John and Amber Lepage are the proud new owners of A New Leaf Tea and Gifts Cafe, which opened on Main Street early last week. The cafe offers 40 flavours of tea and fresh food. A gift shop featuring the work of First Nations artisans is set to open before July 1. (Keith Lacey photo)
There are too many places to mention where you can find a good cup of coffee in and around Osoyoos, but there aren’t nearly as many options when it comes to finding a good cup of tea.
That’s one of the biggest reasons – but not the only reason – why John and Amber Lepage decided that opening a new tea room in downtown Osoyoos made good sense.
“As a First Nations person, I grew up loving tea as it’s a big part of our culture,” said Amber. “I truly love tea and believe that tea is the new coffee in that people want to experience different flavours.”
As parents of six daughters – including two of their own and several foster children – the Lepage family is the proud new owners of A New Leaf Tea and Gifts Café, which opened for business last Monday beside Elvis Jewelers on Main Street.
A New Leaf now offers 40 different flavours of tea and hope to double that within the first year in business.
The café also offers a healthy menu featuring paninis and wraps, soup, several salads, several different varieties of cheese and some baked goods.
A small section of the tea room will soon be home to a gift shop that will feature artwork created by First Nation artisans. They are hoping to have the gift shop open by July 1.
After more than 20 years working as a social worker in North Vancouver and running a small café with her husband, Amber said she had been looking to open a unique café or restaurant in Osoyoos for the past several years.
“I wanted to do something different after getting burned out from 20 years in social work, so I visited a native elder and he told me that I should be turning over a new leaf,” she said. “Right then I knew that would be the name of whatever business we started.
“About six months ago, my husband and I came up with the concept of opening a tea room with many varieties of tea and some good, healthy food.”
Several of her children, cousins, aunts and uncles volunteered their time to help renovate the café and many of them have stayed on to provide volunteer assistance to help get the business established, she said.
“Right now the entire staff is made up of family members, but I do hope to hire some local Osoyoos people once we’re up and running and hopefully doing well,” she said.
A New Leaf offers “five basic teas” including black and white, green, rooibos and honey bush and each offers several different flavours to make up the 40 varieties that are available in the café, she said.
“All of our tea is organic and we sell every single flavour on our menu in retail packages for those who want to make it at home,” she said.
Several new businesses are opening in downtown Osoyoos and it’s added some excitement to the local retail landscape, she said.
“There a real vibe that downtown is changing and we’re glad to be part of it,” she said.
A New Leaf Tea and Gifts Café is now open seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Store hours will be extended to 9 p.m. in the coming weeks.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
