Yerba Mate, the ‘drink of the gods,’ we learn, is from South America, nicely caffeinated, flush with anti-oxidants, and twenty-four vitamins and minerals strong (oh, and there’s also a strong vegetal green flavor, if that’s what you’re interested in). The Makaibari Estate, 1^st Flush, Darjeeling — my friend impishly adds, “the third, soon to be Esquire” — is advertised as organic/fair trade, a spring crop, bright and mild, milk not recommended (apparently there is protocol for this sort of thing). And the Korakundah Estate, Nilgiri (drink it all in!) has a bright liqueur and a smooth taste this season. It’s also organic/fair trade. More things on the menu are than aren’t…

 

Which includes the strictly-for-pleasure substance such as a local artisanal cheese, soup, panino, flatbread, or the not-to-be-missed “Tea All Done Up” ($18). This multi-tiered show of small sandwiches, scones, and assorted desserts is topped off with a pot of tea. Given the wrought iron handle and the waitress’s huge whimsical sleeves, you half expect her to wing it around in the air, skipping to your table to deliver it. Other original offerings: hard ciders, a crab BLT, flourless cupcakes, and a brownie sundae with caramel over Gritty’s Black Fly Stout ice cream (an infamous Maine microbrew, I had no idea had made it to the dairy case).  

 

You can also take your herbs and roots by the ounce to go: ginkgo leaf, marshmallow root, pau d’arco bark, reishi mushrooms whole...but, chances are, you’ll stay to sip pulled snug to a mismatched table in your grandmother’s yard-sale chair (I tapped along to my conversation on a foot peddle seated at a desk for a vintage sewing machine). Or if you’re looking for some friendly competition (perhaps with a wager to help along the apothecary bill), pull one of the many board games shelved in the corner — forgive me, but scrabble is, personally, my cup of tea — and spell out an afternoon of good, old imbibing fun. C³-H⁴-E¹-E¹-R¹-S¹.

 

“Tis a Gift to be Local”

 

HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (207) 725.1376. “At Sweet Leaves, we are committed to…supporting our local Farmers markets, fishermen, foragers, and of course, the fromage folks!”