The Victoria Tea Festival arrives this weekend.

Daniela Cubelic, owner of Silk Road and sponsor of The Victoria Tea Festival pouring a tea cocktail at her store. right: Silk Road's Angelwater tea. Photo by Deanna Ladret

Victoria tea lovers, heads up: North America’s largest tea show is just around the corner, and it’s right here in our city. The Victoria Tea Festival, held at Crystal Garden February 18-19, invites guests to participate in a fun and informative exhibition celebrating “all things tea”. The annual event will feature over 45 exhibitors and will include interactive tea tastings, sales, tea-food pairings, wares, educational presentations, and a silent auction. All proceeds from the Victoria Tea Festival benefit Camosun College’s Child Care Services.

Conceptualized and operated by a team of local volunteers, the Victoria Tea Festival began in 2007 as a small event to celebrate tea, build community, and raise money for a good cause. The first Tea Festival drew 200 people. Now it has grown into a two-day event yielding crowds well into the thousands, with many travelling to Victoria specifically to participate.

Attendees will smell, touch, taste, and learn about myriad teas and ingredients from across the globe, like Pu Er, Masala Chai, Matcha, and Flowering Tea. Guests explore the art and craft of tea preparation, such as methods originating in Ancient China and Victoria’s historic English tea tradition, and discover how tea has influenced culinary trends.

Camosun College Child Care Services operates on both campuses, offering high-quality childcare to parents as they pursue their education. All proceeds from the festival go directly to this program, where they are used to fund childcare bursaries for low-income parents, program resources, and facility improvement.

The Victoria Tea Festival Event Details:

Located at Crystal Garden

713 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC

Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012: 12:00pm-5:00pm

Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012: 11:00am-4:00pm

Tickets will be available at the door for $25, or may be purchased in advance for $20 at the following locations:

Silk Road Tea Company 

1624 Government Street, Victoria

Serious Coffee

all locations – Vancouver Island

Murchies 

all locations – Victoria and Vancouver

Camosun College Child Care Services Office

4461 Interurban Road, Victoria, (250) 370-4880

www.victoriateafestival.com