Tea Bar
Free with admission, the Tea Bar area sits on the east side of the Exhibition Hall, on your left as you face the back of the room. It provides a chance for everyone — whether you've never brewed a cup in your life or you steep daily with practiced precision — to slow down, share a cup of tea, and take part in a bit of education and conversation along the way.
Open Saturday and Sunday from 11am until closing, the three Tea Bar tables feature a rotating lineup of knowledgeable hosts drawn from across the tea community, each bringing their own specialty, story, and style to the table. Together they'll pour dozens of types of tea over the course of the weekend. Some sessions will compare similar teas side by side so you can taste the subtle differences between them; others will venture into unusual or lesser-known varieties; and every so often, a truly rare tea will make an appearance, savored slowly and discussed in depth.
This year, the tea bar area will include a queue, so please make your way
to the velvet ropes to find your spot in line! Sessions begin every hour on the hour, so there's always a fresh pot (or gaiwan, or kyushu) about to steep. Each session is designed to welcome anyone who {is curious}, regardless of experience: total beginners are just as welcome as lifelong tea drinkers who've spent decades chasing the perfect leaf.
Many of last year's hosts are returning, and they'll be joined by a handful of new faces bringing fresh perspectives and new teas to explore. At its heart, our mission at the festival is education — helping people understand tea's history, its craft, and its cultural impact across the world. And we've found that tasting genuinely terrific tea, poured by someone who loves it, is one of the best ways to pursue that mission.
In addition:
The Empty Tea Cup Table
Josh Brock will be back to host the Empty Tea Cup Table in The Tea Bar area. Having participated in many aspects of the tea industry, Josh reached the conclusion that the best way to support tea is to share it in its most basic forms. That is, to expose others to the fundamental element of tea that unites so many cultures, generations, and ceremonies: sincere hospitality and a meditative style.
The Tea Bar is organized a little bit differently this year so please read the new Tea Bar Etiquette below.
We wish you a wonderful time, the NWTF Tea Bar Team
Tea Bar Etiquette
- Plan to attend one tasting session and then move on to other festival activities so that others can experience the Tea Bar.
- Attendees should stand behind the velvet ropes until invited to sit. Saving seats is not permitted and only those present will be seated.
- Once seated, place your cup on a coaster and wait for the session to start.
- Only those sitting at a table with a cup on a coaster will be
served tea - no “lean-ins.” - Please be courteous and mindful to allow all participants equal access to the Tea Bar. The people waiting behind the velvet ropes will be seated next.
- Once the session is over collect your things and exit the area to allow for the next group.
Thank You and enjoy!