TEA IN DC

Telephone:
703.748-1689

Classes:
Tuesday thru Thursday morning and afternoon
Saturday morning

Parking:
On the street

Reservations:
Required

Instruction:
Very Good

Smoking:
Not Permitted

With the famous National Cherry Blossom Festival just a few weeks away, it's a good time to explore one of the most interesting Japanese cultural oportunities the DC Metro area has to offer: tea. People living in, or visiting Washington, DC and it's surrounding areas are lucky to have a couple of unique tea experiences available to them: an Urasenke, or tea school, where one can learn the traditional tea ceremony and Teaism, a cafe dedicated to the presentation of fine Asian teas.

Katherine Soshu Lyons, Tea Master at the Urasenke, offers green tea (matcha) to honor guests. The Japanese have been drinking tea since the late 12th century. At first tea drinking was accompanied by expensive and ornate materials, a ritual done for show that was only practised by the extremely wealthy. Then a Tea Master by the name of Sen Rikyu developed the current tea ceremony in the mid-16th century by simplifying it and making it accessable to all. He was a Buddhist who infused the ceremony with the Zen teachings of concentrating on the task at hand with your whole being, putting your entire self into the way of tea.

Both men and women learn the tea ceremony to honor others with the beauty of the ritual. Tea is said to be nothing more than the boiling of the water, the making of the tea, and then the drinking of it; or the taking of pleasure in even the most simple of acts. The Urasenke welcomes all students to the Tea House for lessons in the art of performing the Tea Ceremony. Please call them at: (703) 748-1685 for further information.

Telephone:
202.667-3827

Open:
Monday thru Thursday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to12 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Closed: Holidays

Metro:
Dupont Circle

Parking:
On the street

Service:
Friendly

Food: Asian Menu to compliment Looseleaf Teas
Pot of Tea: $1.75 to $5.00
Salads $2.25 to $3.25
Entrees $7.25 to $9.00
Dessert 90 cents to $4.75
Per person check $12.00 to $13.00
2 oz Loose Leaf Tea $2.25 to $15.75
Tea Pots $26.00 to $150.00

Smoking:
Not Allowed

Credit Cards:
Visa, Master Card, and American Express

For a more contemporary view of tea, visit Michelle Brown and Linda Orr, the owners of the Teaism Cafe located in Dupont Circle. Michelle and Linda opened the tea house in 1996 to provide the Washington area with a quiet place to enjoy the finest Asian tea and a food menu designed to compliment the different teas. With approximately two-dozen different teas on the menu, including rare Tiawanese teas, green teas and unique herbals, almost every taste can be satisfied.

The most popular and unusual food served at Teaism is definitely the traditional Japanese Bento Boxes. Patrons can choose from fish, chicken, beef, vegetable or handroll. All boxes come with seasoned rice, spiced salads and fruit. They are as beautiful to look at, as they are delicious to eat!

I spoke briefly with Beatriz Leon and Martha Bustos. These twol loyal patrons have been coming to Teaism about once a week for two years now. They keep returning for the cozy atmosphere of the cafe and the exotic tea flavors that remind them of Latin America.

Teaism, located on the corner of Connecticut Avenue and R Street, NW, is open everyday for both eat in and carry out service. They serve a full breakfat featuring such items as Tea Cured Salmon and Indian Flat Breads. Besides their featured Bento Boxes, lunch includes ostrich burgers and ochazuke, a Japanese tea soup. Most of their wide selection of teas are available in 2oz. packages to enjoy at home, as well as tea brewing supplies and such unusual products as tea-filled chocolates and lotions made from teas.

Photos By:  Axel Martinez