Northwest Tea Festival

Was my first time attending the NW Tea Festival, I was quite excited and amazed of all the different vendors there, I did not give a 5 star because the classes and workshops that was offered had to be signed up there during the conference any you pretty much had to be the first few in line just to enter the conference, then there was another line on the inside for the actual classes and workshop. I didn’t realize once I got in that I would need to find and jump in that other long line to get in on the classes, by the time I figured it out all the classes I wanted to take we’re all gone. I managed to observe a tea ceremony outside the building and that was a very spiritual experience.

I am obsessed with tea but I had never seen so much tea in my life! I also didn’t know there were this many tea vendors in the area so I am really glad I came. There were many tea rooms in areas like Marysville I don’t frequent so it was a good chance to try them. They give you a tasting cup and there are SO many samples. It’s a bit overwhelming but hey, first world problems. They also have different seminars and tasting sessions (included in admission!) and an awesome opportunity to really delve into tea customs in many different cultures. Asian, American, Middle Eastern, British, different religions… each really has it’s own customs and we learned so much about them.
I walked away with a delicious raspberry champagne tea I am happily enjoying. I’ll definitely be back next year!

Going to wrangle me a tea-​maker. Well, this was a bit ago but its still worthy of a review. For one thing it was economical with a suggested donation that got you a cool bag and a tasting cup. It was at the Seattle Center in the «Northwest Rooms» which is one of the newer additions just north of the old fountain. It was here that we met some dedicated tea purveyors and the fans that follow them.
If you were inclined you could join a tasting «class» of sorts, lasting 30 minutes or so, that learned us all kinds of tea factoids. Not only that, but you get to taste some excellent and some not so excellent teas.
All in all, it was a good time and well worth a look next year.

For all the tea lovers out there, this is a must-​attend. The 2012 Northwest Tea Festival is on October 6 – 7 — this will be the festival’s 5^th year and it’s going to be the best one yet! They have tea tastings, workshops, presentations, and many of the top tea companies from the Pacific Northwest. Tea legends from all over the U.S. like James Norwood Pratt show up. One of the rare times you say this living in Seattle but can’t wait for October!

I can’t wait to participate in this year’s Northwest Tea Festival. This is the third year and it just gets better and better!
There’s going to be lots of tea tastings, lectures, and even a café with goodies from Essential Bakery. I’ll be working the booth for Choice Organic Teas and we are going to be sampling some of the new teas which are in support of the Jane Goodall Institute. Pretty exciting!

I love tea. So I moseyed my way to this tea festival. Only to realized, I am a tea noob. Oh man, I had a lot to learn.
For us, the tea tasting session was the best part of the festival.
I learned a lot at the tasting session that I was in. Led by a tea expert, our group of eight learned, from start to finish, how teas were picked and prepared. We were able to compare for ourselves how the different techniques subtly changed the flavor right then and there. It was pretty cool.
Later, we wandered freely around the sampling room, tasting a bunch of teas from around the world. It was fun to be able to interact directly with experts while having the hands on experience of tasting the subject matter.
This festival is free, the suggested $ 5 donation gets you a porcelain tasting tea cup and a bag of sample teabags. It occurs around the first weekend of October. Looks like they’ve added professional tea training workshops, tea certifications and other fun stuff this year. Be sure to sign up for a tasting session first, there’s a bit of a wait to get into one.
If you’re a fan of tea, you too may find this to be a nice way to spend a balmy, Autumn afternoon.