Teaism Frequently Asked Questions | Teaism

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions


No – service at Teaism is fast-casual style and first come, first serve. Groups larger than ten or who want to host regular meet-up groups should contact us here: Catering & Groups

Yes! Please contact us with details via our Catering & Groups page and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

6/24/2020: While in the past we have not shipped these cookies, YES we are now shipping them! Please note: We will ship these special oatmeal cookies in accordance with our bakery schedule in order to send the freshest possible cookies. Our bakery schedule is subject to change and so we cannot guarantee shipment arrival for a certain date. If you want to place an order well in advance for a certain date, please put a note in your order that includes at least a 3-day window of delivery dates, or contact linda@teaism.com.

To order Salty Oat cookies to be shipped online, visit the “Gourmet” section of our online store, here.

Accessible restrooms are available on the first floor of our locations at Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle, and Lafayette Park. For those who have difficulty getting their trays to their tables, please communicate with our team. We are happy to help.

At Teaism Penn Quarter, the lower level is accessible via elevator. Please let us know you need to access the lower level and we will happily assist.

As of our writing on 11/4/23, our POS System allows you to gain points for your purchase in the following way:

You will be prompted for your name and phone number, and your phone number becomes your “account number.” The system rewards one point for every dollar spent.

50 points = free tea
75 points = free small soup
150 points = free breakfast item up to $14
225 points = free entry item up to $17
350 points = free meal for 2 up to $35
500 points = $50 off a one-time purchase, at Teaism restaurants OR Teaism Tea Shop (gifts, handmade teaware, loose leaf tea, etc.)

PLEASE NOTE:

Points cannot be redeemed in combination with other discounts.
Points must be earned for in-person sales, not online mail orders.
Points can be earned at all Teaism locations, just enter your number on the tablet with us when you place your order.
Our POS system does not currently have a way for you to check your points remotely. Please inquire with us in person.

 

As of June 2019: We sell swipe-able gift cards at all our locations. Re-chargeable swipe cards can be redeemed in person at all of our locations. You can also order a gift certificate for $25, $50, and $100 from us online, here, and we will mail it to you or the address of your choosing.

Please note: Not redeemable online. Valid ONLY in-person at Teaism Penn Quarter, Lafayette Park, and Dupont Circle. If you order *only* a gift card online, we will send in envelope with a standard forever stamp – hence no shipping cost but also no tracking. We will not be able to help you track that envelope once we send it out. For certified mail options, please call us at (202) 638-7740.

Please first consult our dietary chart, here. We work hard to be transparent with our menu and keep information available. But please understand, we are humans! When you visit Teaism and have questions, please always talk to a cashier or a manager. If there are additional questions, please reach out to us at info@teaism.com with advance notice so that we can have the opportunity to get you the right information. We will do our best to respond in a timely fashion.

Please – only Service Animals are permitted inside of Teaism. Other animals are welcome on the patio area.

We sell only loose leaf tea. We stock a range of brewing options – strainers, brew-in-mug sets, and disposable tea bags to scoop loose leaf tea into.

Since Covid-19, we have taken steps to simplify and streamline our menus. We are not currently offering Afternoon Tea. We do have an array of savory and sweet options to pair with a pot of any of our teas – please consult our menu for the most up-to-date information.

We could never post all of our tea options on our display boards. Please consult our cashiers, we will give you a full tea menu to review.

No. We bake them fresh here in D.C.! We get asked this because Terri Horn, originator of the legendary Salty Oat Cookie and owner of Kayak Cookies, bases her operations out of Hyannis, MA. We worked with Terri when she first launched Kayak Cookies in Washington, D.C. decades ago. We continue to produce the cookies for her, and Terri comes down regularly to work with our bakers to maintain consistent quality. For more about the history of the Salty Oat cookie, see
here.

Because part of our mission is to make high quality, loose leaf teas accessible to the people. When you walk into a business and smell coffee, you want to buy coffee. We are working to source beautiful teas for you, some of them with subtle flavors and aromas.

We don’t want to undermine our own efforts to expose people to great tea, nor the work that tea producers put into the leaf before it reaches your cup.

YES! (For many years, our answer was no.) We do ask that you work in our space respectfully and order something from us, and please no outside food or beverages. If you see we are busy and guests are struggling to find seating, please be mindful. Note: The building occupied by our Dupont Circle location is over 100 years old, so outlets are in short supply. Please consider bringing a full charge.

  • Teaism Dupont Circle: Dupont Circle, North exit. (Red Line)
  • Teaism Lafayette Park: Farragut North, K street exit (Red Line); Farragut West (Orange, Blue & Silver Lines)
  • Teaism Lafayette Park: Farragut North, K street exit (Red Line); Farragut West (Orange, Blue & Silver Lines)

While we try to offer lots of vegan-friendly options, we do not offer our classic masala chai in a vegan format. Part of this related to the fact that we don’t serve coffee – no espresso machines means no steamed milk. The way we make our chai is in the traditional masala chai fashion – boiling whole leaf black tea and spices in water, adding milk, and bringing to a boil again, then straining out. That’s different from a chai latte and a more involved (and tasty) process.

As of Nov. 2024: We have added a unique chai option to our menu, which we are calling the Steeping Mushroom Chai. The blend is more amenable to steeping in hot water, as opposed to cooking on the stove with milk. It also has a blend of 10 functional mushrooms, hints of rose and lots of strong pepper-y flavor. It is delicious (and doesn’t taste excessively earthy). Please feel free to order this chai and request it without any milk or a plant-based milk option.

These can vary by location and are subject to change. Please check our social media accounts for posts related to any upcoming holidays.

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