Cadfael's Page Cadfael's Herb & Tea Shop

Who is Cadfael?

Elaine's Tea Shoppe was originally named Cadfael's Herb & Tea Shop. We've changed the name Elaine's simply because it's easier to remember, pronounce, and spell. But, we still greatly admire the character of Cadfael, and have decided to keep him on at the shoppe as our very own patron saint. His desire to help enrich the lives and ease the discomfort of others is parallel to our mission.

Cadfael is the main character in the Brother Cadfael Mysteries which have been part of the PBS Murder Mystery Series. These are based on the Brother Cadfael Chronicles books, written by Ellis Peters, pen name of Edith Pargeter. She authored 20 Cadfael books in all, and many other books. She was a specialist in medieval studies and the Cadfael books are a highly accurate look into the harsh realities of medieval life.

Brother Cadfael, the only fictional character in the series, is both herbalist and detective, and was born in Trefriw, Gwynedd, Wales. As a young man, he left his love to travel to the Holy Land, vowing to return from the crusades to marry her. But, while on the crusades he met a young Syrian woman named Mariam, whom he stayed with for one year. However, the crusades called him again, and he left her as well to follow his desire to serve God. Unbeknownst to him, his time with Mariam had led to a son.

It was 26 years later that he finally returned to England. By this time, his first love had married another. Cadfael had grown weary of his wandering, and a chance encounter with a Benedictine monk at the age of 40 gave him the direction he would take for the rest of his life. He joined the Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul in Shrewsbury and it is at this point that the Chronicles encounter him.

He is a wise soul with worldliness and intensely keen perceptions which he uses to root out evil and solve crimes. He serves his God by tending the monastery's herb gardens, and uses his wisdom and collective knowledge of plants and herbs to cultivate medicines and tonics to enhance the lives of his fellow brothers and the local villagers.