Our Blog about All Things Tea

Tea time is peaceful for me and it made me wonder if my first visit to the Victoria Tea Festival would be a mellow affair with people chatting in hushed voices between tiny sips.

I did have one worry. I’m sensitive to overpowering scents and was concerned that I would walk in, take a breath, be consumed by an urge to sneeze and bolt for the nearest exit.  Admittedly, a sneezing fit ranks low on the personal catastrophe scale so I set this concern aside, put a few tissues in my pocket and set out for the afternoon.

From the moment I arrived at the Crystal Garden, I picked up a great buzz of energy throughout the giant room. I walked away hours later with the belief that tea has many personalities – elegant, cool, and yet comforting as a tea cozy.  Oh, and while there were so many diverse tea scents in the room, the overall effect was an engaging, even mouth-watering sensation.   My normally “tickly” nose was in seventh heaven.

I drank countless tasty teas and tea blends that day; sampled jasmine infused shortbread, scones with jam and clotted cream, truffles infused with Earl Grey tea, bought green mulberry tisane, chai, and triple berry fruit tea.

I stopped by the presentation stage area and learned what types of tea pots to use with different types of tea to ensure the best flavour, drank even more tea, visited the ladies room several times, checked out exquisite handcrafted teapots, witnessed a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and finally floated home.

The Victoria Tea Festival is what I call a “Goldilocks” situation.  There’s plenty to sample and far more than one thing that’s “just right” for every attendee.

Photo Credit:  Courtney Clarke

Melissa McLean is a member of the Marketing Committee for the Victoria Tea Festival.  (Apparently she enjoyed her first visit a lot.)