Washington, D.C. (August 1, 2006) –Park Hyatt Washington has just reopened after an extensive redesign by Tony Chi and invites its guests and DC area residents to discover the fine art of tea with the launch of its new Tea Cellar. From proprietary blends to vintage Pu-Erh, Park Hyatt Washington’s exotic selections and pairings introduce guests’ palates to the subtle nuances in flavor and taste of high-end teas.
Unique in the United States for its menu and offerings, Park Hyatt Washington’s Tea Cellar features the deepest inventory of rare and vintage Pu-Erh in the country. A lit display of tea blossoms that flower when steeped in water is the visual focal point of the Tea Cellar. Park Hyatt Washington’s Tea Cellar is adjacent to the Lounge and separated from the reception area by revolving wood and glass display cabinets. Teas are available from $5 to $300 per pot.
Featuring rare and limited production, single-estate teas from remote regions of China, Japan, Sri Lanka and the Himalayas, as well as herbal selections from Egypt, Africa, France and Argentina, Park Hyatt Washington’s sophisticated tea offerings introduce guests to high quality teas similar to the level of flavor and complexity of fine wines. Many of the teas, supplied by purveyor, MITEA, provide an extremely high level of antioxidants. Park Hyatt Washington’s experience includes the following tea categories with more than 50 teas to select:
· Vintage Pu-Erh Tea harvested from the ancient trees of Yunnan, China. Up to 1600 years of
energy is stored in Pu-Erh tea. Aging in caves, similar to fine wine, creates an intense, earthy
flavor. “Pu-Erh teas have been proven in medical studies to stimulate digestion, lower
cholesterol, and have been shown to give a heightened sense of well being,” says Rod Markus,
president of MITEA.
· Reserve Tea - the rarest tea available; Handpicked and sorted, these are the “Grand Cru” of tea
and are extremely limited in production. It retails from $150 to $850 per pound.
· Display Tea - hand-tied with a single thread by artisan tea experts. Picked and preserved from the
world’s finest tea estates, these teas ensure the ultimate flavor. A performance is waiting to happen
in every pot.
· Herbal Tissanes - these organic and biodynamic herbal teas represent the purest, heirloom
varieties of Herbal Tea available. Royal Mint helps digestion with a natural sweetness, Royal
Chamomile has a natural honey apple flavor and can assist in relaxation, and South of France
Roobios offers a no caffeine antioxidant boost with an exotic fruity flavor.
Park Hyatt Washington’s Tea Cellar and Lounge also offers tea tastings along with selections of iced tea and tea cocktails. The tea menu at Park Hyatt Washington is punctuated with proverbs and quotes such as the Chinese proverb, “When one has tea and wine, one will have many friends.”
Additionally, wood canisters of MITEA can be purchased for taking home. Prices for large canisters of rare tea range from $45-$300 depending on the tea selected while smaller tubes of MITEA tea are available to purchase for $14-$70 per tube.
About MITEA
MITEA is dedicated to the ancient art of tea. MITEA directly imports rare and limited production single estate teas, harvested from remote regions of China, Japan, Sri Lanka and the Himalayas. Our teas utilize organic, biodynamic, fair-trade and wild grown production techniques. The purity of these processes preserves the natural antioxidants in the tea leaves to maximize health benefits. We have selected teas with specific qualities which mirror and enhance your body energy throughout the day. Our teas complement your day by providing key nutrients and antioxidants to stimulate, nourish and protect the body from dawn to dusk. www.mitea.com
About Park Hyatt Hotels
Intimate and residential in style, Park Hyatt Hotels promise elegant and gracious service on a personal scale and are further distinguished by prime locations and exceptional interior design. Hyatt International Corporation and its subsidiaries operate 25 Park Hyatt brand hotels in 15 countries, with an additional eight hotels under development. There are seven Park Hyatt hotels in the United States and Canada.
There are 214 Hyatt branded hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 43 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Grand Hyatt® and Park Hyatt® brands. Currently, there are an additional 39 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 13 new hotels in China. Hyatt Corporation (domestic U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels) and Hyatt International Corporation (international properties) are subsidiaries of Chicago-based Global Hyatt Corporation. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operators of the Hyatt Vacation Club (timeshare and fractional residential product), Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), Select Hotel Group L.L.C. (which owns, operates and franchises AmeriSuites hotels, Hyatt Place and Summerfield Suites hotels) and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises Hawthorn Suites, and Microtel Inns and Suites).
From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or logging onto www.hyatt.com.
Katie Rackoff
Phone: (202) 419-6633
Email: krackoff@hyatt.com