Within the early 2010s, when Madhu Sharoff lived within the Bay Space, do-it-yourself chai was his final occasion trick. “My associates would say, ‘Let’s have a chai occasion.’ And the following factor I knew, there have been 15 or 17 folks coming over,” Sharoff says. Desperate to share Indian chai tradition with rising crowds of associates and acquaintances, he would arrive at folks’s homes with snacks and tea-making provides. “After some time, I needed to begin delegating a few of the menu as a result of the pastry costs have been including up,” he provides, laughing.
These gatherings impressed Sharoff to discovered Kimbala Chai, an organization whose chai concentrates and ready-to-drink drinks are bought on-line and in grocery shops nationwide, in 2019. “The fantastic thing about tea is it’s very versatile. You may have it with so many issues,” Sharoff says. “You may change the way you serve it and what you serve with it relying on the event, the group, and different issues.”
Tea events are inclusive, too. Whether or not you’re all for booze-free blissful hour alternate options, otherwise you’re a longtime tea fanatic with particular choices to share, tea invitations everybody to the occasion.
Right here’s every part to find out about throw a tea occasion.
Set the Schedule
One of many advantages of a contemporary tea occasion is it may possibly happen at any time of day. “Most individuals consider blissful hour as an after-work occasion,” says Cathy Unusual, Entire Meals’ ambassador of meals tradition. “However, since tasting tea has no restrictions on time of day, this opens up many alternatives for when or host a tea occasion.”
For those who plan to serve varieties that comprise numerous caffeine, akin to oolong or matcha, your visitors may want an earlier hour. In that case, your tea occasion may be a noon affair or various to weekend brunch.
If caffeine isn’t a priority, host your tea events within the late afternoon or early night. “Lots of people don’t drink alcohol anymore,” says Veronika Vogler, cofounder of Bardo Tea in Portland, Oregon, one among Imbibe’s 75 Locations to Watch in 2025. “Tea is such a pleasant approach to nonetheless have group and nonetheless really feel such as you’re going out.”
Select Your Format
Which teas you serve and the way you put together them may be as easy or complicated as you want. Brew a big pot of 1 sort of tea and ask your pals for his or her impressions, or just let the dialog wander and the tea converse for itself.
When Sharoff hosted chai events, he often opted for the latter method. “You may make chai rapidly after which sit down and drink,” he says. “Chai is simply the companion that helps the conversations open up.”
For those who’d want a extra structured tasting, pattern an array of sorts facet by facet or in succession. “I’d suggest serving three teas most to have the ability to distinguish flavors,” says Unusual, akin to Earl Gray alongside a jasmine or different inexperienced tea plus a flavored choice. “If the group you’re internet hosting is already very acquainted with totally different forms of tea, you would strive tasting teas from totally different international locations for a enjoyable, beyond-the-basics style take a look at.”
Alternatively, make tea the primary occasion and arrange a gongfu cha-style tasting. A centuries-old Chinese language observe, gongfu cha demonstrates how tea evolves because it steeps. “The drinkers have a small pot that they pack their tea leaves into,” explains Volger. “Utilizing boiling water, [you] infuse the pot with brief steeps, beginning at round 15 seconds and including time to every steep thereafter for 8 to 12 steeps, relying on the tea.”
The identify gongfu cha roughly interprets to “making tea with talent,” and it’s an immersive approach to expertise tea. “You’ll be able to see the leaf open and develop in taste,” says Vogler. “Every cup is totally different, in order that form of journey may be enjoyable for a bunch of associates to have with one or two teas.”
Whichever method you select, deal with your tea with care. “The important thing to internet hosting a tea occasion is that water temperature must be proper and the steeping must be timed completely in order to not over extract and create bitterness,” says Unusual. “I like to recommend utilizing an infuser if the tea is unfastened.”
Plan the Menu
For informal tea events, pair your tea with no matter snacks or dishes you may escape for brunch or aperitif hour, akin to pastries, crudité, or combined nuts.
“In India, lots of people serve chai with namkeen, that are salty snacks,” says Sharoff. His Californian crew tended to go for baked items as an alternative, particularly when the chai events have been held earlier within the day.
For those who actually wish to lean into the theme, serve dishes that use tea as an ingredient, like Nik Sharma’s apple marsala chai cake, Rahanna Bisseret Martinez’ oolong tea flan, or Philip Khoury’s Earl Gray loaf cake.
Hold an Open Thoughts
Like tasting wine, or perfecting your martini, it takes time to seek out your favourite teas. For those who don’t like each cup you brew, that’s helpful info and a part of the journey.
“It’s a must to work out what you want, and the tea will inform you over time how you need to brew it and drink it,” says Vogler. “At Bardo, we at all times say that we needed to drink numerous dangerous tea in our lives to get to the great tea! Tea takes time.”
