Day two was awesome.  I take around two groups of people who only ever care to go through the festival for one day, which is amazing since I almost get to experience it again totally anew.  

I am absolutely going to do a chocolate and tea pairing party, point blank.  Maybe just before we get excited for Spring. It's going to happen and be amazing.

Last year the big thing was super powerful green and "vegital" teas.  This year, it was all about fancy pu-erhs.  Considering I really like the latter, made things a bit more fun.  Totally got a gorgeous brick of puer-eh, though not at the festival, and I plan on going on a pu-erh journey maybe in November or something of some of the local tea shops that visited.

I also won a raffle!  I generally never win anything, but I am now the lucky owner of some fancy matcha, which is something I never treat myself too.  So that's exciting.  Still bummed Silk Roads tea didn't make it, and I or someone I was with bought every Harney and Sons item being offered, so imo, they won the festival.  

Best thing about it, though I think they kicked out Market Spice.

They had their fancy $12+ tea tins for $5! :D  

Only got two today - Earl Grey Supreme and Tower of London.

Really disappointed there aren't many seasonal teas, esp. none out for tasting.  Not too much new, either.  And the ladies at An Afternoon to Remember were fairly bitchy and as cheap as ever, and still super sweeting all their teas to mess up your palate as you move along, bad attitudes - it's a tea festival, be happy.  Clearly I'm not their biggest fan.

 Everyone's moving through teas loads slower than last year, too.  But more booths brought food, though, which is amazing.  Did I mention Harney and Sons was there?  And their tea is super cheap and in the gorgeous tea tins? Nice guy working that booth, too.  Phoenix teas was more disappointing,their thing was rotating through teas super quick last year, and this year, everything was constantly way too hot and the people walking around with teapots kept burning peoples hands as they overflowed the tiny cups.  No one was really selling any teaware - just those duck tea infusers /everywhere/.  Perennial Tea Room had a much better display and location this year, though, which is great to see.

The stars of last year - Silk Road Teas seemed to have pulled out as well.  All the workshops start super late on the first day, so everyone's all clumped together and as the workers of the booths are getting tired, you can see them trying to wave people through that are killing time before their workshops.  At least they start earlier tomorrow.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL day in Seattle, supposed to hit 70s, and the sun is out with a cool breeze.

Also, if you are planning on doing the tea festival, or Seattle Center, I was just shown this great pie shop in the Armory.  And they do meat pies!  Which are astounding, hard to find that around here.  They look small, but are really filling and tasty.  Plus, they have HP sauce out as a condiment, along with siracha, choula sauces.  Not too many American restaurants have any of those out readily, let alone all together.