Manhattan, NY — Teapulse, a coffee and tea establishment at 167 Canal Street in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 91 points, placing the establishment well into the C grade range and prompting immediate closure by health officials.
The closure was ordered after inspectors identified a critical violation related to food contact surfaces and equipment at the location. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 4, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the March 2 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation at the Canal Street location:
Inspectors cited Teapulse under violation code 05C for food contact surfaces, refillable or reusable containers, or equipment that were improperly constructed, placed, or maintained. The citation also noted unacceptable material in use and the absence of a culinary sink or other acceptable method for washing food.
This violation is classified as critical because it directly relates to surfaces and equipment that come into contact with food and beverages served to customers. In a coffee and tea establishment, this can include brewing equipment, preparation surfaces, containers used for ingredients, and utensils. The absence of proper food washing facilities compounds the concern, as it eliminates a key step in preventing contamination of ingredients that may require rinsing before use.
No non-critical violations were documented during this inspection. The establishment's total score of 91 points resulted entirely from this single critical violation, which carries substantial point weight under the DOHMH scoring system due to its direct impact on food safety.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must meet. Under these regulations, food contact surfaces must be constructed of smooth, durable, nonabsorbent, and easily cleanable materials. Equipment must be properly maintained and in good repair to prevent the accumulation of food residue and potential bacterial growth.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, specifies that food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized at appropriate intervals and that facilities must provide adequate equipment for the washing and preparation of food. The absence of a culinary sink or equivalent washing method represents a gap in the establishment's ability to maintain basic food safety protocols.
When DOHMH inspectors determine that conditions at a food establishment pose an immediate risk to public health, they have the authority to order the establishment closed until the violations are corrected. The closure action taken at Teapulse indicates that inspectors determined the identified conditions required immediate remediation before the business could continue serving customers.
To reopen, the establishment must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection by DOHMH. The timeline for reopening depends on how quickly the operator addresses the documented issues and schedules a follow-up inspection.
Inspection History
This March 2, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection for Teapulse in the DOHMH public database. No prior inspection history is available for this establishment at this location.
- March 2, 2026: Score 91, Closed by DOHMH
The absence of prior inspection records may indicate that Teapulse is a relatively new establishment or that it is operating under a new permit. New food service establishments in New York City typically receive their first unannounced inspection within the initial months of operation.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during inspections. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: 0 to 13 points — The establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
- B: 14 to 27 points — The establishment has moderate violations that need to be addressed
- C: 28 or more points — The establishment has significant violations requiring correction
Teapulse's score of 91 points falls into the C category. It is important to note that a high score does not necessarily reflect the overall cleanliness visible to customers but rather indicates specific regulatory violations identified by trained inspectors during a standardized evaluation.
Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within 30 days, at which point the establishment can improve its score and potentially earn a higher grade. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the most recent adjudicated result.
All New York City restaurant inspection results, including scores, violation details, and grade histories, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search for any restaurant's inspection history online before visiting.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Teapulse including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.