A new tea shop has arrived in Tysons.
Hey Tea, a chain based in China, is hosting a week-long grand opening celebration after serving its first customers at Tysons Corner Center last Friday (Feb. 14).
“A joyful encounter, a moment to celebrate. The train has arrived — HEYTEA Virginia Tysons Corner is right on time!” the business said in an Instagram post announcing the opening date.
Located next to McDonald’s on the mall’s first floor, taking over a space vacated when Istanbul Kitchen moved to the former 7-Eleven space last year, Hey Tea encountered some technical issues that delayed its opening yesterday (Monday), but that didn’t stop eager patrons from forming a line that stretched around the corner.
Part of the attraction no doubt was a “buy a drink, get one 50% off” promotion that will remain in place through Thursday, Feb. 20. For the first three days of business, the shop offered a buy one, get one free deal for select menu items.
Through Thursday, customers can also get a limited-edition, branded fridge magnet if they post about visiting Hey Tea on social media or leave a review that includes a photo on Google, and starting Friday, Feb. 21, anyone who buys two drinks will receive a free, limited-edition tote bag.
Founded in Jiangbianli, a city in China’s Guangdong province, in 2012, Hey Tea claims to be the country’s first brand to use fresh tea leaves and premium milk, rather than instant tea powder and artificial additives, to invent “cheese” tea — a kind of cold tea topped with cream cheese-flavored foam.
The company now has more than 3,000 stores worldwide, expanding to the U.S. with a location on Broadway in New York City in 2023. The Tysons Corner Center store is the first in the D.C. area.
In addition to its signature cheese tea, Hey Tea’s menu has a variety of fruit and milk teas, including some seasonal flavors. The Tysons location is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Hey Tea is located a couple of doors down from Gagawa, a Turkish chicken restaurant that had its grand opening in January.
Elsewhere in the mall, signs have been posted on Barnes & Noble’s new storefront on the first floor, announcing that the bookstore is set to return this summer.
