The Melbourne Tea Festival is returning for its second year on Saturday 20 May.
Returning to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the one day event will feature specialty tea purveyors from Melbourne and beyond, showcasing creative blends, rare teas and brewing equipment and techniques.
Festival co-founder Renee Creer said “The response from last year’s event was incredible, so we can’t wait to see what Melbourne brings this year.
“Tea is one of the country’s most popular non-alcoholic beverages, however it’s probably one the most misunderstood. The festival aims to change that, encouraging both tea novices and connoisseurs alike to discover and explore just what specialty tea is all about.”
The festival returns with an expanded tea market, a fresh line-up of workshops and ‘Tea with a Stranger’, where visitors are encouraged to “leave your digital self behind and step into the vulnerability of face-to-face human connection facilitated by the sharing of tea.”
This year there’ll be a wide range of teas and tisanes, such as hand-crafted ‘wet’ chai, single origin and rare teas, therapeutic herbal blends, matcha green tea and kombucha on tap. There will also be a mix of locally grown teas as well as teas sourced globally.
New to the tea market will be a ‘do it yourself’ blending station where festival-goers can create their own custom blend, with tea, flowers, spices, fruit and herbs.
There will also be a series of ticketed workshops, hosted by leading industry specialists. Sessions include:
1. Native Australian tea ceremonies
Experience our ancestor’s secrets to health and wellness, whilst gaining a greater understanding of Australian Indigenous tea ceremonies and their medicinal and ceremonial purpose.
Hosted by Jesse Munro Gurugir, LORE Australia
2. Fermenting tea – kombucha & jun brewing
Love Kombucha? Curious about Jun? Learn the tricks and tips on how to turn your tea into extra healthy and delicious probiotic elixirs.
Hosted by Sharyn Flynn, The Fermentary
3. Bowl Tea – the daily ritual
Bowl Tea is the gentlest and most accessible form of tea ritual. In this workshop you will open a doorway to spiritual tea, experience bowl tea and learn about living tea.
Hosted by Hannah Dupree, Storm in a Teacup
4. Blend Your Own Tea
You will learn the art and science of combining teas, herbs and floral inclusions to create a bespoke blend.
Hosted by Ruan de Witt, Impala + Peacock
THE DETAILS:
- Date: Saturday, 20 May 2017
- Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
- Location: Melbourne Exhibition Centre
2 Clarendon Street South Wharf (Doors 1 and 2)
- Cost: Pre-sale adult entry $15.90 (including all fees and charges)
Door-sale adult entry $20.50 (plus credit card processing fees)
Workshop ticket $51.70 (including all fees and charges)
Kids under 12 free
The Sydney Tea Festival will take place Sunday, 20 August.
