The Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association (MATBA) Will Hold an Annual Meeting and Seminars on April 8 and Welcomes New Members to Join and Attend.

Ocean, NJ – The Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association (MATBA) will hold an annual meeting and seminars on Monday, April 8, 2013.  The organization meets quarterly to host a business meeting with networking opportunities and education and an extended annual meeting with more than one seminar topic. Bill Waddington, founder of TeaSource, will be guest speaker at the meeting which is set to take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Eden Resort in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The agenda includes morning and afternoon workshops with Mr. Waddington, morning refreshments, lunch, and a business meeting for members at the end of the day.  Workshop 1, Marketing Your Specialty Tea Business, will go on a journey of industry-specific marketing strategies, techniques, ideas, with real-life examples from the specialty tea business. Workshop II, Helping Customers Select and Buy Teas They Love, will present more than 20 specific ideas, tools, and strategies to help customers select and purchase teas that are just right for them.

MATBA V.P., Marcella Farina, said, “Bill is extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of tea… come to hear; listen and learn from one of the ‘very’ best!”

MATBA was founded in 2005 and is currently welcoming both in region and out-of-region members. All members may reserve and pay for their spot to attend the annual meeting at http://www.matba.org and must do so by April 1.

The MATBA Board arranges quarterly business meetings and offers education and networking, membership drives/meet-ups, and support to member businesses and their expertise.  These efforts facilitate the Association’s mission to advance the knowledge of tea.  Members of the MATBA Board include Kirsten Kristensen (Tea 4 U), President; Marcella Farina (The Tea and Hat Lady), Vice President; Lora Andrews (Gypsy’s Tea Room), Treasurer and Member-to-Member Discounts Committee Chair; Darlene Meyers-Perry (The Tea Enthusiast’s Scrapbook), Secretary; and Gail Gastelu (The Tea House Times), Chief Information Officer, Press Liaison, and Advertising/Promotions Committee Chair. 

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For Media Inquiries, please contact MATBA’s Press Liaison: Gail Gastelu, Click to email

For general questions, please contact MATBA: Click to email or see more details at www.matba.org

Tea Friendships Along the Way . . .

Having Tea at Radiance Tea House & BooksI cannot believe it has been almost a month since I last blogged. Although I haven't been blogging, I have been very involved in the world of tea visiting interesting tea rooms, cupping new teas, presenting tea education programs, and seeking out new locations for my teas and tea accessories.

The end of February found me in New York City to participate in a "Tea Tour" arranged by one of my favorite tea friends Darlene Meyer-Perry (www.theteaenthusiastsscrapebook.com)  for myself and five other tea friends. The highlight of the two days was my friends graduating Level 3 of the Certified Tea Specialist program. We are now all "Certified Tea Specialists." Who would have thought?

Many of us began our tea journey two years ago in Charleston, South Carolina and as is always true with great friendships we added more to our group of traveling tea ladies along our tea journey. Our tea journey has become a life-long journey of tea education, cuppings, explorations, and ever-being the student.

Writing this makes me think of something I just read today in The New Tea Companion by Bruce Richardson and Jane Pettigrew (www.benjaminpress.com)  . . . "It seems that tea and its rituals help to create an atmosphere in which people feel safe, calm, nurtured and protected . . . in which they can discuss their experiences and feelings in a way that is not possible for them elsewhere." Oh how true this is for our little group. We may not see each other for months but once we are together with a cuppa in hand no time has passed since our last gathering. The laughs, sharing, and love is abundant.

Our first stop was at Radiance, Tea House & Books (www.radiancetea.com) on West 55th Street. Our selection of teas ranged from premium Matcha to iced Eastern Journey (a unique blend of green and black teas from China, India and Ceylon with rose, jasmine, and sunflowers) and everything in between. For lunch, I chose a Teriyaki Glazed Salmon Rice served with Shitake mushroom, red onion, steamed baby Bok Choy and Teriyaki sauce, Edamame, salad, dumplings and rice that was outstanding.

A selection of hot tea was served in this beautiful Chinese Teapot and Cup

 Premium Matcha Tea

My luncheon selection -- doesn't it look delicious?

 May your cuppa overflow with quality tea enjoyed by all tea spirits,

The Tea And Hat Lady