Sip on this! The Toronto Tea Festival is bringing some of the finest blends in the world together under one roof for an entire weekend. With new additions to this year’s festivities and over 40 vendors, the annual event is ready to start brewing.
Learn, indulge and even purchase your favourites at the Toronto Tea Festival on Feb. 1 and 2, 2025, at the Toronto Reference Library. Be sure to make your way to the Appel Salon on the second floor, where you’ll find everything that has to do with teas from around the globe.
For an entire weekend, experts from the tea industry will offer free presentations as you sip away on the freshest drinks. Single-day tickets are priced at $20, which includes a branded shopping bag and a glass-tasting cup inside. For the price of some caffeinated beverages you’ll find in stores, this might be worth it.
Toronto Tea Festival
But this year brings new experiences for tea lovers – a VIP tasting event, A Journey Through Terroir: Wine and Tea Pairing. According to organizers, Tea sommelier and wine educator, Edward Qu of Niagara College will present an “immersive exploration of the shared and unique qualities of wine and tea.”
Considering it’s a little boozy, this is a 19+ event. So, if you’re of age and want to hop in on this, you’ll get a guided tasting of two curated flights of top-notch wine and teas. You’ll have to fork over some extra cash, though – it’s a $60 ticket. If you live for these experiences, it’s worth your hard-earned cash.
But the fun doesn’t end there. Another newbie is Chinese Tea Art – Dian Cha (Whisking Tea). “Before matcha, tea whisking was an art form unto itself in the Song Dynasty in China. The result is beautiful, tasty and energizing,” shared the organizers with me.
Toronto Tea Festival
Now let’s look at the vendor lineup. If you’ve been to previous Toronto Tea Festivals, you may see some familiar faces. But if you’re here to try something new, check out Kebaonish Inc., it’s an Indigenous Tea company, and if you’d love to learn more about it, its co-founder Dr. Shyra Barberstock will also be giving a lecture on Sacred Connections: Indigenous knowledge and Tea.
Other brands to join the party are Tea Squared Inc., Zoun Tea and Nepal Tea Collective. Rest assured, though, you’ll also see the return of The Tea Guild of Canada, Momo Tea, Genuine Tea, Secret Teatime and the originator of the Toronto Tea Festival, Tao Tea Leaf.
“The festival aspires to demystify tea culture for newcomers, highlighting its rich history, health benefits, and cultural significance,” shares the Toronto Tea Festival.
Toronto Tea Festival
“By offering engaging experiences such as tastings, workshops, and expert talks, the festival aims to inspire a wider audience to incorporate tea into their daily lives and explore its potential beyond just a beverage — embracing it as a lifestyle choice that promotes wellness and sustainability.” And since I’m in my wellness era, I’m here for it.
So, if you find yourself with some free time that weekend, get those tickets online and make your way over to 789 Yonge Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb 1 and 2, 2025.
