Within the early 2010s, when Madhu Sharoff lived within the Bay Space, do-it-yourself chai was his final social gathering trick. “My pals would say, ‘Let’s have a chai social gathering.’ And the subsequent factor I knew, there have been 15 or 17 individuals coming over,” Sharoff says. Desirous to share Indian chai tradition with rising crowds of pals and acquaintances, he would arrive at individuals’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 had 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 great 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 enthusiastic about booze-free blissful hour options, otherwise you’re a longtime tea fanatic with particular choices to share, tea invitations everybody to the social gathering.

Right here’s every thing to find out about the right way to throw a tea social gathering.

Set the Schedule

One of many advantages of a contemporary tea social gathering is it may well happen at any time of day. “Most individuals consider blissful hour as an after-work occasion,” says Cathy Unusual, Complete Meals’ ambassador of meals tradition. “However, since tasting tea has no restrictions on time of day, this opens up many alternatives for when or the right way to host a tea social gathering.” 

In the event you plan to serve varieties that comprise lots of caffeine, reminiscent of oolong or matcha, your company would possibly choose an earlier hour. In that case, your tea social gathering could 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 in all Imbibe’s 75 Locations to Watch in 2025.  “Tea is such a pleasant method 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 will be as easy or advanced as you want. Brew a big pot of 1 kind 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 normally opted for the latter method. “You can also make chai shortly after which sit down and drink,” he says. “Chai is simply the companion that helps the conversations open up.”

In the event you’d choose a extra structured tasting, pattern an array of sorts facet by facet or in succession. “I might advocate serving three teas most to have the ability to distinguish flavors,” says Unusual, reminiscent of Earl Gray alongside a jasmine or different inexperienced tea plus a flavored possibility. “If the group you’re internet hosting is already very conversant in completely different styles of tea, you may strive tasting teas from completely different international locations for a enjoyable, beyond-the-basics style check.”

Alternatively, make tea the principle occasion and manage a gongfu cha-style tasting. A centuries-old Chinese language apply, 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 title gongfu cha roughly interprets to “making tea with talent,” and it’s an immersive method to expertise tea. “You’ll be able to see the leaf open and develop in taste,” says Vogler. “Every cup is completely different, in order that sort of journey will be enjoyable for a gaggle of pals 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 social gathering is that water temperature needs to 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 free.” 

Plan the Menu

For informal tea events, pair your tea with no matter snacks or dishes you would possibly escape for brunch or aperitif hour, reminiscent of pastries, crudité, or blended 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 a substitute, particularly when the chai events had been held earlier within the day. 

In the event you 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 search out your favourite teas. In the event you don’t like each cup you brew, that’s helpful info and a part of the journey. 

“It’s important to determine what you want, and the tea will inform you over time how it is best to brew it and drink it,” says Vogler. “At Bardo, we all the time say that we needed to drink lots of dangerous tea in our lives to get to the nice tea! Tea takes time.”