Like Olympic swimmers and gremlins, tea leaves only reveal their true power after being dunked in water. Unleash hidden strength with today’s Groupon for afternoon tea at Café Promenade, located inside the Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel. Tea is served daily from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., except for days the café is booked for special events. Choose between the following options:

• For $28, you get The Mayflower Tea for two people, which includes tea, sandwiches, and sweets (a $56 value).
• For $35, you get The Mayflower Royal Tea for two people, which includes tea, sandwiches, sweets, and a glass of Mumm Cuvee Chef du Caves champagne (a $70 value).
  
  

Café Promenade, lauded by the Washington Post as one of the area’s best afternoon tea spots, brings afternoon tea stateside. Quaffers choose from among 10 loose-leaf teas, ranging from the sweet Darjeeling Choice Estate to a vegetal Sencha as the sophisticated wait staff serves guests bite-size sandwiches, such as roasted eggplant on focaccia and crab salad on wheat toast. Sate sweet teeth on a bevy of desserts, including chocolate éclairs, raisin scones, and banana-nut bread. With The Mayflower Royal Tea, teatime ends with two bubbly glasses of Mumm Cuvee Chef du Caves.

Originally opened in 1925, the Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel has had a long history of accommodating distinguished guests as well as playing host to numerous presidential inaugural balls. Required attire is business casual, and fancy hats are enthusiastically encouraged.