"Vee’s tour convinced me to switch from coffee to tea. Since the change, I’ve noticed an incredible change in my energy levels and overall mood."

--Anonymous, Professor, NYC

"A perfect escape for the frenzied psyche, Vee’s tours are warm, sweet, relaxing and infused with zing!"

--Rajive Sada Anand, NYC Artist and Teacher

"Vee raises awareness on all aspects of tea, from the subtle tastes of its delicate leaves and flowers to its history, uses and benefits. She creatively transforms New York City into the Darjeeling of the West."

--Rajive Sada Anand, NYC Artist and Teacher

Coffee and Tea Festival

With the annual NYC Coffee & Tea Festival fast approaching, I decided to post a bit about it. It is put on by Starfish Junction Productions, an award-winning event planning and production company. They specialize in custom event productions and staging corporate functions throughout the United States. They tend to focus on the NYC area and many of their events are related to specialty food and drink. Below is a recent interview I had with Lynda Calimano the event’s producer:

Vee: How did you decide to start the Festival?

Lynda: The concept for the festival was born out of the fact that there aren’t any shows like World Tea Expo or Coffee Fest that consumers can attend to see what is new, what is hot, try new products, or see what new trends are emerging.

Vee: It’s your third year now. What was the biggest surprise?

Lynda: The biggest surprise was the call we received from the Food Network asking us if they could come to our first show to film some video footage for an upcoming episode of their hit show Unwrapped. The show aired right before the 2nd annual show--it gave the show quite a bit of great publicity.

Vee: Many people feel the need to pick sides between coffee and tea. You decided to do things differently. Why?

Lynda: We could have easily designed a show around either coffee or tea but found that there is a tremendous cross over between coffee and tea lovers. Sure, you have some purists that love either coffee or tea, but we’ve seen many sophisticated consumers who really appreciate the quality of specialty coffees and teas. We design the show, and its programming, to appeal to both.

Vee: Agreed. I’ve noticed that you promote a lot of not-for-profit groups in your newsletters and at your events. Why are they important to you?

Lynda: We partner with a charity for every event we produce always trying to select one that is either industry related, like Cup for Education, or geographically significant to the location of the show, like a local children’s hospital. We want to support these noble and worthwhile charities for the incredible work they do to help those less fortunate.

Vee. Great to hear. What do you think it will be highlight of this year’s festival?

Lynda: TAFU NY has come on board as a sponsor of the show this year and will be bringing their Tea Master, Yoshikazu Tafu (7th generation Tafu family and a certified Japanese Tea Instructor) over from Japan for the event. We feel very honored. The attendees are in for a remarkable treat.

Vee: Can you talk a bit about this year’s programming?

Lynda: Each day of the show will be filled with programming/demos/lectures related to coffee and tea. This year we’ll be making coffee- and tea-infused cocktails, cooking with coffee, receiving instruction for making the perfect cup of espresso, learning about tea blending, witnessing a coffee cupping of international coffees, and more. There will also be a demo of a Korean Tea Ceremony, something most people have never seen. Attendees can have their tea leaves read as well as watch a movie by Su Friedrich which premiered last month at Lincoln Center in NYC.

Vee: Let’s talk about you and tea. Do you remember your first cup of tea?

Lynda: My grandma Louise turned me on to my first cup of tea when I was teen. I would only drink tea when I was sick, to soothe a sore throat. My grandmother helped me see the light and enjoy tea as part of my routine, not just when I was sick.

Vee: So many people seem to make that same transition. What is your current favorite type of tea?

Lynda: I have so many favorites, honestly. Among them, I love white tea, some of the fruit infused tisanes are amazing, and rooibos. I love finding new teas and look for them when I travel.

Vee: Me, too! How often do you drink tea?

Lynda: I drink tea every day. At work, we have our own version of “afternoon tea”--we make a big pot every afternoon. We always look for new teas to try, and then we talk about what we like about them. It really is fun to watch everyone take that first sip of a new tea and watch the expressions on their faces.

Vee: Let’s end with tea in NYC. What are some of the trends you see with tea in the city in 2008 and beyond?

Lynda: More and more evidence is being reported about the health benefits of tea and this is having quite a positive impact on consumers. I see tea becoming extremely useful as a tool to help fight obesity in adults and kids--replacing sugary sodas and juices. Tea infused cocktails are really hot--chai, earl grey, and green tea marTEAnis are all the rage.

Vee: Thanks so much for talking with me, Lynda. I look forward to seeing you at this year’s Coffee & Tea Festival!

The NYC Coffee & Tea Festival
Sat. April 12 11-6
Sun. April 13 11-5
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th St. (between 6th and 7th Aves.)
Enter the promo code “VEETEA” at checkout for half price tickets.