On the 22nd and 23rd of February, the third edition of Prague Tea Fest swept excited tea lovers off their feet!
As we had already anticipated from last year, it didn’t disappoint. Organizer Agha and a wonderful team of volunteers managed to create an entire weekend of wonder for the tea community. The festival brought together a gathering of highly respected exhibitors, showcasing teaware and accessories handcrafted by talented artists, as well as tea sellers offering carefully curated specialty teas from various tea-producing regions around the world. The backbone to all this was the city itself, thriving with its incredible teahouses, where festival-goers could visit now and then when out of the festival. With workshops, talks, tea tastings, and even a concert, there was so much to choose from.
We couldn’t have been happier to visit again! In between reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones, we were delighted to see several GJTea members. Some of them even helped us with our chakabuki workshop, and you can read all about it here.
There is so much to share about the weekend, but let’s focus on Japanese tea! This year, it had a strong presence. Among the exhibitors, Rishe Tea returned with its amazing selection of organic Japanese teas, and its founder, Areek, even held a class on gyokuro. Keiko from Germany was a hit with many attendees, who browsed their products – they gave a highly informative talk on theanine in green tea. It is worth mentioning that they had conducted in-depth research, lab-testing and comparing the component levels in various green teas, even distinguishing between different harvests. Such thorough research! Aiya also showcased its matcha, and J-Port Green Tea Japan, making their debut at a tea festival from The Netherlands, brought a variety of teas and tea-related products. Tanaka from The Netherlands introduced beautiful Japanese ceramics, while our Tea Fellow Kyle Whittington had a stand showcasing his exceptional shifuku craft. Kyle also had an exhibition at Meetea Tea Studio!
Above all, we must admit, we were thrilled to see four different representations of tea farmers who traveled all the way from Japan! The Yoshida Chaen family from Ibaraki, with whom we frequently collaborate on various projects, brought not only their green teas but also their stunning wakochas (one of which sold out on the first day!). Marjolein Raijmakers of Ikedoki brought a wide selection from Nagasaki, including delicious hojichas and tamaryokucha, as well as rarer offerings from more remote areas of the prefecture, such as wakochas from the island of Tsushima! Shutaro Hayashi, an advocate for organic cultivation in Kagoshima prefecture, was also present, captivating palates with his delicate umami teas. Last but not least, Issin-en made the journey from Miyazaki prefecture to showcase their exquisite kamairicha, along with a selection of wakocha and oolong. Moreover, Yoshida Chaen, Ikedoki and Issin-en all presented workshops at Meetea Tea Studio and Lao Tea House on the days before and after the festival!
What an incredible weekend full of tea opportunities, warm reunions, and inspiring encounters! We are so grateful for this beautiful tea community and are already looking forward to the next tea festival.
