Extra Special Teas

Extra Special Teas We’re a vibrant, eclectic tea house in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts. We brew belonging and you can too.

Community tea house where inclusion, purpose + possibility come together for savory moments. 50+ teas; gluten-free.

2 Elm Street, Great Barrington - teas + gluten-free bakes
226 Pleasant Street, Housatonic: breakfast, lunch + afternoon tea We explore new possibilities to experience tea...and we want to share all we discover with the world! ExtraSpecialTeas is a teahouse - actually two tea houses - that employs young adults with disabilities that includes an Employment & Community-based Day Program offering unique opportunities for vocational training in a retail teahouse open to the public. Traditional employment service agencies turn away a percentage of otherwise qualified employees because they cannot meet certain daily living (ADLs) criteria. Some disabled adults find it difficult to have a place in society once they leave school. Some may get jobs working in laundry, lawn care, grocery or fast food businesses, but most simply remain at Day Habilitation Programs, receiving no vocational training or continued growth opportunities of any kind and with little, if any, exposure or integration with mainstream culture. Come visit, eat, drink and enjoy our two locations:

ExtraSpecialTeas Great Barrington
2 Elm Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-645-3247

ExtraSpecialTeas Housatonic
226 Pleasant Street
Housatonic, MA 01236
413-274-5059

Tune into WSBS 860AM, 94.1FM at 9 am this morning to hear Patrick and Cherri talk about our upcoming 10th Birthday and B...
04/14/2026

Tune into WSBS 860AM, 94.1FM at 9 am this morning to hear Patrick and Cherri talk about our upcoming 10th Birthday and Blue Party for Autism Acceptance.

Autism acceptance begins with kindness.Kindness slows us down, listens a little longer, and meets people exactly where t...
04/13/2026

Autism acceptance begins with kindness.

Kindness slows us down, listens a little longer, and meets people exactly where they are.

In our teahouse, kindness shapes everything—from how we work together to how we welcome each guest. It creates space for every voice, every pace, every way of being.

This is what community can look like. Thoughtful. Patient. Kind.

Celebrate the OG EST employees: Cherri, Kristen + Alicia! Our podcast crew interviews them, chats about Autism Acceptanc...
04/11/2026

Celebrate the OG EST employees: Cherri, Kristen + Alicia! Our podcast crew interviews them, chats about Autism Acceptance Month + our annual Blue Birthday Party on April 18th + more!

Listen today! And subscribe! https://buff.ly/ayxXbhI

Whether they're in our professional kitchen mixing up Rosemary Almonds or using a giant mixer for gluten-free baked good...
04/10/2026

Whether they're in our professional kitchen mixing up Rosemary Almonds or using a giant mixer for gluten-free baked goods or behind the tea bar brewing tea, our participants are active, productive and always part of a team.

💙💜☕️🧡🩷 Come be part of our team and ! ExtraSpecialTeas is hiring a tea bar assistant at our Housatonic location at 226...
04/10/2026

💙💜☕️🧡🩷 Come be part of our team and ! ExtraSpecialTeas is hiring a tea bar assistant at our Housatonic location at 226 Pleasant Street. Scan the QR code + fill out the application + email to extraspecialteas@gmail.com.

PS our original QR code posted is not working! Here's a new one!

Questions? Email us!
Can't download the form? Email us!
Learn more about us: extraspecialteas.org

Acceptance builds workplaces where individuals with autism and different abilities are not only included, but empowered....
04/09/2026

Acceptance builds workplaces where individuals with autism and different abilities are not only included, but empowered. Acceptance recognizes strengths, honors individuality, and builds environments where people can thrive on their own terms.

Every cup poured, every gluten-free bake shared, is part of something larger: a community shaped by purpose, inclusion, and possibility.

We serve up purpose, possibility + tea because of Jache, he provided the passion and motivation for Cherri + Scott to fo...
04/08/2026

We serve up purpose, possibility + tea because of Jache, he provided the passion and motivation for Cherri + Scott to found ExtraSpecialTeas. Jache's sis, Molleigh, our IT and systems brain, helps us make it all work with our 13 employees and 30+ participants. Cava is a our mascot. 🐾 Join us to celebrate our 10th birthday on April 18, 11am - 3pm at 226 Pleasant Street, Housatonic, Massachusetts.

📷 Christina Lane Photography

Learn more about us: https://buff.ly/iB63fsO

Coming right up on Saturday, April 18! Our 10th 💙 Blue Birthday Party is fun, heartfelt and free! Wear blue to support ...
04/07/2026

Coming right up on Saturday, April 18! Our 10th 💙 Blue Birthday Party is fun, heartfelt and free! Wear blue to support and be prepared to dance to Berkshire Bateria!

11-12 — Robin O'Herin;
12-12:30 — Peter Schneider on keyboard;
12-12:30 — Raffle 12-30-1;
1-2 — Awards;
2-3 — Berkshire Bateria! Come and dance.

We can't wait to see you on April 18 at ExtraSpecialTeas Housatonic.

In April we'll visit a recording studio to record some music! 🧡💙💜❤️🎶 We're excited to share our voices. Stay tuned for o...
04/04/2026

In April we'll visit a recording studio to record some music! 🧡💙💜❤️🎶 We're excited to share our voices. Stay tuned for our music!

Doggo visit. Someone get that good boy a Tea Bones Dog Biscuit!
04/03/2026

Doggo visit. Someone get that good boy a Tea Bones Dog Biscuit!

🎉 These three are celebrating 10 years at ExtraSpecialTeas. We can't imagine our nonprofit teahouse without these supers...
04/02/2026

🎉 These three are celebrating 10 years at ExtraSpecialTeas. We can't imagine our nonprofit teahouse without these superstars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Give them some love, won't you?

Going left to right:
✨ Our fab founder and the spark that launched it all: Cherri Sanes;
✨ Kristen Vorisek, Art Therapist, Vocational Training Program Director and amazing baker;
✨ Alicia Olgaz, Community Based Day Program Director: she's the caring and consistent heart of out day program in Great Barrington.

Kristen and Alicia started working for ExtraSpecialTeas before our doors opened! They ARE ExtraSpecialTeas.

Autism acceptance lives in the everyday moments. 💙☕️ In the way we greet one another.☕️ In the patience we practice.☕️ I...
04/02/2026

Autism acceptance lives in the everyday moments. 💙

☕️ In the way we greet one another.

☕️ In the patience we practice.

☕️ In the space we make for every voice to be heard.

At our teahouse, differences aren’t just welcomed—they’re essential to who we are. Our team shows us daily that there is no single way to communicate, to connect, or to contribute meaningfully.

Come as you are. Stay as long as you like. You belong here.

Address

2 Elm Street
Great Barrington, MA
01230

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+14136453247

Website

https://www.youtube.com/@extraspecialteas

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Our ExtraSpecial Story

We believe that the future belongs to everyone belonging.

ExtraSpecialTeas is a visionary non-profit teahouse. We employ young adults with intellectual and developmental differences who have aged out of school and who are otherwise not employable. We offer a therapeutic vocational day program so that each participant can learn, grow and work in the way that best meets his or her needs. Our teahouse is a safe haven for others with special needs & their families.

ExtraSpecialTeas visitors explore, sample and enjoy our more than 50 teas from all over the world within our charming, colorful and convenient Downtown Great Barrington location. Whether you’re a traditional ‘hot pot of tea’ afficionado, an avid iced tea lover or bubble tea fanatic, we have the tea that will become your absolute favorite. We carry Tiesta Tea, Six Depot Coffee Roasters tea and coffee, and Little Red Cup Tea Co tea.

We also bake our own delicious, all natural, gluten free, vegan and Paleo-friendly treats, including signature shortbreads and ExtraSpecialPower Bars featuring an assorted variety of unique teas baked right in. The teahouse is filled with quirky and unique gifts – ranging from participant made tea infused ‘EST Bath Brews,’ soaps and candles to funky bags and practical tea travel mugs.