Along with Tobin Ropes, Maureen McHugh turns the local tea scene upside down. Ropes and McHugh are the great minds behind Mad Hat Tea Company and its comfy living room style abode and warm, welcoming attitude.  Anyone from any demographic is welcome to stroll on in, grab a mug of potion, and take to examining the witty, local décor.  Mad Hat Tea Company in downtown Tacoma will change your outlook on herbs, natural remedies, and give you a new perspective on tea as a way of life.  This stuff ain’t your grandma’s tea — that’s for sure.

STEPH DEROSA: Do you serve Lipton here?

MAUREEN MCHUGH: You’re going to start off like that, huh?

DEROSA: Tetley’s?

MCHUGH: Watch it.

DEROSA: I kid. I kid.

MCHUGH: You’re lucky we’ll let just about anyone in here.

DEROSA: Have you ever had to kick anyone out?

MCHUGH: As a matter of fact, yes.  The freakiest stuff happens to only me here. Tobin swears it never happens to him.

DEROSA: What weird things have happened?

MCHUGH: Well, one time I had a man come in asking if someone could help change his pants, the poor guy.  Another came in having to touch everything with just one finger. That was really weird.

DEROSA: This is such a calming place to just sit and chill.  Does anyone ever stay and talk to you for longer than you desire?

MCHUGH: Oh my God — YES.  Sometimes I have to say something like, “I gotta go! I left the baby in the bathwater!”  They probably think I’m crazy.

DEROSA: I’m going to start using that one.  And let’s note that I’ve never heard you say that to me, thank goodness.

MCHUGH: Well, not yet anyways.

DEROSA: Really?

MCHUGH: Honestly, with you sometimes I wish I had a chloroform button to push.  Then I could just drag you out after you passed out.

DEROSA: Strange enough, I’ve built up a tolerance to your choice of toxic gas. That and roofies.  Ah, yes, the ‘90s were a good time.

MCHUGH: Dammit.

DEROSA: I know you have healing herbs here as well as tea.  What’s the strangest ailment someone has come to you with?  Anyone ever come in with sexual problems?

MCHUGH: Not answering that.

DEROSA: What if I said I needed something to make me more attractive to the opposite sex?

MCHUGH: I’d say your remedy would be to simply shut your mouth.

DEROSA: Darn.  I was hoping you had some roofies.

[Mad Hat Tea Company, 1130 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.441.2111]