Northwest Tea Festival offers teas from around the world
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Tea-making equipment. Photo: Andrew Goodman/Courtesy of Northwest Tea Festival
One of the country's largest tea festivals is in Seattle this weekend, and whether you're a total newcomer or a seasoned tea connoisseur, there's plenty to explore.
Why it matters: Tea culture can feel intimidating, especially if your experience is limited to the standard Lipton tea bag, festival organizer Andrew Goodman tells Axios.
- But the Northwest Tea Festival not only offers a chance to sample some of the "finest teas from around the world," it's an inviting, approachable space for anyone, from the mildly curious to the deeply passionate, he says.
How it works: Now celebrating its 14th year, the festival brings together industry professionals, artists, writers and educators, all with a shared passion for what Goodman calls "the most fascinating of beverages."
What to expect: More than 50 vendors and experts will converge at Seattle Center's Exhibition Hall this Saturday and Sunday.
- There will be small-group tastings, a tasting lounge and non-vendor presentations on everything from the basics of brewing to the 5,000-year history of the second-most popular drink in the world.
- Almost any of the festival's tea merchants will be able to set people up with beginner sampler sets, Goodman says.
- More experienced "tea nerds" can try 2024's newest blends or dive into deeper comparisons, from neighboring regional teas to differences in harvest years, he says.
Plus: There's even a tasting lounge just for kids.
The big picture: All true teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, which was first discovered in China and later introduced to India.
- Over the centuries, this plant has traveled the globe, with some regions cultivating the same tea plants for generations and others just emerging as tea-exporting powers.
- Just as wine lovers can distinguish between a Napa Valley Chardonnay and a French Burgundy, enthusiasts can detect subtle distinctions between teas from different towns in one region or different years, says Goodman.
- In fact, the sheer variety of tea far exceeds that of wine, making it a treasure trove for those eager to prospect its complexities, he says.
Fun fact: Herbal "teas" made from chamomile, lavender, rose hips, mint and the like are more correctly called "tisanes," said Goodman.
If you go: For $20, you'll get a porcelain tasting cup, a tote bag and full access to both days of the festival. Kids under 12 get in free.
- The festival is Saturday 10am–6pm and Sunday 10am–4pm.
The bottom line: Yes, Seattleites love coffee, but it's good to mix things up and honestly, isn't there something magic about a cup of tea, a good book and a rainy day?
