Whether you are looking for a perfectly brewed cup of iced or hot tea, a wildly famous Moonraker Magic Lemonade, a little sprinkle of edible sparkles or some Boba mixed in to your favorite drink, you’ll find it all and more at Moonraker Tea Shop on Ocracoke Island.
This quaint and cozy, one-of-a-kind shop not only serves a wide selection of delicious and refreshing drinks, but also offers a variety of high-quality loose teas, spices, gifts and other treasures that make it a favorite destination for locals and visitors.
“I want people to visit Moonraker because they're going to have a good time, they're going to get a really refreshing beverage and they're going to be able to smell and taste things that they might not get to try other places,” says owner Maria Holt, who adds that her shop is filled with international and hard-to-find products from companies whose practices are environmentally and socially responsible.
Since Holt was a young child on vacation, Ocracoke has always had a special place in her heart, as has tea. Combining those passions, Holt and her mother, Charlene Langer, opened Moonraker Tea Shop in Spencer’s Market in July 2018.
Holt grew up drinking iced tea, and in college she was lucky enough to have friends from the Middle East and Asia who introduced her to high-quality teas and spices.
“There is so much that you can do with tea,” Holt explains.
From herbal teas to fruit-based teas, they can be brewed and used as mixers for alcoholic drinks, mocktails, infusions and even cuisines using tea leaves for flavor. And in the summer, there are so many wonderful ways to make a refreshing glass of iced tea, such as sun brewing or cold brewing. It’s no wonder tea is the second-most consumed beverage in the world after water.
Visiting Moonraker is not only about the top-quality products that guests can expect to find. It’s also about the experience they will have when they walk into the shop.
“I had a mentor who said that if you can learn to drink tea, you can make friends anywhere in the world,” Holt says. “So people should come to Moonraker Tea Shop to make friends and have a cup of tea. I think the whole world needs to sit down over a cup of tea and enjoy what it is to be a human and a member of the worldwide community.”
Tea Shipments
If you can’t make the trip to Ocracoke or you want to restock a tea you found at Moonraker, they offer online ordering at moonrakerteashop.com. All your favorite products can be shipped directly to your door.
587 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke
(252) 928-0443
moonrakerteashop.com
About the Author Michelle Wagner
Michelle has been writing about the Outer Banks for 25 years. She lives on Colington Island with her husband, two children and a number of dogs and cats.
