#LocalFoodieFriday: Fresco Tea Bar
The following post was not sponsored. Opinions are my own.
Before we get into it, let me set the record straight: YES I am on record as a proud Hoosier Hater. Ask anyone that lives on a state border (think New York/New Jersey, Illinois/Wisconsin, Kansas/Missouri) and we will tell you that we hate the other’s driving. It is a well-known fact that all auto accidents in Louisville are caused by drivers from Indiana, and I’m sure they would tell you the same about us. But this isn’t about cars, it’s about tea. And I’m willing to set aside my differences for one business and one business only: Fresco Tea Bar.
I stumbled upon Fresco when a friend and I decided to kill some time by walking across the river on the Big 4 Bridge. Jeffersonville, Indiana is a small town at the foot of the bridge that is allowed to call itself part of Louisville, as far as I’m concerned. Right at the edge of the bridge was a sign for a tea bar. We popped in to see if we could get some refreshment after the walk (and because it looked Instagrammable as hell, let’s be real).
The inside of the century-old building is indeed an Instagram babe’s paradise, with fake ivy on the walls and a macrame swing dangling from the curved staircase in a cozy alcove. Picture-perfect shelves are stacked with products from local makers, including tea, teapots, CBD gummies, essential oil rollers, and bath products. The vibe of the shop is clear: self-care is important and we can help you do it. I felt like I was treating myself to a spa day just by walking in!
The baristas were so kind, helping patrons navigate the menu and suggesting things that they loved. The drink offerings are vast, so I appreciated that the baristas knew what was going on and were able to offer their expertise. It takes someone with patience to handle me when I’m placed in front of a menu with no time to prepare, so godpeed to the girl who took my order without making it seem like I was embarrassingly indecisive.
In the end, I went with an everything bagel with capers and dill cream cheese, washed down with a “Morning Meditation,” which was a blend of juices and extracts. The OJ, beetroot, and blueberry in it would surely be a perfect start to any day. My friend opted for a rose and strawberry lemonade, which struck the perfect balance between fruity and floral. Both drinks refreshed us and prepped us for the walk back across the bridge, and we felt fabulous the whole way home!
The pandemic has been hard on local businesses. The beautiful side of that story is that some local businesses were born because of the pandemic. Fresco Tea Bar is one of those businesses; founders Saera and Ysha wanted a grab-and-go concept that was pandemic safe and brought people joy. They succeeded! Just walking in the doors produced so much serotonin, and that’s before we even got our drinks. So make sure to venture over to the dark side, brave those Indiana drivers, and grab-and-go with your new favorite drink. I’ll see you there!
Until the next #LocalFoodieFriday, here’s to good drinking, great eating, and even better living.
Fresco Tea Bar has two locations at 216 Pearl St. in New Albany and 223 Pearl St. in Jeffersonville (the location visited in this post). New Albany hours are Mon closed, Tue-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm. Jeffersonville hours are Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thur 9am-7pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 11am-7pm.