Vancouver Tea Festival 2013

Would you like a cup of tea? Many do it seems as the overwhelming attendance at the inaugural Vancouver Tea Festival has shown, this past Saturday, November 2nd, 2013, at the Creekside Community Centre at the Olympic Village. Our second source of caffeine seems to have a lot of fans.

A LOT! The advance tickets were sold out, walk-ins were turned away, and line-ups to get in went up to 40 minutes. Being the festival's first year, organizers underestimated the amount of people who love tea! I'm pretty sure that they will be moving the festival to a bigger venue next year!

Not surprisingly, all the presentations that came free with admission were full.

Exhibitors included tea companies: Steam Tea House, JusTea, DAVIDsTEA, Tea Sparrow, Amoda Tea, The Chinese Tea Shop, O5 Tea, Namasthé Tea Co., TEAJA, Shaktea Tea Lounge, The Tea Guy, Tea Association of Canada, Steeped Tea, Zen Tea, Snow Lotus Fine Teas, Honeybush Health, Oollo Tea, Salon Tea, Black Tusk Trading, Naked Teas Galore and some other tea-related companies: The Painted Cookie & Carolyn Bruce Designs, Lime and Moon Pie Company, Ayala Moriel Parfums and BC Hydro.

Most of the vendors gave out samples of tea to try. I think the early birds got a small tea cup to use and to take home while the people who came later (like me) were given paper cups.

Tea Association of Canada educating attendees about how different types of tea are made.

 Making matcha at the O5 Rare Tea Bar booth.

This is such a cute tea pot! My friend gave into temptation and bought one for herself! I hope she invites me over for tea...

There was always a big line up at the Tea Guy's booth. I tried their Maple something tea and it was delicious. A friend's friend said that it smelled like pancakes.

Interesting perfumed tea from Ayala Moriel Parfums.

JusTea is fostering trade directly from Kenyan tea farmers.

 I love how Namasthé Tea Co.'s tea were in these bottles.

Tea Sparrow with their lovely tea pots.

DōMatcha's matcha powder.

 Zen Tea pots.

There is also going to be a tea-themed comedy play called 2 for Tea returning to Vancouver in December. They've had sold out shows all over Canada. Opening night is Dec 2nd and tickets are two for $20 on that day.

The British actors James & Jamesy were at the festival promoting the show. They described the show as if Monty Python and Dr. Seuss had a baby. A grown man baby. It starts out as a proper party and gets...less proper as it goes on. And if you bring a cup, you get served tea! Sounds fun!

The first ever Vancouver Tea Festival was a big hit and the people of Vancouver has shown that we love tea!