BrisAsia Laneway Tea Festival brings new brews to Brisbane

From nitrogen-infused, beer-like tea to crazy bubble versions, a fun and interactive tea event is set to challenge everything you thought you knew about the brewed beverage.

Think you know tea, then think again. A fresh festival is coming to Brisbane set to open your mind to a whole new world of the brewed drink.

BrisAsia Laneway Tea Festival will take place in South Brisbane’s Fish Lane Town Square on February 12 as part of the annual BrisAsia cultural event, showcasing tea in all its forms, from the nitrogen-infused with a beer-like froth to DIY bubble versions.

“For our humble debut, we’ll have bubble tea and with that we’ll have all sorts of twists and flavours from fruity to the popular milk teas, and the artisan loose-leaf teas coming to have that traditional element,” event organiserGemma Truongsaid.

There will also be chai, traditional Chinese teas and more modern Western-style tisanes in quirky flavours such as apple crumble and peach melba.

Festival organiser Gemma Truong, Victoria Nguyen and Clarrine Ng of Teaology Lab in Fish Lane ahead of next month’s BrisAsia Laneway Tea Festival. Picture: Annette Dew

The festival will showcase 12 different local tea vendors including Tour de Tea, Botanical Lab, The Steepery and Teaology Lab, with each bringing something different to the mix.

“This is really showing the diversity and different possibilities with tea,” said Kym Cooper from The Steepery and nitrogen-infused tea company East Forged.

“I’d really love to showcase what else can we do with tea and where else can it appear and can it be a drink that could be enjoyed with friends on social occasions at dinner tables or paired with different food as well.

“I think that’s the opportunity for tea, and a lot of that is going to be showcased at this particular festival.”

As well as trying an assortment of drinks, festival goers can take part in fun events from a bubble tea drinking competition by Teaology, where participants will be challenged to drink two litres of bubble tea in the quickest time possible, to mixology and brewing classes.

There will also be DJs playing throughout the day and live bands of an evening, with the event running from 11am-8pm.

Meanwhile, local restaurants will be providing the food, with Chinese eatery Southside turning out tea-friendly fare including dumplings and mung bean noodle salad, as Hello Please pumps prawn toast and udon.

Motto Mochi Lab and Indie Treats will be in charge of dessert, creating the likes of Mochi doughnuts and vegan-friendly Asian sweets.

“Tea is always a conversation starter,” Ms Truong said.

“Throughout history you would invite friends to your house and have tea and talk, and now as a young person, we will gather and have bubble tea and share stories, so it’s always been that connector.”