New to tea chat

[kmsacca]

I absolutely LOVE Adagio. I've been buying from them for years and have discovered so many new favorites through this website. I love their gifts, their teaware, their service. Lately I've enjoyed trying some of the signature blends people create, although some have been less than successful, imo.
The reason I've finally registered for this chat is that I can use some advice. My daughter and I are hosting a baby shower for my other daughter and have decided to have a tea party. We tried to find a tearoom that could accomodate a party, then we tried to find a tea party caterer, but no luck. So now we have the venue and we're working on collecting enough teaware. My problem is the tea selection.
Does anyone have any advice as to how many and what varieties I should offer? We will have about forty guests, with individual pots. I'm stumped because I don't want my own tastes to limit the selection. For instance, I hate bergamot, and would never buy Earl Grey, but is that something I should have? And green tea tastes like spinach water to me, but I love white tea . Are there very popular flavored teas? Maybe some sort of spicy thing like the coffee shop "chai" teas? Do I need to have decaf?
Left to my own devices, I would have a black, a green, a white, an oolong, and a rooibos.

[iannon]

oh..i dont know..thats tough..are you just planning on one steep per round? how many cups of tea do you estimate everyone drinking on average? That might steer the types and quantity of varieties of tea you get. did you have an idea on the black? A nice darjeeling would probably work well. as much as I hate to say i may not suggest a japanese green but perhaps like a greener Jasmine Oolong. that should go over well i would think. if you have glassware one of the blooming teas would look really cool too although they are a bit more costly. Just one per person there! Of course i would say have some decaf on hand unless you know for sure everyones caffeine tolerances

[artmom]

Welcome to TeaChat. Sounds as if this is going to be very complicated. Are all of the guests knowledgable tea drinkers, or do they usually only drink tea at tea parties?

I would do a black, which almost everyone has had at one time or another; Iannon's idea of oolong works, too, especially the idea of a greener one, and a white. You'll need to offer milk and sugar with the black, but other than that, it should be easy-peasy.

Good luck.

[Mikael]

Hey there! Welcome to Teachat!

Sounds like you're planning a really wonderful event.. I have complete faith that others here can offer you solid advice, but personally I would say stick with the popular favorite items. People generally love oolongs like Ti Kuan Yin. Not all green tea tastes like seawater, have you tried Dragonwell (Long jing) ? That's a very popular Chinese green. As for black teas, perhaps a Yunnan variety would work quite well.... My idea is to offer all 3 at each table (1 green, 1 oolong, 1 black) that way everyone gets to try and have a high chance of enjoying one, two, or all three.

[Victoria]

And plan on an herbal, there is always someone who doesn't want caffeine.
Four teas total should be enough. More is gonna get complicated.
Have fun!

[LauraW]

And plan on an herbal, there is always someone who doesn't want caffeine.
Four teas total should be enough. More is gonna get complicated.
Have fun!

+1 - I've heard a lot more people talk about herbals as a decaf option versus a decaf black, for instance. Personally, gimme caffeine, I'm not a huge fan of most herbals solo (but can tolerate much better in blends).

I second the idea of having a black, a greener oolong, a white, and an herbal.

[Chip]

Welcome to the forum kmsacca. Hope the "TeaPartay" in the guise of a baby shower goes well.

[kmsacca]

I truly appreciate all your comments! I was really leaning toward a larger variety because I want to make sure everyone gets something they like, but you're all correct, I think, that just four or five should do it. My sister suggested that we brew the teas in large pots and have servers pour at each table. Amazingly, I hadn't even thought of that, but it makes more sense than me ending up with four dozen teapots. Servers won't be an issue.
I wholeheartedly agree that an herb tea is preferable to a decaf, but what? I don't drink herb teas much, and I'm thinking that a rooibos, which I love, may not be well-received, what with not being on the supermarket shelves much. Is chamomile a good choice? Or maybe Adagio's Foxtrot? That one sounds pleasant.
And should I include a spicy black tea like the coffee shops are selling?
I'm really kind of excited about this tea party. I found gorgeous, extremely inexpensive pink floral china three-tiered servers for all the lovely finger foods, as well as pink and ivory table linens on a closeout sale.

[LauraW]

Chamomile is nice, I haven't tried Adagio's Foxtrot, but it sounds good - would give enough different flavors that the rooibos wouldn't necessarily be the star of it (but you never know - someone might fall in love with it because of you!), and would give you some chamomile as well. I would probably do the Foxtrot or a fruit-based one (maybe Adagio's fruit medley?)

You can do a spicy black, but I think more people will be familiar with that sweetened and with milk - I'd probably stick with just a "plain" black. And having the servers do it is a great idea!