4513 College Avenue
College Park, MD 20740
(301) 887-1777
Mon - Fri: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Sat - Sun: 9:00am to 4:00pm
College Park, Maryland is not a place where you would expect to find tranquility
of any kind. Four miles from the District of Columbia, this is an area heavily
influenced by politics and higher education. The University of Maryland resides
here and provides as much of the clientele for the English Tea House as does the
dwindling number of residents in this small town. But for those who know this
teahouse and the wondrous stress relief it can provide, many would prefer to
keep it their own little secret.
When you first enter the Teahouse, you are greeted by lime-green trim sprouting
from hardwood and tile floors. Booths line the walls and are faced by an army
of sturdy wicker chairs and the occasional high-back stray. No more than 30
people could fit comfortably in this tiny haven; even 10 people have made it
look busy at times. This is a place where many people come alone to read the
paper, study for exams or even use the high-speed internet this cyber caf
offers.
With well over 40 different varieties of tea, the English Tea House provides a
modest mix of greens, blacks, oolongs, whites and more, all individually
numbered, as is the style of the times. My personal favorite, Sencha Fancy
(#19), offers a thick aroma and light color. Its leaves are long and thin,
blossoming in each cup. On a recent visit I enjoyed a cup of Darjeeling Black
Tea (#7), which had a unique flavor and energy unlike other black teas that I
have sampled. Some of the other more notable teas on tap include Mao-Fung
Jasmine (#17), Assam CTC (#27), Bubble Gum (#33) and Jade Oolong (#12). Each
loose tea is steeped in its own bag, suspended from a thin wooden dowel that
hangs over the edges of your cup.
The beauty of the English Tea House is in the quality of the directly imported
teas that it offers. However, the underlying virtue is in the vast menu of food
on hand at exceptional prices. For $5.95, Light Afternoon Tea is served with
your choice of scone with lemon curd, clotted cream, devonshire cream or fruit
preserve. Salads come in many varieties, including Garden, California,
Churchill, Caesar and Greek. A full service kitchen provides a number of
sandwiches as well. A recent visit brought me together with a generous portion
of delicious Tuna Salad with dressed greens on the side. Chicken sandwiches,
reubens, corned beef, grilled panini and even Boca Burgers are among the vast
array of sandwiches from which you can choose. Seven types of bread, four
cheeses, and a number of extras make your lunchtime choices even harder.
In this case, many people decide to get breakfast - served all day. Owner Anita
Chopra claims to cater to the choices of the area college students, and this is
definitely an example of her efforts. My standard is the Teahouse Platter: a
choice of eggs and meat, hash browns and an English muffin. Other options
include French Toast Sticks, Bagels, Egg Sandwiches and much more.
The English Tea House also offers a variety of pies, cookies and fruits, as well
as Cappuccino, Espresso and other hot and iced drinks. This is also a great
place to purchase high quality loose tea, packaged in 4-ounce bags. Teacups and
kettles align one wall, and are also for sale.
This place is truly a special find. While many would find this area more suited
for a Starbucks, the English Tea House is among the last of a dying breed: a
place to actually sit back and relax.
