business and never walk outside the door,” he said. “We want to interact with our neighborhood, and I think that everybody is welcome here.”
