World Tea Expo 2014 - Mixology 101

class done by tebellatea.com Abigail StClair

you want 2-3 flavors in a drink

Sweet

sweet can lessen bitter, salty, acidic

can enhance / contrast

add: sugar, honey, agave, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, some fruits, toasted almonds

Sour (acidic)

adds sharpness, makes people think fresh

used to balance sweet

add: salt, salted rim, pickled vegetables, tomato juice

Bitter

hints - add depth

too much - BAD

add: bitters, tonic, orange peel (first flush darjeeling)

Umami

savory

miso soup, MSG

add: deep steamed sencha

Combine

by weight / volume
body / intensity

balance flavors

Introduce

1) direct infusion (liquor and leaves)
2) tea simple syrup
3) mix tea in
4) ice cubes

Direct Infusion

Sample #1 glenfidich 12yr w/lapsang souchong

3x as much tea as with water

30min - 12 hours

this sample, 2 hours

slightly smokey smell
taste the scotch
after taste sweet and smokey

use high quality spirits

other ideas: Russian caravan

Tea Simple Syrup

sweet cocktail without dilution

50/50 water-sugar => tea/sugar

3-4x normal strength

if using honey
tea 60 / 40 honey
or even
70/30

sample whiskey sour with earl grey

rye in earl grey

• 1.5 oz rye
• .75 earl grey syrup
• .75 fresh lemon
• garnish with a lemon wedge

Mix-In

where dilution is OK or hot beverage

2-5 oz of tea (3x strength)

spiced rum & chai

Ice Cubes

sipping alcohols on the rocks
pop of color

tea 2-4x strength

burbon with Russian caravan ice cubes

vodka cocktail with hibiscus ice cubes

Sample 3 - Bees Knees

• 2oz gin
• .75 tea simple syrup*
• <.05 oz orange juice garnish with orange slice

* while tea with lemon, orange blossom, and tangerine - 1/3 orange blossom honey

syrups keep 5-7 days refridgerated

use a really fine strainer to decant tea/liquor

Ideas:
earl grey gin
earl grey lavender tequila and honey
russian carivan / lapsang souchong in bloody mary - bacon garnish
hibiscus and rum
hibiscus and champaign
citrus oolong and vodka
Russian caravan in white Russian
bold ginger in moscow mule
darjeeling and pernod
rooibos and dessert martini

demand co-branding

wholesale pricing

video of mixing

beer 8oz barrel over 3 months

simple 2-3 flavors in a tea

World Tea Expo 2014 - Teas From Thailand

Class by David DeCandia of the coffee bean and tea leaf

Teas flown in in 2 weeks ago from N. Thailand

family owned farm 1902

teatrails.com

Green

top 2 leaves and a bud
24 hours pluck to done
180F kill enzyme

now: teas from maui, tuscany

Sample
Leaf - infused, sweet, caramely

done by hand, twisted 8 times

color - translucent light yellow, slight green

tea smell: vegetal, sweet, light body

taste: light, vegetal, watery, sweet finish
hints of floral, silky mouthfeel after

Others: cinnamon, citrus
no astringency

Processing is key and can change flavor - oolong from darjeeling won WTE last year

Oolong

large black 2" leaves - wide

leaf: malty, fresh

tea smell: toasted rye bread, potato, caramel, bakey

smooth, almost silky

color orange brown light translucent

(others peach)

astringent finish - slightly vegetal

sweet

unrolling - edges red inside green
red is brusing
if not opened you didn't use the right temperature

higher dry temp

shorter/longer dry time can make a difference

too high - too long - less complex flavoring, more of  a formosa type oolong

mentioned but did not explain cicada leaves

all leaves picked 6a-10a - early morning dew picked at all the farms

sweeter more forgiving bush

when hotter plant conserves water

less sweet as it cools

-consumers less receptive to variation
-education - compare to wine

Black

simple astringent leaf smell

golden medium brown-orange
bakey-tosated nut tea smell
nutty
coffee flavor, astringent
malty (he cinnamon)
(tobacco) pair w/vanilla
(smokey) gritty mouthfeel

101 tea booth was his supplier

Come visit him - Cameria CA

World Tea Expo 2014 Whole Herb Company

World Tea Expo 2014 Whole Herb Company

Too large of a minimum order for me currently.

http://berjeinc.com/org.html
http://d30056232.purehost.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 mopro

World Tea Expo 2014 mopro

I think they do Websites?

Chatted with two of them for a bit about meat tea rubs (The Devotea USA) and then ran off to a scheduled meeting.

http://www.mopro.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

World Tea Expo 2014 Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

http://www.teaandcoffee.net/

The best of the tea magazines (to read) at the event

World Tea Expo 2014 Silk Road Teas

Silk Road Teas

I started my day with this beautiful booth, and delicious tea samples.

Ned was enthusiastic and excited to tell us about how they carefully source and select teas.

I now have three samples to try and can't wait to write try them!

http://www.silkroadteas.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Tea Time Magazine

Delicious recipes and well laid out.

This particular issue included both of my normal tea house haunts in Pennsylvania.

The Painted Tea Cup and A Taste of Britain Café and Tea Room.

http://www.teatimemagazine.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Berta Hedstrom Imports Inc.

Lovely teapots, cups, and other English china.

They will be contacting me about ordering, I am excited!

http://bhimports.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 T-sleeve™

"T-sleeve is a brand new, complementary product for tea drinkers who use tea bags. T-sleeve™ was created from a vision to enjoy a mess-free, tea drinking experience. "

It seems to be a water resistance disposable travel pouch for teabags.

Handy, if you drink teabags with string. As I use t-sacs I think I will stick to my Thistledown Cozies cloth tea travel wallet.

http://www.tsleeve.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Virginia Dare

Another flavoring company that samples delicious things but requires orders larger than I can handle (plus, flavor oil is messy).

http://www.virginiadare.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 t-sac/Aqua Select USA Ltd.

I checked in again, I am still to small to order directly, so I get their products through Elmwood Inn Fine Teas.

Great products (water filters, disposable t-sacs and reusable metal tea steepers) though!

http://t-sac.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Thistledown Cozies

I have seen this company at a variety of events. They are lovely products, I personally have a small tea travel wallet.

The owner comes to the events and is always happy to tell you about each product.

"Thistledown Cozies has been in business since 1995 manufacturing tea cozies and tea accessories for the tea industry. Our customers include tea rooms, tea shops, and tea related gift shops. We are wholesalers only. Our products are sold to the public in fine tea shops around the world, and on the web by a few of our customers.

We are a cottage industry located in southern New Hampshire, USA. As a very small company we can offer personal service.
Our products have been featured in many tea industry publications, and favorably reviewed by numerous online tea reviewers.
Our 'HOB', designed as a tea cozy for men, won a "Best New Product" award at the 2010 World Tea Expo. 

THE OWNER

Hi, I'm Annelise Pitt (nee Christensen). Being Canadian, I have "drunk enough tea to sink a battleship". Despite all that tea, my many years in the tea industry, and out of respect for those who truely are, I do not claim to be an expert on tea -- BUT my knowledge of textiles and my many years as a tea cozy designer HAVE made me an expert on how to keep that tea hot!
I am the designer of all of the products we market. I have been formally educated in the Fine Arts, but my textile and stitching education came at a very early age. I had the good fortune of spending my youth surrounded by skilled craftswomen, absorbing knowledge. My training at the knee of experts, background in Fine Arts, passion for fabrics, and insatiable desire to create, have combined to produce the most beautiful and highest quality tea accessories. "

http://www.thistledowncozies.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 TeaSource

I purchased some teas from them last year. A very knowledgeable and helpful booth with a nice selection of teas.

I believe it may be the pricing that has deterred me from future purchases.

http://www.teasource.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Takeya USA

As usual showing off their flash chiller - which I own one and can certainly recommend it!

http://www.takeyausa.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 The Tea Spot

Adorable setup! lovely staff at the booth. I do hope we can work together in the future.

http://theteaspot.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 The Tea House Times

Horrific layout. It was even hard to read the articles I was interested in.

http://www.theteahousetimes.com

World Tea Expo 2014 teas etc

A current favorite of mine. I have ordered from them and will certainly continue.

Beth was harassing her son (in that motherly urging marketing or speed way) while he was giving a tea cupping (chocolate themed) at the end of the day on Thursday. The joys of working with family.

I always learn more things and love spending time at the Teas Etc booth with Newman - there is always a tasting or other fun people around.

http://www.teasetc.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Seven Cups

Seven Cups

"Seven Cups is an American tea company based in Tucson, Arizona. We source traditional, handmade Chinese teas directly from the growers and tea masters who make them, and we bring those teas back from China to share with people everywhere. Seven Cups is the only American tea company with our own Chinese trading license, so that we are in complete control of our supply chain from tea maker to consumer."

It was a nice booth, I will need to look into them more.

http://www.sevencups.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 Sav-On bags

Sav-On bags

My current supplier of packaging. They have new zip pouches with tabs I may look at. There are also some pretty gift box and tin sets I may consider for the holidays.

http://www.sav-onbags.com/

World Tea Expo 2014 QTrade Teas & Herbs

QTrade Teas & Herbs

A lovely and wide selection. I am not sure why I have not yet ordered from them, I know I have looked.

The staff there at the booth is very helpful.

http://www.qtradeteas.com/Default.asp