Main Street News

When Cherri Sanes’ son Jache turned 21, she was trying to decide what the next steps were going to be for him. Jache has autism and in the state of Massachusetts, once a student turns 22 years old, public school is no longer an option.

Cherri was concerned that Jache would have no place to go where he would be able to socialize with others, so she began checking resources in the area in an attempt to find Jache an inclusive environment. She came up short, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and began to conceptualize the idea for Extra Special Teas, a nonprofit teahouse. 

A place for everyone

When Extra Special Teas first opened in Great Barrington in 2016, they employed three differently-abled people. They opened their second location in Housatonic in January of 2021, and now, across both locations, they employ nearly 40 people with special needs. 

Employees at Extra Special Teas work in various capacities. They can work on the tea floor in either store, which consists of interacting with customers and making sales. 

Additionally, Extra Special Teas also operates a day program in which participants can learn vocational skills and practice to work on the tea floor. The day program operates five days each week and allows participants to learn, work, and thrive in the teahouse. 

Some of the activities they complete in the day program include customer service classes and mock sales on a mock register. They also tap into their participants’ interests and will tailor classes to those interests. Previously, they’ve hosted gardening, hiking, and knitting classes. 

Extra Special Teas also operates a group-employed program, which is headed by vocational teachers. In this program, participants work on the tea room floor and are involved in all of the duties of running the tea room – including greeting and waiting on customers, running the cash register, stocking shelves, taking inventory, bussing tables, and washing dishes. 

Participants are paid at least minimum wage for the work that is performed at the teahouse in their group supported employment program.

In the community, Extra Special Teas is also a member of the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce in Great Barrington and frequently participates in events with them. 

All about quali-tea

Extra Special Teas has a commercial kitchen in the Housatonic location, so they are able to serve breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. In addition to the commercial kitchen, they also have a tea lab where employees partake in creating new tea blends. 

They have five signature teas: Blue Skies, which is a light tea with a taste of mint and ginger; Festive Fields, a golden tea with a vibrant cinnamon spice flavor; Housie Palooza, which is a fruity, sweet, and tangy tea made with ingredients like hibiscus, blueberries, mango, and orange peel; S’more Love, which is a sweet, smoky tea with a hint of chocolate; and Sunny Vibes, a bright tea with apricot and citrus, more are on the horizon for release soon!

“We’re very particular about our teas. They’re all organic and fair trade, and we’re very attuned to allergies so we’re completely transparent about the ingredients,” Cherri said. “Participants work in the tea lab and get to experiment with teas and taste.”  

In addition to their tea blends, Extra Special Teas also makes other gluten free goodies, including truffles, biscotti, and candied cashews and almonds, as well as tea bone dog treats, tea-infused bath bombs, cards, and candles. 

The kitchen at Extra Special Teas is dedicated gluten free, so all of the products that they make and all of the items that they serve at their Housatonic location are gluten free. “We always encourage creativity with our stuff and the participants of the day program,” Cherri said. “Everyone brings their talents to the table and gets to experiment with different products.” 

While Cherri may have started Extra Special Teas to benefit her son, she believes that it’s important for differently-abled people of all backgrounds to have a place to go where they are surrounded by a supportive community. 

“This gives them purpose, possibility, and a community. It’s a place to grow, and it’s been very inspiring to see how much they love coming to work. We’re a big family here and we love and support one another,” she said.

Someday soon, Cherri would like to see Extra Special Teas locations across the Northeast and even throughout the country. “There’s a need for inclusion in our communities and our country. We’re hoping to be able to focus on that in the next few years in various areas. That’s the original dream.” 

To learn more about Extra Special Teas, visit their website www.extraspecialteas.org. Visit them at their Great Barrington location at 2 Elm Street or their Housatonic location at 226 Pleasant Street.