With the Cretan community centered for generations around the local coffee shop, or kafenion, it is of special interest when one of those icon establishments turns its attention to tea.

That's exactly what happened in the picturesque village of Koutouloufari, and the result is an equally picturesque shop called The Art of Tea, which is the brainchild of Manolis Anastasakis.

 "When I started the kafenion here in 2007, I wanted a simple business with something to do with catering, which I missed after working for many years as a waiter," he explained. "I wanted to continue working with the feeling of hospitality, like at home, where I could offer guests some traditional foodstuff from my own village, Gergeri, in the Psiloritis Mountain.  After all, us Cretans have been known for our hospitality since the Minoan times."

Upon opening the kafenion, Manolis thought he could shape it the way he wanted, but finally realized that the kafenion evolved and took a life of its own.

"I also realized that I didn't exactly want a kafenion cum meze place, and the idea of selling more alcohol than anything else in my shop didn't thrill me either," he said. "At the same time, I became extremely conscious of the local ecology . . . and that's why I thought of selling teas and herbs and opened Art of Tea last year."

Manolis explained that he was always into alternative therapeutic methods, which many of his teas and herbs are known for, and, according to experts, are the basis for many types of modern medicines.

"Our inventory regularly includes more than 30 varieties of tea, and many varieties of herbs and spices," he said. "And there are many grown locally throughout the Cretan countryside. Of course," he added, "we still serve freshly ground coffee and some other refreshments, but we have become better known for our teas."

When Manolis opened Art of Tea, it was with a little help from his friends.

"My good friend, Yiannis, who lives in the south of Crete near Mires and is into herbal teas as a hobby, and also into its philosophy, as well as into its marketing, provided me with guidance every step of the way," he said. Another friend, Frixos Hatzinikolaou, is a botanist who lives near Sitia, and has helped establish my shop by holding seminars here about herbalism and alternative therapies, and we are thinking of making it a regular event."

Other events scheduled for this summer are a series of tea tastings and some music evenings or mornings as it might turn out.

"Well known musician Socrates Arvanitakis, who teaches string instruments like bouzouki, baglama, guitar, laute, as well as music theory, has been holding classes here every Wednesday night," Manolis said. "During the summer months his schedule is very full, so we may change it to Sunday mornings. I myself am learning the mandolin."  

The Art of Tea always has a small bouzouki (tzouras), a guitar and a mandolin hanging about its premises, so there is always a good chance of an impromptu jam session. 

"Most of our Wednesdays after the class would end up in a jam session," Manolis said. "Now it could be the Sunday mornings!"

Something else to look forward to this summer is another art exhibition by Domna Delliou from Thesaloniki.

"Her work is awesome, and her first exhibition here last summer was exciting," he remembered. "I don't know the exact date of her arrival but she will come for three weeks either this month or July, and we're all looking forward to her new show."

In keeping with the arts atmosphere, inside the shop there is a blackboard where some profound philosophies are written, and which change every so often . . . philosophies from ancient Greeks like Epicurus, Socrates and others. The ditty written today is by Epicurus.

"It's an idea we came up which sort of took off with a life of its own, with guests, every so often, picking up the chalk and writing one of their favourites," Manolis remarked. "It has become a part of the whole ambiance of The Art of Tea."