Capital Teas
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty tea |
| Founded | 2007 in Annapolis, Maryland, United States |
| Founder | Peter Martino, Manelle Martino |
| Headquarters | Annapolis , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Peter Martino, Manelle Martino |
| Products | Loose tea, tea-infused alcoholic beverages (Tea Lager Beer Enhancers, Vino Teano Wine Mixers) |
| Owner | Nostos Brands, LLC |
Capital Teas is a specialty tea company based in the United States, established in 2007 in Annapolis, Maryland. The brand specializes in high-quality loose tea and related tea products. Between 2007 and 2018, Capital Teas maintained physical retail locations, reaching a maximum of 24 stores across eight states by late 2016. In October 2018, Anchor Beverages, Inc. acquired the Capital Teas brand to concentrate solely on online sales and wholesale distribution. By October 2024, the business operations were transferred to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and in July 2025, ownership changed hands to Nostos Brands, LLC, which brought the brand back to Annapolis, Maryland.
History
Co-founders Peter Martino and Manelle Martino privately managed Capital Teas from its inception in 2007 until 2014, during which time they operated six street-level retail outlets located in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia. In March 2014, Pear Tree Partners from Massachusetts invested $5 million into the company, enabling rapid growth to 24 stores primarily situated within major shopping malls across eight states. Subsequent investments by Pear Tree elevated them to majority shareholders. Capital Teas earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-expanding companies in both 2016 and 2017. Nevertheless, decreasing foot traffic in malls prompted store closures. After the co-founders divorced in March 2018, all remaining retail locations were shuttered by August of that year.
In October 2018, Anchor Beverages, led by Peter Martino, took over Capital Teas as an e-commerce-focused brand. Towards the end of 2022, Anchor Beverages experimented with limited physical retail through a seasonal holiday shop at Annapolis Mall. A private transaction in September 2024 relocated operations to Fredericksburg, Virginia; however, after this sale did not finalize, the business continued operating there temporarily until July 2025 when Manelle Martino’s Nostos Brands, LLC acquired the brand and moved it back to Annapolis.
Capital Teas is noted for its innovative contributions within the tea market, offering unique products such as tea-infused alcoholic beverages including Tea Lager Beer Enhancers and Vino Teano Wine Mixers.
Products
Among Capital Teas’ flagship offerings are Capital Breakfast, Annapolis Treasures, Chesapeake Sunrise, Turmeric Ginger, Island Mango, and Roasted Almond blends. The majority of teas sold under the Capital Teas label are USDA-certified organic and made exclusively from natural ingredients.