Ken Rudee & Andy Laub-Tea Experts to be at the Tasting

The 2008 World Tea Expo is in Las Vegas and we have secured two tea experts to join us at our May 28th Tea Tasting at Woo Restaurant.

Ken Rudee is a certified tea instructor for the Specialty Tea Institute. He is also the owner and Director Tea of the tea wholesaler, Barnes & Watson Fine Teas of Seattle, WA.

Ken is presenting at the 2008 World Tea Expo, "The Power and Profits of Iced Tea." He is also teaching the "Foundations of Tea: Level 2" as part of the tea certification classes.

Ken has recently returned from a tea expedition to Japan and China.

Andy Laub is a certified level II tea judge and a partner in Kopius Teas of Delmar, California.

Six Teas to Taste at May 28th 2008 Tea Tasting

Andy Laub has arranged an exciting tea tasting with at least six teas:

The comparison tasting teas will be an organic 2007 White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) and a 2008 White/Green tea (Yu Qian An Ji Bai Cha) both from Seven Cups of Tea.

The hot teas will be a 2007 Organic Yunnan Black from Seven Cups of Tea, a 2007 Darjeeling from Q-Trade Tea and Herbs, and possibly an Oolong tea.

The iced teas will be Lillian' Treasure which is an organic sencha (Green tea) with apple pieces, safflower and organic pear and Fiji tea which has papaya, wild pineapple and green tea. Both are from Infusions of Tea.

Former Imperial Tribute Tea – Silver Needle

Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle) is the rarest and most spectacular of all of the white teas. Of all the white teas it is the most expensive variety and the most prized. Formerly, an Imperial Tribute Tea, Bao Hao Yin Zhen is produced in the Fujian Province in China from the top tea buds from the first flush of the Dai Bai (Great White) tea tree. Early in the spring the individual leaf buds are picked and carefully rolled into this noteworthy tea. Like French Champagne, only true Bai Hao Yin Zhen is grown in the Fujian Province. It is a tea that every tea drinker should taste at least once in a lifetime.

Tribute Teas and Famous Teas

At the top of the list of sought-after teas are China's "famous teas." These teas are the former Imperial Tribute Teas. Because these teas were of such remarkable and ethereal quality, they were claimed as the exclusive provenance of the Emperors of China's last four dynasties: Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing. Each Emperor had his favorite, and delivery of the tea was recorded as a tax payment owed to the throne. Tribute tea that did not suit the Emperor's taste would be given to court officials who could drink the tea for their own enjoyment or secretly sell it at a premium price.

When the days of Imperial China ended in 1912, the Imperial Tribute Teas became available for mere mortals to enjoy. Each of these teas is distinctive and unique and justifiably the pride and joy of the regions that produce them. Famous teas are instantly recognizable by their characteristic leaf shape, appearance and flavor. They are named after the mountains from which they come (Huang San, Lu Shan or Tanmu Shan) and are give poetic descriptive names such as Da Hong Pao, Lu'an Cuapian or Tianmu Clouds and Mist. There are 19 "famous teas."

Excerpted from "The Story of Tea" by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss.

Las Vegas Tea Tastings

Las Vegas Tea Culture and Tastings will have a tea tasting at Woo's Restaurant at 4 PM on Wednesday May 28th. Most likely we will have a few tea experts from the World Tea Expo joining us. The featured teas will be two whites and two green teas, supplied by Kopius Teas of San Diego. We have limited seating at this tasting. Please RSVP with John Laub.

World Tea Expo Coming to Las Vegas

The World Tea Expo is the largest, trade-only conference in the world on tea and tea accessories. The 2008 World Tea Expo will be in Las Vegas from May 30th through June 1st, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. Thousands of proprietors of tea rooms and coffee houses along with hundreds of independent tea retailers will be attending the show and classes. Over 500 exhibitors will be displaying at the Mandalay Event Center. The World Tea Expo is run by the Las Vegas-based SFG Group, LLC