At the beginning of October, the Vienna Tea Festival successfully celebrated its second edition!
Held in a stunning new venue, the festival attracted tea lovers from across Europe for an entire weekend filled with tea talks, tastings, and events.
There were many fascinating stands and workshops to explore. As usual, our focus leaned toward Japanese teas, and there was an excellent selection to discover. Exhibitors ranged from familiar faces to exciting new discoveries, all presenting wonderful offerings from Japan. Matcha was particularly popular and much sought after throughout the weekend.
Among the vendors were InfiniTEA Leaves, with their beautifully curated selection of hojichas and other hidden gems from Japan and Korea, and Rishe Tea, bringing life to the event with their fabulous gyokuros. The always-present Keiko and Aiya delighted visitors once again, while Misa Vienna offered a variety of matchas – and even matcha chocolate! Other participants included Jade Tee, Rami Tea, and the talented Japanese ceramist Mariko Chiba who showcased her beautiful blue-hued creations.
A particularly unique stand was that of Mihai Teascoops, featuring handcrafted tea scoops made from various woods, each piece carrying its own story. The highlight was a scoop made from Tōdaiji Temple wood, taken from the Great Buddha Hall during its reconstruction in the 1970s.
We were also proud to have our own stand at the festival. Our co-founder Anna was joined by Tea Catalyst Andy from Switzerland, and together they brewed teas for participants throughout the weekend, creating moments of connection with everyone who stopped by.
The workshops offered something for everyone. Corina from Jade Tee led a tasting of wild teas from both Taiwan and Japan. Markus from Keiko introduced teas from the Benifuuki cultivar, as well as mulberry leaves, and hosted a workshop comparing sencha and matcha to highlight their similarities and differences. Jakub from InfiniTEA Leaves gave a presentation and tasting comparing selected Japanese and Korean teas, while Areek from Rishe Tea led a gyokuro masterclass. Thomas from Aiya shared insights into the history of matcha.
We also hosted our own presentation about GJTea and our activities, and a dedicated workshop exploring the variety and regionality of Japanese teas. We were thrilled to see such active participation and enthusiasm from attendees throughout the weekend.
It was wonderful to reconnect with GJTea members attending the festival – some volunteering, others visiting, and a few even giving presentations. Sharing teas, smiles, and warm conversations with everyone truly made the weekend special.
While Vienna is often thought of as a “coffee city,” to us it was clear that the tea scene is growing and thriving. We are already looking forward to returning soon!
A heartfelt thank you goes to our dear members Michaela Scheda, Krisztina Ferenczi, and Andy von Allmen for their invaluable help and support throughout the event.
