Sencha Naturals, a tea and mint company, displayed and sampled their flavored green tea mints in transparent teapots. Making mints out of green tea, said Sencha marketing designer Monique Ynigues, allows Sencha to bring the longtime Japanese traditions around tea to customers with a modern spin.
At the Jade Leaf Matcha booth, employees handed out samples of traditional hot matcha tea. Jade Leaf Matcha partners with and sources its matcha from organic tea farms in Japan.
Before handing samples to passersby, Jade Leaf Matcha representatives strain the fine green powder through a sifter to ensure a smooth texture with each sip. Once they add the matcha to the hot water, Jade Leaf Matcha employees mix the drink in an electric frother.
One of the multiple dessert spots at the festival, Holy Quiche sold classic European desserts with a matcha spin. Holy Quiche, which specializes in French comfort foods like quiches and gazpacho, whipped up a matcha creme brulee and a matcha tiramisu.
The matcha tiramisu from Holy Quiche swapped out traditional espresso powder for matcha. The result was a sweet and moist cake with a subtly bitter green-tinted cream.
Along with providing matcha lovers with samples of their very own matcha mix, Art of Tea, also gave customers a cozy spot to sit down and get crafty. Crafters could use the provided markers, washi tape and stickers to decorate their own boxes of Art of Tea Matchasticks.
At the Oko Yatai Cafe booth, vendors encased their petite matcha macarons on red and gold origami boxes. Oko Yatai also took a dark spin on matcha, selling dark buns and beverages made with bamboo charcoal.
Oko Yatai served dark buns, which were served with a side of green matcha cream. The charcoal in the bun and other Oko Yatai products supposedly detoxes the body of toxins and drugs as it also makes for healthier skin and hair.