April SPECIAL EVENTS at the ZEN TARA TEA shop

Spring has sprung in the Metro DC area and Bethesda so we're bringing a new look to our tea tasting format in April. These events have been wildly popular since we began scheduling them in January shortly after our grand opening. This month we've added a pre-registration period for events exclusively for customers who signed up for our monthly e-newsletter. We have added a format twist beyond our usual tea tasting regimen - for the April 10th event we will taste AND blend Chai teas, and for the April 18th event we have paired chocolate and tea tasting together. We also have two standard tea tasting events - Teas of Southeast Asia and Floral & Fruit infused teas.

All Tea Tasting Events for April are sold-out.
Want to be among the first to know about next month's events? Sign-up for our e-newsletter (below).

Glen Echo Pottery Studio @ Zen Tara Tea Gallery Opening
Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 3:30 to 7:30pm

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 1st early next month when we will have a Gallery Event similar to our Grand Opening event for the artisans of the Glen Echo Pottery Studio. Sample teas, enjoy light foods and look for creative, one-of-a-kind Mother's Day gifts.

We have a morning dark side at Zen Tara Tea as well - a coffee side.

Despite the path worn in the sidewalk from weary morning coffee drinkers sleep walking to the Starbucks on the corner 600 feet from our door, we do offer a coffee alternative worthy of escaping that over-priced, over-caffeinated rut. We proudly serve locally roasted Mayorga Coffee from nearby Rockville, MD at a special morning wake-up price of 99 cents for a small coffee. Helping you, helping the local economy and providing a great tasting coffee for those who don't blindly follow the herd.

April Zen Tara Tea Tasting Events

A Fool for Tea or Can Tea Fool You?
Thursday, April 1, 2010 from 6:30 to 7:30pm (SOLD OUT)

We couldn't let April Fool's Day pass by without a fun tea event! This event brings back our overview of teas from January, Teas from Around the World, with a twist. Instead of selecting two tea samples at the end to take home and try at home, this time you have to earn them. As we try 6 different teas, after tasting them and before discussing them in more detail if you can guess the tea correctly you get a sample of that tea. If you been developing your tea palate this means you could take home 6 samples instead of 2 if you guess correctly. Join in the fun, show-off a little or play the tea fool!

Chai Teas from India & Chai Blending Class
Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 11:00 to 12:30 noon (SOLD OUT)

A more active tea tasting and blending event. We will first taste 4 distinctive chai tea blends (teas based on traditional Indian Chai's, blended with a variety of spices and flavors including cinnamon, cardamom and cloves). We will then work as a group to come up with new chai tea blends using a black tea from India as a base tea which each attendee can then customize to their own preference with a range of provided spices and flavors. The class will then taste each tea and nominate a winning new chai blend. The winner gets to name their tea and Zen Tara Tea will sell the blend at the tea shop with the winner's name on the package as "Created by ______".

Teas of Southeast Asia
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 from 6:30 to 7:30pm (SOLD OUT)

When many tea drinkers talk about where tea is cultivated, China, India and Japan tend to dominate the conversation of tea growers and producers. Such a closed discussion neglects both historic and recent efforts by other tea growing countries, particularly those of Southeast Asia. A selection of 6 green, oolong and black teas from a range of countries including Vietnam, Nepal, Thailand & Sri Lanka will be a part of this tea tasting event.

Tea & Chocolate
Sunday, April 18, 2010 from 11:00am to 12:30pm (SOLD OUT)

This special event pairs our specialty organic teas with the exquisite chocolates of Bethesda Lane chocolatier, 'Cacao'. Many of the same considerations that go into creating a balance of flavors to produce a great tasting tea are also a part of creating wonderful chocolates. This event pairs tasting specially selected teas that enhance the flavor of different types of gourmet chocolates. A delicious and delightful event exclusively at Zen Tara Tea.

Floral & Fruit Infused Tea Blends
Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm (SOLD OUT)

A tasting event of a range of teas that embody the Spring season: black, green, white and oolong teas with fruit and floral accent flavors. For centuries tea blends have been created with the addition of fruit (the bergamot citrus added to Earl Grey tea blends) and flower blossoms (the jasmine flower added to green tea). This tasting event brings together 6 wonderful tea blends that capture a fruit or floral essence, many of which make a great iced tea as well as a hot tea. 

A Note about Perfumes & Colognes:

Part of the tea tasting experience for the group is dependent on being able to discern the differences in aroma and taste across the range of teas being sampled. Heavily scented lotions or perfumes in a closed room will disrupt the full enjoyment of the teas and we ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes or lotions with a strong scent for the tea tasting event.
- Thank You.

Reserve our Tea Tasting Room for your next small group or meeting location or arrange a private Tea Tasting Event for your group.

The room comfortably seats 10-12 people. Tea (of course), coffee and desserts can be ordered for the event or purchased individually by attendees. Light food fare can be catered with advanced notice.

We're a Neighborhood Tea Shop that also comes to you on the Web

While our downtown Bethesda shop with a selection of over 100 specialty teas isn't a moveable feast, you can order tea from us online 24/7 securely with your credit card or PayPal account. Follow us by bookmarking our Updates page on our website, sign up for our monthly newsletter (below) or follow Zen Tara Tea on Twitter or Facebook.

New and Favorite Teas:

Red Tiger Tea
Roasted Houjicha Green Tea
Pomegranate White Tea

Our Tea Collection: black teas, green teas, oolongs, white teas, herbal teas, chai teas, pu-erh teas

Zen Tara Tea © 2010. All rights reserved.