Albert and Casey Luna believe that tea isn’t getting a fair shake. In a world filled with coffee houses and coffee drinkers, tea is so neglected that the Lunas decided it was time for some balance.
They opened Gruene Tea Haus, one of the few artisanal tea shops in the Hill Country, with a mission: to create an environment where tea lovers can come together to experience diverse and unique teas from around the world.
“Tea is fundamentally different from coffee,” Albert says. “Historically, coffee shops have been hotbeds of innovation. It’s just that there’s something about the drink. But tea itself has a relaxing effect. So our goal is to be a place where people who want to try different teas can relax and unwind.”
Gruene Tea Haus specializes in authentic, artisanal teas free of chemicals and additives, plus the Lunas are dedicated to sharing their tea knowledge with guests, ensuring they enjoy every cup they drink, regardless of their experience level.
“It’s been a huge learning curve,” Albert says. “First off, most people in Texas grow up on iced tea. Typically, iced tea has sweeteners added, but iced tea is black tea. There’s nothing wrong with black tea, but this is loaded with sugar and artificially flavored. You don’t find that in natural tea. The tea here is naturally flavored.”
Casey Luna grew up drinking her mother’s favorite Earl Grey tea, but it wasn’t until she discovered the world of chai on a mission trip to India that she found the perfect tea for her.
“I’d been drinking green tea my whole life but I never liked it,” Casey says. “Then I realized I’d been brewing it too hot for too long, which made it bitter. I didn’t know that, but now that I know, I enjoy green tea.”
Casey now likes to drink a perfectly brewed herbal tea in the morning, usually jasmine tea or Moroccan mint green tea.
Albert and Casey Luna both had a dislike for coffee, which led them to explore the world of tea. Together, they discovered that drinking tea has many health benefits.
“That’s not to say that coffee doesn’t have health benefits,” Albert says. “It does: it’s good for cognition, memory, digestion. But most people don’t drink black coffee. They mix it up with a Frappuccino. So you can get all the benefits you get from coffee from tea, without the side effects that come with coffee.”
Luna celebrates the health benefits of different teas and is committed to helping each person find the perfect cup (or cups) that’s right for them.
A Houston native, Albert has traveled the world for years, living in Alaska for several years and visiting Europe and Asia, where his tea journey began. He worked as a public school teacher for 13 years, where he met fellow teacher Casey during a state exam. Casey Luna grew up in New Braunfels and graduated as a unicorn. The two have five children, ages 6 to 12.
The couple opened Gruene Tea Haus in the spring, creating from the ground up a welcoming environment to share the tea they love.
“It really has a great atmosphere,” Albert said. “It’s a really beautiful place.”
Gruene Tea House also offers tea classes. The next class, “Savoring the Deliciousness of Green Tea,” is today from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The class will teach you more about the nuances, flavors and health benefits of green tea. Cost is $10 per person, payable in person at the Gruene Tea Haus, located at 2327 Gruene Lake Dr. in New Braunfels. To reserve your spot online, register at grueneteahaus.com/registration. You can also sign up for the Gruene Tea Haus newsletter to find out about upcoming classes and events.
As we left, Albert Luna said he wanted to share the world of tea with the people of the Hill Country. “It’s all about letting people know how great tea is,” he said. “There’s a reason tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. There’s a reason we’ve been drinking tea for 4,500 years. No matter where you are in the world, [tea] When you go there, you have a place there and it tastes great.”
This article is the second of a three-part series highlighting family-friendly day trips and experiences around Central Texas.
