Connecticut Avenue Shop Caters to Tea Connoisseurs

Today we have a guest post from Ashley Lusk. Ashley is an active member of DC’s food community and writes for her own blog Metropoetrylis. You can find her on Twitter at @arlusk. – Alejandra Owens

In D.C. you’ll often meet people with a passion for politics or coffee — or both. They seem to go together: long hours spent working on the Hill or for an advocacy group fueled by coffee.

But have you met one with a passion for tea? Peter Martino, who, along with his wife Manelle, owns the mini-chain of Capital Teas shops, is such a person.

At their new location in Dupont Circle, Martino is in the business of making tea converts. After all, it’s another caffeine alternative for the city’s workaholics.

“We want to make tea brewing fun, easy — an experience for folks,” he says. The company’s website says they are “fifth generation fine tea merchants.”

The Dupont location which opened in late May, has more than 120 loose-leaf teas and infusions and will be offering tea by the cup beginning in late June. Each quarter, Martino adds 10 new teas to the collection.

The store is a sensory pleasure to visit, with beautiful rows of colorful teas, all available for you to smell. Their best seller is the roasted almond, but a special blend called Annapolis Treasure isn’t far behind. For the presidential inauguration in 2009, Martino created an Obama flavor–half black, half white Kenyan tea with a splash of Hawaiian fruit flavor and blue cornflower petals.

In addition to kettles, cups and tea chocolate bars, they carry a high-end line of stainless steel Alessi Italian tea ware. Soon they will also carry their own brand of environmentally biodegradable tea bags.

Teas are priced per ounce, and returning with your used tea tin will get you a few bucks off at the register. Capital Teas also offers occasional deals and coupons on their Facebook page.

The Capital Teas Dupont Circle store is located at 1627 Connecticut Avenue NW, on the east side between Q and R Streets. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm; and Sunday 10 am to 9 pm.

Capital Teas’ Pucker-Up Summertime Iced Tea

Ingredients:
2 cups chilled Atlantico Lime green tea
2 cups chilled white grape juice
2 squeezed limes
Sugar or sweetener to taste
Add alcohol if preferred

Recipe:
1. Mix all ingredients in a medium size pitcher and stir well
2. Pour into glasses filled with ice; garish with lime slices.