Capital Teas

General information

Capital Teas is a leading, independent American tea retailer whose specialty teas and unique products are cherished throughout the United States and in select international locations. Today, thousands of people start and end their day with Capital Teas. With an ever-growing base of retail stores and a strong web presence emanating from our headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland, Capital Teas executes its mission daily by educating people and inspiring lives through the wonders of tea, one cup at a time.

Capital Teas offers one of the most complete specialty tea collections available anywhere with over 200 premium, organic, and natural teas and infusions, including some of our own unique blends. Additionally, select offerings from Capital Teas are served at some of the finest restaurants throughout the United States’ mid-Atlantic region. We’re proud to say that through our teas, we infuse well-being.

Our company was founded by Peter and Manelle Martino in 2007 as an outgrowth of Manelle’s five- generation family tradition and Peter’s passion for tea and expertise in building companies. Manelle’s great-great-grandfather was at the forefront of Ceylon’s (Sri Lanka’s) tea industry in the 1870s and every successive generation of her family has been involved in the tea trade. Peter is a former U.S. nuclear submarine officer, an attorney, and a successful entrepreneur who sold his first company to a public company. Today, he is recognized as one of the nation’s leading tea experts and serves as the company’s CEO while Manelle adds creativity and outreach in her role as Vice Chairman. The company also has a professional Board of Directors and a strong investment partner to ensure continued growth to a location near you.

The first Capital Teas store opened on September 8, 2007 in historic Annapolis. Each successive Capital Teas venue, from that first historic store to today’s much larger tea bars & boutiques, has been designed to provide our customers with a multi-sensory tea experience. We encourage exploration, we reward curiosity, and we embrace innovation in our stores every day. We also invite our patrons to discover the magic, complexity, tastes, and aromas of our teas by offering free samples and maintaining a prominent sniffing wall in each store for customers to Stop and smell the teas®. We invite you to join us.