Minnesota Tea Society

March 22nd, 2025. Saturday. 10 am. Ramsey County Library, White Bear Lake, MN

I am also a bit late again in getting this one posted to our website. Apologies.

We are a diverse community united by our shared interest in tea and tea culture. The purpose of our meetings is to not only introduce teas and tea traditions from around the world, but also to explore the vast realm of food pairings, tea ceremonies, and the many nuanced facets of tea that we may encounter, whether consciously or not. Even a lifetime of tea drinking cannot possibly uncover all there is to discover.

At this particular meeting, we had the opportunity to meet new people, taste new teas, sample novel food pairings, and explore herbal tisanes. We also participated in our first tea-matching game. I set up eight different jars of powdered teas, each labeled with a number, and provided everyone with a list of names. The purpose was twofold: first, to emphasize that not all powdered green teas can be accurately called “matcha”; and second, to underscore the importance of transparency in tea education.

Delving into the intricacies of tea can sometimes feel daunting, as I never want anyone to feel that I am being overbearing. However, I have the utmost respect for the skill and craftsmanship that goes into producing tea, and I hope to share my enthusiasm and passion with others as well.

Tea 1: Moringa Mint – Davidson’s Tea – Thank you Davidson’s for this sample!! We all found this one to be appealing and tasty. Can’t wait to try the next 7 blends with everyone!

Tea 2: Matcha – E&E. We only tasted this one via the dry powder to use it as a base for culinary grade versus ceremonial grade.

Tea 3: Heritage Okumidori Matcha – Ookia. I need to reiterate that this was a sample Marc sent to me. I interviewed him about his company, Ooika, back in February and I tell you this guy is going to shake up the matcha industry!

Tea 4: Powdered Genmaicha – Obubu Tea

Tea 4: Black Tea & Chrysanthemum inside a Lemon

Tea 5: Yellow Snail – Not entirely sure of the company.

Tea 6: Dragon Claw – We had tried this at previous meetings but it’s so wonderful for new people. I love watching expressions of “Whoa, I wasn’t expecting that!”

Our next meeting will be April 19th, 10am at Ramsey County Library – Mounds View. 2576 Mounds View Blvd, Mounds View, MN 55112

Lastly, I have Chawan (tea bowls), Chasen (bamboo whisks), and Chashaku (Bamboo scoop) for sale for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the world of matcha.