My mom was in town today so I finally had a good reason to go to the Tea Cellar at the Park Hyatt on 24th and M St. in the West End (also home to the Blue Duck Tavern, one of my favorites). Amazing! It was really wonderful; I can’t recommend it highly enough. It is $25 for a spread of mini sandwiches and desserts, plus the tea, which is a la carte. See the selection of teas here. I got the Moonlight Jasmine Blossom, which is a bundle of tea leaves that “blooms” into a flower once hot water is added to the pot. My mother got the Flowery Earl Grey, which she also liked. They even have a tea expert on hand to explain the different types of tea, the proper temperatures for the teas, and tea pairings, which I did not know existed. There is a $300 Pu-Erh tea on the menu!
Two more essential things to know about the Tea Cellar: (1) It is every Saturday and Sunday from 2:30-4:30, and if you are there at 4:30 the staff hands out boxes that look like Chinese food take-out containers and tells you to pick whatever you like from the sandwich and dessert buffet to take home, and (2) they also serve champagne.
More on the food at the tea, and how to do it on a tighter budget, after the jump.